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In "My Son, the Fanatic" by Hanif Kureishi, who is the real fanatic in the end? Can Parvez be considered to be the fanatic, as well?

I think that Parvez is the real fanatic at the end of Kurieshi's story.


Parvez's fanaticism is seen in his frustration with Ali. His singular focus on his son's changes illuminates his fanaticism.  He is narrowly insistent on wanting his son to go back to the way he used to be.  Incapable of dealing with Ali's changes, Parvez is unable to think about anything else.  He is "unable to read the paper, watch television, or even sit down."  Parvez keeps "pouring himself drinks" because he cannot move past the fact that his son is different than before.  His inability to comprehend that Ali is different underscores his fanaticism.


However, Parvez's fanaticism is most evident when he enters his son's room. Parvez does not pause to observe his son praying.  He is so singularly focused on wanting to reach his son that he does not reflect for a moment that he should not bother a person in prayer.  Parvez's brutality underscores his unreasonable zeal:



Parvez kicked him over. Then he dragged the boy up by his shirt and hit him.  The boy fell back.  Parvez hit him again.  The boy's face was bloody.  Parvez was panting.  He knew that the boy was unreachable, but he struck him nonetheless.



Parvez is described in fanatical terms.  His use of violence, the intensity underscored in his "panting," and the fact that he clearly knows that there is no productive end to what he is doing, and yet does it anyway, describe a fanatic's state of mind.

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