Muhammad Ali

Outer characterization

Muhammad Ali plays an important role in the short story “Good Advice Is Rarer Than Rubies” by Salman Rushdie. His outer characterization reveals that he is a con man who takes advantage of vulnerable women applying for a visa at the British Embassy in Pakistan (p. 284, ll. 13-24), by pretending that he is an “advice expert” (p. 282, l. 9). His age is unknown, but the narrative mentions that he is “old” (p. 283, l. 12) and that he has grey hair (p. 283, l. 12). 

Inner characterization

Muhammad Ali is characterized by trickery, which he uses to scam vulnerable women wishing to go to England (p. 284, ll. 23-24). He uses deception to earn a living, as he is poor and in need of easy money. Muhammad Ali is imaginative, because he creates co...