Themes

Immigrant identity

One of the main themes explored in the short story “Green Velvet” by Krzysztof Pelc is the theme of immigrant identity. Through the different family members, the story raises the question of what it takes for an immigrant to fit in the new country. 

As an Iranian family who has moved to Canada to escape conflict in their native country, the narrator’s family lives a modest life. They do not have “spare banknotes lying around” (p. 4, l. 121) and can only afford to rent a small apartment. The narrator also mentions that their family never walks inside the café down the street, as they do not see the point (p. 1, ll. 4-6). Their attitude suggests that they most likely feel out of place in Canada, or that they see entering a café as a luxury.

Except for Raza, who was born in Canada, the rest of the family’s members have different attitudes to their new society. The ...