Characters

The most important characters in the short story “My Son the Fanatic” by Hanif Kureishi are Parvez, his son Ali, and Bettina. Other characters who appear in the story are Parvez’s friends. The narrator also mentions Parvez’s wife, but she only appears very briefly in the story.

Parvez is the main character of the story, as the narrator focuses on him and his perspective on the events.

Ali is the son of the main character, Parvez. Although he appears throughout the story, the narration is more focused on Parvez than on Ali. Ali’s characterisation is constructed through dialogue and Parvez’s perspective on him and his behaviour.

Bettina is another secondary character. However, she is important because she influences Parvez in various ways throughout the story.

Read their full characterisation in the next pages!