This paper examines how Kureishi depicts the matter of growing up in a (Western) society having a multicultural background in his novel "The Buddha of Suburbia". The analysis will focus on the main character of Karim. The method of practical criticism will be applied and furthermore the author will rely on pertinent secondary literature. Based on selected motives and scenes concerning the protagonist, it will be explored how the novelist broaches the issue of hybridity in his story. Therefore, it will be refered to relevant postcolonial theories dealing with the subject of colonization and identity.
The theorists to be mainly drawn on will be Homi K. Bhabha, Edward Said, and Stuart Hall. To fully understand Kureishi‘s main figure it is crucial to consider England‘s historical background in the 1970s. Set in times of change and immigration the novel requires to take these then tense social conditions into account. Hence, the following lead questions will guide this analysis: How and where does Kureishi show the issue of hybridity through his main character Karim?
By merely reading the books´ title, one gets a sense of the novel´s main theme. The connotation of each of the two subjects already creates an atmosphere of two different and yet cohesive aspects. While Buddha (from a European point of view) stands for something being far away, strange, exotic, the term suburbia reminds of something that is around the corner, familiar, comforting. Thus, already the title hints at one of the main themes The Buddha of Suburbia deals with.
It is a subject the Western world is heavily confronted with these days: Who am I? Where do I come from? And followed by the inevitable subsequent question: Where do I belong? Obviously, this question is mainly asked by people with at least two cultural backgrounds. In 1990 Hanif Kureishi looked into this subject in his aforementioned novel. Born in 1954 in London, the author himself grew up as son of an English mother and a Pakistani father.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Short Summary of The Buddha of Suburbia
3. Relevant Key Concepts
3.1 Postcolonial Studies
3.2 Hybridity
3.3 Identity
4. Historical and Social Background
5. Hybridity and Identity in the Character of Karim
5.1 The Opening
5.2 In-betweenness
5.3 Theatre
5.4 Third Space
5.5 Gender and Sexuality
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how Hanif Kureishi depicts the complexities of growing up with a multicultural background in Western society through the main protagonist, Karim Amir. It specifically investigates the manifestation of hybridity and identity in the context of 1970s England, utilizing postcolonial theoretical frameworks.
- Analysis of hybridity and identity formation in postcolonial literature.
- The influence of 1970s British social and historical environments on the protagonist.
- Examination of the "in-betweenness" experienced by characters with dual cultural backgrounds.
- Investigation of theatrical performance as a tool for exploring exoticism and otherness.
- The role of sexuality and gender as markers of hybrid identity.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1 The Opening
Karim is aware of him being a hybrid character, even if he does not use the term, as he introduces himself in the beginning as
an Englishman born and bred, almost. I am often considered to be a funny kind of Englishman, a new breed as it were, having emerged from two old histories. But I don´t care – Englishman I am (though not proud of it), from the South London suburbs and going somewhere. Perhaps it is the odd mixture of continents and blood, of here and there, of belonging and not, that makes me restless and easily bored. [...] In the morning things were on way and by bedtime another (3)
By using the proverbial expression “born and bred” the first- person narrator leads the reader shortly on the wrong track as it suggests that the latter deals with a stereotypical Englishman. However, the following “almost” reverses this first impression completely as it suddenly creates an idea of far more complex identity. The ‘perfect’ image that comes to mind when one thinks of a genuine Englishman is restricted by this adverb. The subsequent sentence strengthens this idea as Karim emphasizes that he is only “often” and only some “funny kind of Englishman”. This suggests that he is not a fully-fledged approved member of the English society. Apparently, many compatriots do not take him seriously as a (English) person.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the central themes of the novel, establishes the research question regarding hybridity in Karim's character, and outlines the methodological approach.
2. Short Summary of The Buddha of Suburbia: Provides a concise overview of the novel's plot and the background of its protagonist, Karim.
3. Relevant Key Concepts: Introduces essential theoretical foundations, specifically Postcolonial Studies, Homi K. Bhabha’s theory of Hybridity, and Stuart Hall's concept of Identity.
4. Historical and Social Background: Contextualizes the novel within the racial and social tensions of 1970s London, focusing on migration and urban life.
5. Hybridity and Identity in the Character of Karim: Investigates how the protagonist navigates his identity through sections on the narrative opening, in-betweenness, theatrical roles, the third space, and his shifting sexuality.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and affirms how Karim embodies Bhabha’s theory of hybridity while suggesting potential avenues for future research.
Keywords
Hybridity, Identity, Postcolonialism, Karim Amir, Hanif Kureishi, The Buddha of Suburbia, In-betweenness, Homi K. Bhabha, Third Space, Mimicry, 1970s London, Othering, Migration, Cultural Background, Sexuality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the representation of hybridity and identity in Hanif Kureishi's novel "The Buddha of Suburbia," specifically focusing on how the protagonist Karim Amir experiences and negotiates his dual cultural background.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed in the analysis?
The core themes include postcolonial identity formation, the experience of "in-betweenness," racial tensions in 1970s London, and the intersection of cultural heritage with gender and sexuality.
What is the main research question of the study?
The study aims to determine how and where Kureishi illustrates the issue of hybridity through the experiences and development of his main character, Karim.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author applies the method of practical literary criticism, supported by secondary literature and key postcolonial theories from scholars such as Homi K. Bhabha, Edward Said, and Stuart Hall.
What aspects are covered in the main section?
The main section investigates the protagonist's internal and external conflicts, focusing on the novel's opening, his experiences of social displacement, his work in theatre, his creation of a "third space," and his evolving sexual identity.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Central keywords include Hybridity, Identity, Postcolonialism, Karim Amir, In-betweenness, and Third Space, reflecting the theoretical and narrative focus of the text.
How does the author analyze the theatre scenes in the novel?
The author argues that theatre serves as a performance space where Karim is forced into stereotypical roles ("the other"), illustrating the gap between his own self-perception and the exoticized view society has of him.
What role does the concept of "Third Space" play in Karim’s development?
The "Third Space" represents a non-binary area where Karim and other characters can step outside traditional societal expectations, allowing them to invent new, more fluid identities away from restrictive national or cultural categories.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Daniel Jung (Autor:in), 2019, The Issue of Hybridity in "The Buddha of Suburbia", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/518322
