Brick Lane

by

Monica Ali

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Brick Lane makes teaching easy.

Ahmed Character Analysis

One of Hasina’s clients when she is working as a prostitute, Ahmed becomes her second husband. He works the night-shift as a shoe factory supervisor and is obsessed with order. Ahmed is also an albino, which Hasina thinks might be a contributing factor to his serious nature. Devoted to Hasina at first, he later deserts her.
Get the entire Brick Lane LitChart as a printable PDF.
Brick Lane PDF

Ahmed Character Timeline in Brick Lane

The timeline below shows where the character Ahmed appears in Brick Lane. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 7
Cultural and Religious Sexism Theme Icon
Luck, Class, and Fate Theme Icon
It is March 1995, and Hasina has received an offer of marriage from Ahmed, an albino man who supervises the night shift at a shoe factory. Ahmed is a... (full context)
Cultural and Religious Sexism Theme Icon
That same month, Hasina writes again, saying that Ahmed is pressing for marriage. Hussain thinks the match is a good idea. Both Ahmed and... (full context)
Cultural and Religious Sexism Theme Icon
Luck, Class, and Fate Theme Icon
...April 1995. She gives thanks to God for her newfound happiness. She is married to Ahmed and living in the Ghulsan neighborhood of Dhaka, a definite upgrade from Narayanganj. It is... (full context)
Cultural and Religious Sexism Theme Icon
Luck, Class, and Fate Theme Icon
It is still April and Ahmed has gone to the bazaar. Hasina goes up on the roof with the other wives.... (full context)
Cultural and Religious Sexism Theme Icon
Luck, Class, and Fate Theme Icon
Hasina’s next letter is dated May 1995. She writes to Nazneen about Ahmed’s appearance, how he recently got a sunburn and he still has blisters on his cheeks... (full context)
Cultural and Religious Sexism Theme Icon
Luck, Class, and Fate Theme Icon
...May 1995. Hasina’s house is clean, and she wiles away the hours writing to Nazneen. Ahmed, she says, is pleased with her. He finds her cleaning satisfactory. He is happy with... (full context)
Cultural and Religious Sexism Theme Icon
...of attending Hussain’s funeral. It is a small ceremony with only a few jute cutters. Ahmed is working long hours at the factory. She doesn’t see him often and when she... (full context)
Cultural and Religious Sexism Theme Icon
Luck, Class, and Fate Theme Icon
The bad patch gets worse. Ahmed is no longer satisfied with Hasina’s housework and he is now claiming that Hasina has... (full context)
Chapter 11
Luck, Class, and Fate Theme Icon
...letter. All her others are gone, destroyed in the dark time after her marriage to Ahmed ended. She is glad to hear the girls are doing well and that Nazneen is... (full context)