Whiskey
In “My Son the Fanatic,” whiskey symbolizes Parvez’s intoxication with the West, and his deep desire to assimilate into English culture at the expense of the ties to his past life and culture in Pakistan…
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Beards
Throughout the story, beards represent both Ali’s commitment to his Islamic beliefs, as well as Parvez’s desperate attempts to bridge the widening gap between him and his son. After Parvez’s friends convince him that Ali’s…
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Bettina’s Perfume
Bettina’s perfume appears at the end of the story and symbolizes Parvez’s love of the West. Throughout the story, Bettina herself represents both the freedom and flexibility of the West that Parvez tells Ali is…
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The Seating Arrangements in Parvez’s Taxicab
Parvez’s taxicab, specifically the seating arrangements in the cab, represent the growing distance between Parvez and Ali that is the cost of Parvez’s unwavering desire to assimilate fully into English culture. From the first…
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