The Buddha of Suburbia
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Part 1, Chapter 1 Part 1, Chapter 2 Part 1, Chapter 3 Part 1, Chapter 4 Part 1, Chapter 5 Part 1, Chapter 6 Part 1, Chapter 7 Part 1, Chapter 8 Part 2, Chapter 9 Part 2, Chapter 10 Part 2, Chapter 11 Part 2, Chapter 12 Part 2, Chapter 13 Part 2, Chapter 14 Part 2, Chapter 15 Part 2, Chapter 16 Part 2, Chapter 17 Part 2, Chapter 18
Themes
All Themes Coming of Age Family, Love, and Loyalty Hierarchy and Class Racism, Success, and Identity Social and Political Discontent
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Karim Haroon (Dad) Eva Charlie Jamila Changez Anwar Matthew Pyke Mum Princess Jeeta Shadwell Terry Eleanor Uncle Ted Allie Auntie Jean Shinko Marlene Heater Tracey
Symbols
All Symbols The Great Dane
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The Buddha of Suburbia

by

Hanif Kureishi
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Shadwell Character Analysis

Shadwell is a regular guest at Eva's parties from the beginning; Karim meets him at his first party and refers to him as the man in corduroy. Karim finds Shadwell boring beyond all belief, though Eva disagrees. She's attracted to him because he's successful, and she conducts a sexual relationship with him for at least part of the novel. Eva bullies Karim into auditioning for Shadwell's production of The Jungle Book, and Shadwell casts Karim as Mowgli. Though Karim is thrilled to get the part, he's less thrilled when Shadwell reveals how racist he is: he insists that Karim wear dark makeup all over his body and speak in an exaggerated Indian accent. Though the cast outwardly respects him, they consistently refer to him as "Shitwell" and other rude nicknames. When Matthew Pyke takes an interest in Karim, Shadwell warns Karim that Pyke will destroy him.

Shadwell Quotes in The Buddha of Suburbia

The The Buddha of Suburbia quotes below are all either spoken by Shadwell or refer to Shadwell. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age Theme Icon
).
Part 2, Chapter 9 Quotes

"What a breed of people two hundred years of imperialism has given birth to. If the pioneers from the East India Company could see you. What puzzlement there'd be. Everyone looks at you, I'm sure, and thinks: an Indian boy, how exotic, how interesting, what stories of aunties and elephants we'll hear now from him. And you're from Orpington."

Related Characters: Shadwell (speaker), Karim
Hierarchy and Class Theme Icon
Racism, Success, and Identity Theme Icon
Social and Political Discontent Theme Icon
Page Number: 141
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2, Chapter 10 Quotes

I wanted to tell him that the proletariat of the suburbs did have strong class feeling. It was virulent and hate-filled and directed entirely at the people beneath them.

Related Characters: Karim (speaker), Shadwell, Terry
Hierarchy and Class Theme Icon
Racism, Success, and Identity Theme Icon
Social and Political Discontent Theme Icon
Page Number: 149
Explanation and Analysis:
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Shadwell Quotes in The Buddha of Suburbia

The The Buddha of Suburbia quotes below are all either spoken by Shadwell or refer to Shadwell. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age Theme Icon
).
Part 2, Chapter 9 Quotes

"What a breed of people two hundred years of imperialism has given birth to. If the pioneers from the East India Company could see you. What puzzlement there'd be. Everyone looks at you, I'm sure, and thinks: an Indian boy, how exotic, how interesting, what stories of aunties and elephants we'll hear now from him. And you're from Orpington."

Related Characters: Shadwell (speaker), Karim
Hierarchy and Class Theme Icon
Racism, Success, and Identity Theme Icon
Social and Political Discontent Theme Icon
Page Number: 141
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2, Chapter 10 Quotes

I wanted to tell him that the proletariat of the suburbs did have strong class feeling. It was virulent and hate-filled and directed entirely at the people beneath them.

Related Characters: Karim (speaker), Shadwell, Terry
Hierarchy and Class Theme Icon
Racism, Success, and Identity Theme Icon
Social and Political Discontent Theme Icon
Page Number: 149
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+
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