My Son the Fanatic
Summary The story tells from Parvez a Pakistani Taxi Driver in Northern England and his son Ali. Parvez used to care very much for his only son and was because of this very shocked when Ali changed his behavior. He left his girlfriend, distanced himself from his other friends and gave away most of the things which were in his room. The shocked Parvez is talking after this with his taxi driver colleagues who suggest that the young Ali is taking drugs. Parvez is convinced from this idea and talks as well to Bettina, a prostitute and friend of him, who describes him the usual signs of drugs. Parvez supervises his son and realizes that he actually isn’t taking drugs but that he is a religious fanatic. The father wants to talk to his son and goes out for a dinner with him. While eating, Ali accuses Parvez’s western lifestyle and openly criticizes his behavior. The discussion escalates and Parvez is drinking too much alcohol to play down his anger. After this Parvez talks another time to Bettina who tries to support him and who even talks to the fanatic in the taxi. But when Ali insults her for her work as a prostitute she goes out of the taxi and leaves Parvez and Ali alone. When they arrive at home Parvez is really angry about his son’s behavior, especially because he had made bad experiences with religion and he hits his face. Ali, probably shocked by this, answers with the simple question “Who’s the fanatic now?” when the story ends.

	Created by Laura Overhoff about 9 years ago

Englischer Übersicht über die wichtigsten Fakten des Werkes.