In conclusion, it can be said that Ali is presented as a selfish, eccentric
and disrespectful person. The excerpt shows that his father’s support
no longer means anything to Ali because he gets rid of all the things
that his father has worked for him to have. In fact, Parvez only wants the
best for his son, but Ali acts disrespectfully and does not care about his
father anymore. The reader gets to know the protagonist Ali as someone
who has changed from a normal young man, with a good education,
good prospects and a happy social life into a withdrawn, eccentric and
disrespectful man who has broken with all the habits and people of his
former life.
In the first paragraph (l. 1–5), Parvez searches Ali’s room, hoping to find
clues about the changes in his son. First of all, he realises that Ali is tidier
than before and that his things are neat and organised. Such habits are
usually regarded as positive, but to Parvez they show a great change in
Ali. As this fact is presented through Parvez’s eyes, and his concern for
his son is clear, the reader can assume that Parvez would prefer Ali to
be untidy and disorganised again, just to make sure he is still the same
person he used to be.
In the last paragraph (l. 18–25), Parvez regards his son’s behaviour as
unjust, as he has done everything possible to enable his son to become
an accountant because he knows about the problems faced by immigrant
families in the UK. This is why Parvez has always bought everything that
Ali needed and why he is now shocked that his son is getting rid of his
possessions.
In the ongoing action (l. 12–17), Ali is characterised as a sullen person
with a “sharp tongue” (l. 14–15). Upon closer examination, the only
direct information the reader gets about Ali in this extract is the answer
he gives his father, who wants to know why he does not play the guitar
anymore. Ali says that “there are more important things to be done”
(l. 16–17). This is another example of Ali’s disrespectful behaviour to-
wards his father and it supports the impression that the reader gets from
Parvez’s description.
In this extract, the protagonist Ali is characterised from his father’s point
of view. The growing fear and concerns of Ali’s father, Parvez, that his
son is becoming a fundamentalist and will turn criminal are clearly shown
in this scene.
When Parvez first sees the neat bedroom, he is as pleased as any other
father would be. But Ali has got rid of things he used to like, such as
books, clothes, his computer and his guitar. Furthermore, he has broken
up with his girlfriend and stopped seeing old friends (l. 6–11). These
actions characterise Ali as a controlled, withdrawn person in contrast
to his former behaviour as Parvez describes it. Here, his conversion
from a sociable, open-minded person to someone who is rejecting his
upbringing is clear. This contrast again underlines the change Ali has
gone through, not only when it comes to material things, but also in his
social surroundings.
$1F25'(581*SB(5(I&+ II Ŏ
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