‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ is the first novel by Indian writer Hanif Kureishi, which deals with a mixed-race protagonist named Karim Amir and his life and relationships. Karim defines himself as having “emerged from two old histories” (3) and he also refers to himself as “an Englishman born and bred…almost” (3). But how does Kureishi use setting and character to show that Karim has an almost un-defined personality when he is not in a relationship? I plan to show the difficulties that Karim has in coming to terms with his personality, sexuality and heritage, also how the use of plot, setting, and characterisation effects this.
The characters in ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ are all very complicated and each has a personal agenda. For example, Karim is what appears to be a normal teenager at the outset, but by the end of the novel, his character has changed completely. Karim only becomes a caricature of himself. While working as an actor, he is asked to play "ethnic" roles, to fake a broad Indian accent and be authentically Indian even if he has never been to India; and his director, Shadwell reminds him that he has "been cast for authenticity and not for experience" (147). Karim's early sexual experiences range from various encounters with Charlie to another relationship with Jamila, his childhood friend. But the sex he has with Jamila seems to be almost meaningless compared to that with Charlie. Later, when Karim becomes involved in a mobile social circle, and participating in theatre, he begins a complicated sexual relationship with Eleanor, a fellow actor. Karim transforms from a totally self-involved young teenager to a young man who is aware of his place in society and cares for others. Karim’s father Haroon expected to witness the glory and power of an old England, which is why he was “amazed and heartened by the sight of the British in England, though. He'd never seen the English in poverty, as road sweepers, dustmen, shopkeepers and barmen. He'd never seen an Englishman stuffing bread into his mouth with his fingers, and no one has told him that the English didn't wash regularly because the water was cold --if they had water at all. And when Dad tried to discuss Byron in local pubs no one warned him that not every Englishman could read...” (24-5) His name and given identity changes throughout the narrative and he is given many nicknames including: "God," "Harry," "Daddio," amongst others. People call Haroon different things because he portrays different roles throughout the course of the novel. Charlie is characterized by Karim as a heart breaker; Charlie neglects Karim, "neither [phoning] since [their] last love-making nor [bothering] to turn up" (32). Charlie's only real goal is to become famous to be a rock star and to employ any method through which to succeed. Charlie adheres to every trend, be it musical or in the fashion world. Charlie's character is about marketing, greed, fame and a quest for awareness. Eva lives a very exciting life, luring artists and intellectuals into her circle all the time. Her enthusiasm attracts Haroon and the two fall in love, prompting Haroon to leave his wife and break up his family. Eva's character represents changing social backgrounds and the falling away of boundaries between parent and child. These are really the most important characters in ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ and without them; you get the impression that Karim would be lost. His personality only seems to be apparent when he is in contact with people he finds interesting or people he thinks it would be beneficial to know. Charlie is the first one who teases out the sexual side of Karim, and after that it seems Karim cannot get enough sex. He looks for it everywhere and would do it with anyone, because he needs that definition for his character. The fact that Haroon sees Charlie and Karim in a rather compromising position is interesting as later that evening Karim sees his father having sex with Eva. This shows that Haroon has trouble coming to terms with his son being bisexual but at the same time he has embarked in a relationship with another married woman, thus forfeiting his family life. Although Charlie is almost pushed out of Karim’s life, when he does re-enter the narrative, it is only to bring a new sexual deviance to the plot. Eva has always told Karim that he should break out of the mould that society has him set in, but he finds this remarkably hard to do without her guidance. She gives him books he should read; Charlie gives him records he should be listening to and Haroon teaches him to be a Buddhist. Karim is quick to be swayed into the thinkings of other people and doesn’t ever really have any thoughts that could be seen as controversial.
The settings in which our protagonist finds himself in often effects the way he acts, speaks and often moves. For example, when he is surrounded by the thespians in London he acts like he is better than everyone else, but when he is alone with friends he is quieter and not opinionated. He is quick to change as people want him to. This novel is mainly set in the suburbs, and inner city of London in the 1970’s. Also Karim travels to New York to reunite himself with Charlie when there is nothing left for him to do in London anymore, he stays in New York for ten months. Returned to London, he takes on the offer of a part in a TV soap opera, the one thing he was always warned against by fellow actors. This shows he is starting to do what he thinks, not as people would like him to think. On the first page Karim introduces himself as follows: “Englishman I am (though not proud of it), from the South London suburbs and going somewhere.” (3) which shows he has always had the idea that he will leave his birth home, but has never been sure of where he is going.
The plot of the novel enables the reader to enjoy the text due to the fact you can often relate to the situations Karim, as protagonist, finds himself in. Karim lives with his English mother and Indian father in the routine comfort of suburban London, enduring his teenage years with good humour, (as much as he can muster,) and he is always on the lookout for adventure - and sexual possibilities, of course. When Karim moves to the inner city of London, and then to New York he is introduced to a world of renegade theatre directors, punk rock stars, fancy parties, and all the sex a young man could desire. This changes his outlook on life altogether.
Overall this novel deals with the harder aspects of everyone’s teenage years, while introducing the concept of how to come to terms with sexuality, heritage and personality. Kureishi suggests that it’s ok to make mistakes, so long as we can realise that we have made them.
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‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ – Hanif Kureishi
Specialist Study – Lucy Smith, 5G2
‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ is the first novel by Indian writer Hanif Kureishi, which deals with a mixed-race protagonist named Karim Amir and his life and relationships. Karim defines himself as having “emerged from two old histories” (3) and he also refers to himself as “an Englishman born and bred…almost” (3). But how does Kureishi use setting and character to show that Karim has an almost un-defined personality when he is not in a relationship? I plan to show the difficulties that Karim has in coming to terms with his personality, sexuality and heritage, also how the use of plot, setting, and characterisation effects this.
The characters in ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ are all very complicated and each has a personal agenda. For example, Karim is what appears to be a normal teenager at the outset, but by the end of the novel, his character has changed completely. Karim only becomes a caricature of himself. While working as an actor, he is asked to play "ethnic" roles, to fake a broad Indian accent and be authentically Indian even if he has never been to India; and his director, Shadwell reminds him that he has "been cast for authenticity and not for experience" (147). Karim's early sexual experiences range from various encounters with Charlie to another relationship with Jamila, his childhood friend. But the sex he has with Jamila seems to be almost meaningless compared to that with Charlie. Later, when Karim becomes involved in a mobile social circle, and participating in theatre, he begins a complicated sexual relationship with Eleanor, a fellow actor. Karim transforms from a totally self-involved young teenager to a young man who is aware of his place in society and cares for others.
Karim’s father Haroon expected to witness the glory and power of an old England, which is why he was “amazed and heartened by the sight of the British in England, though. He'd never seen the English in poverty, as road sweepers, dustmen, shopkeepers and barmen. He'd never seen an Englishman stuffing bread into his mouth with his fingers, and no one has told him that the English didn't wash regularly because the water was cold --if they had water at all. And when Dad tried to discuss Byron in local pubs no one warned him that not every Englishman could read...” (24-5) His name and given identity changes throughout the narrative and he is given many nicknames including: "God," "Harry," "Daddio," amongst others. People call Haroon different things because he portrays different roles throughout the course of the novel.
Charlie is characterized by Karim as a heart breaker; Charlie neglects Karim, "neither [phoning] since [their] last love-making nor [bothering] to turn up" (32). Charlie's only real goal is to become famous to be a rock star and to employ any method through which to succeed. Charlie adheres to every trend, be it musical or in the fashion world. Charlie's character is about marketing, greed, fame and a quest for awareness.
Eva lives a very exciting life, luring artists and intellectuals into her circle all the time. Her enthusiasm attracts Haroon and the two fall in love, prompting Haroon to leave his wife and break up his family. Eva's character represents changing social backgrounds and the falling away of boundaries between parent and child.
These are really the most important characters in ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ and without them; you get the impression that Karim would be lost. His personality only seems to be apparent when he is in contact with people he finds interesting or people he thinks it would be beneficial to know. Charlie is the first one who teases out the sexual side of Karim, and after that it seems Karim cannot get enough sex. He looks for it everywhere and would do it with anyone, because he needs that definition for his character. The fact that Haroon sees Charlie and Karim in a rather compromising position is interesting as later that evening Karim sees his father having sex with Eva. This shows that Haroon has trouble coming to terms with his son being bisexual but at the same time he has embarked in a relationship with another married woman, thus forfeiting his family life. Although Charlie is almost pushed out of Karim’s life, when he does re-enter the narrative, it is only to bring a new sexual deviance to the plot. Eva has always told Karim that he should break out of the mould that society has him set in, but he finds this remarkably hard to do without her guidance. She gives him books he should read; Charlie gives him records he should be listening to and Haroon teaches him to be a Buddhist. Karim is quick to be swayed into the thinkings of other people and doesn’t ever really have any thoughts that could be seen as controversial.
The settings in which our protagonist finds himself in often effects the way he acts, speaks and often moves. For example, when he is surrounded by the thespians in London he acts like he is better than everyone else, but when he is alone with friends he is quieter and not opinionated. He is quick to change as people want him to. This novel is mainly set in the suburbs, and inner city of London in the 1970’s. Also Karim travels to New York to reunite himself with Charlie when there is nothing left for him to do in London anymore, he stays in New York for ten months. Returned to London, he takes on the offer of a part in a TV soap opera, the one thing he was always warned against by fellow actors. This shows he is starting to do what he thinks, not as people would like him to think. On the first page Karim introduces himself as follows: “Englishman I am (though not proud of it), from the South London suburbs and going somewhere.” (3) which shows he has always had the idea that he will leave his birth home, but has never been sure of where he is going.
The plot of the novel enables the reader to enjoy the text due to the fact you can often relate to the situations Karim, as protagonist, finds himself in. Karim lives with his English mother and Indian father in the routine comfort of suburban London, enduring his teenage years with good humour, (as much as he can muster,) and he is always on the lookout for adventure - and sexual possibilities, of course. When Karim moves to the inner city of London, and then to New York he is introduced to a world of renegade theatre directors, punk rock stars, fancy parties, and all the sex a young man could desire. This changes his outlook on life altogether.
Overall this novel deals with the harder aspects of everyone’s teenage years, while introducing the concept of how to come to terms with sexuality, heritage and personality. Kureishi suggests that it’s ok to make mistakes, so long as we can realise that we have made them.
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