DefinePK

Abstract

This paper explores how Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia and My Son the Fanatic depict the challenges of identity, adaptation, and resistance within postcolonial British society. Focusing on how characters navigate the pressures of cultural assimilation, generational conflict, and social mobility, the study examines the broader implications of conformity, self-presentation, and opposition to dominant norms. Through close textual analysis, the paper reveals how Kureishi analyzes a system that privileges cultural alignment and penalizes difference, offering insight into the experiences of individuals negotiating complex personal and societal expectations. By highlighting the struggles faced by characters in their pursuit of belonging and recognition, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of identity formation and cultural negotiation in contemporary multicultural contexts.