The story ends with Ali asking, as his father beats him: "So who's the fanatic now?" This might lead us to believe that the father is actually the fanatic, despite the story being named "My Son, the Fanatic." However, the larger point that the story makes is that both father and son are fanatics; each is the mirror of the other, unable to truly see life from another perspective than his own.
Though we get the...
The story ends with Ali asking, as his father beats him: "So who's the fanatic now?" This might lead us to believe that the father is actually the fanatic, despite the story being named "My Son, the Fanatic." However, the larger point that the story makes is that both father and son are fanatics; each is the mirror of the other, unable to truly see life from another perspective than his own.
Though we get the story from Parvez's point of view, it is nevertheless clear that Ali is fanatical about his Muslim religious faith. He wants to live a pure life, unpolluted by Western materialism. He throws out all his consumer goods, including a computer that his father has worked hard to provide for him. He wants no compromise with this father's way of living. He even goes so far as to insult his father's kindhearted prostitute friend, Bettina, which is what triggers Parvez to beat him.
Parvez, however, is also fanatically devoted to his life of materialism, putting his faith in sensual pleasures to the point of drinking too much and being more attached to a prostitute than his own wife. He also puts his faith in his son getting ahead financially, through a university degree. Parvez rejects his strict Muslim upbringing as thoroughly as his son rejects materialism.
While Parvez may show some fanaticism in beating his son, the son also reacts as a fanatic might:
The boy neither covered himself nor retaliated; there was no fear in his eyes.
Both father and son could benefit from greater empathy.
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