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Abstract
This thesis examines the concept of ’culture collision’ in Britain between the Pakistani immigrants and the British society. The Pakistani immigrants struggle in an alien society which refuses to accept them and treat them as equals. This refusal from the British citizens to some people who consider Britain their country has generated race problems inside this group. The underestimation of the British to the minorities who share them their land is the direct reason for the feelings of alienation, anger and hatred. The researcher examines this collision in relation to the first generation of Pakistani immigrants, (the fathers), on the one hand and the second generation of Pakistani immigrants, (the sons), on the other hand indicating their reaction to this collision.
The researcher has chosen the drama East is East (1999) for Ayub Khan-Din (1951 - ) and the screenplay: My Son the Fanatic (2000) for Hanif Kureishi (1954 - ). These works perfectly externalize ’culture collision’ in England. Both writers are Pakistani immigrants and they strongly feel this collision, consequently they feel the crisis and portray it in their writings.
The researcher examines the concept of ’culture collision’ as an ethnic perspective in general concentrating on the minority drama in England, particularly the Pakistani drama, as presented in Hanif Kureishi and Ayub Khan-Din as models of reflecting this collision through their personal lives and their writings. The thesis examines the cultural conflict which led to a generational conflict in Britain between the British Pakistani Muslims and the British citizens. The two dramas are partly autobiographical works.
The thesis is divided into three chapters in addition to the Introduction and the Conclusion. The Introduction defines the concept of ’culture collision’ in general indicating the reasons for the clash of civilizations and the religious aspects for this theory. It also focuses on both Bernard Lewis and Samuel Huntington as the pioneers who tried to prove the theory of the clash of civilizations.
Chapter I presents the Minority Pakistani immigrants in Britain concentrating on their social and literary background. Their Literary works reflect their suffering as minority citizens. In this chapter the researcher examines samples of the minority writings especially the Pakistani drama, indicating ’culture collision’ in their plays.
Chapter II analyses East is East which presents what happens when two cultures collide and its repercussion upon family coherence. It perfectly depicts the illusive life of the first generation of the Pakistani immigrants. George, the father, struggles to make his family conform to traditional Pakistani values. George’s wife is Lancashire born and his children have got minds of their own. He is married to a British wife who does her best to vacate her British identity to satisfy her husband. Unfortunately her attempts do not help the children much. They live with double criteria pretending to obey the Pakistani father while they merge in the British culture to the extent of going to the church instead of the mosque. Consequently ’culture collision’ pervades the family, between the first and second generations. George and his children look for permanent identity for themselves but each one of them turns to a different direction. Racial prejudice has motivated George to give his children their true identity inside a Pakistani community, but his children feel that their true identity is outside this minority. The children’s refusal to go to the mosque is due to the treatment of the Muslims as minority citizens. The mother’s attempts to reconcile two cultures inside her family do not help much. George’s unsuccessful attempts to encircle his children within Pakistani concepts and principles turn him into a tyrant father. This chapter portrays how far the clash of civilizations could explode inside and outside the family and lead to division and loss.
Chapter III focuses on My Son the Fanatic, Kureishi’s screenplay that was adapted from the short story carrying the same title. Parvez and his son Farid represent another model of a minority Pakistani family. The picture is reversed this time; Parvez has become totally a British citizen. He forgets his Pakistani roots as a self defense against discrimination. On the other hand his son Farid represents the revolution of the new generation of Pakistani Muslims. He rejects being uprooted and exaggerates in regenerating his roots to the extent of becoming a terrorist. Contrary to George in East is East, Parvez wants his son to marry a British wife in order to be accepted in the British society. The son Farid is the counterpart of his father, as he rejects his father’s efforts to make him merge in the British society. This chapter shows the reasons behind Farid’s becoming a terrorist and discusses the reflection of ’culture collision’ on Parvez’s family.
The conclusion shows that racial prejudice in England among the British people and the multicultural British minorities especially the Pakistani minority led to identity crisis inside the British society. It is the main reason for the modernly called terrorism and terrorist attacks in England. ’culture collision’ is responsible for these attacks. It sums up the core of the thesis recommending an application and a comprehension of the true meaning of intercultural dialogue.