Migrants and Refugees in Contemporary Fiction. Identity Crises in "The Buddha of Suburbia" by Hanif Kureishi

Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, University of Rostock, language: English, abstract: The term paper consists of an introduction, three main chapters and a conclusion. The first part of the main chapter demonstrates the different forms of identity crises which are thematised in the novel ¿The Buddha of Suburbiä by Hanif Kureishi. At this place some theoretical terms just like hybridity need to be mentioned and explained for a further understanding. Furthermore, the reader gets familiar with some other characters who play an important role in terms of identity. Part two and three of the main body specifically focus on the novel's main protagonist as well as on two major forms of identity crises. First of all Karim's Indian background is taken into account accompanied with the problems his cultural hybridity causes. Afterwards the many sexual experiences the narrator gains in the novel are investigated. Which events have an impact on his personality? Which kinds of inner conflicts does he have to face and does he manage to solve them or does he miserably fail? All these questions are answered in the main body. The conclusion contains a summary of all important aspects investigated in the paper. Moreover the thesis which was proposed in the introduction will either be confirmed or confounded.