Jamaica Kincaid

Growing up can be filled with many issues socially, mentally and physically. Especially in your teenage years, figuring out who you are, where you fit in and what you want to do with your life. Just like in the short stories "Girl", by Jamaica Kincaid and "My Son The Fanatic", by Hanif Kureishi. They are both teenagers grappling with these issues. These characters are fighting the issues of fitting in to society and being who they want to be, even if it doesn't follow exactly what their parents had wanted them to do. The protagonists of each story are struggling to find themselves while their parents are trying to make them go down the path they've created for them. In "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid, the mother of the girl is telling her what exactly she should be like, not giving her a say in who

Ali wants to follow the radical side of his dad's Islamic culture. Throughout the whole story, many hints have been dropped that he had joined radical Islam. Then, Ali said this: "'My people have taken enough. If the persecution doesn't stop there will be jihad. I, and millions of others, will gladly give our lives for the cause.'" When Ali uses the phrase "My people" it shows that he knows where he belongs and where he wants to be. It may not be the best place for him to be, but he knows what he wants to do. Parvez on the other hand, wants him to assimilate with England, as he came up here for him to have a better life. "Was it asking too much for Ali to get a good job now, marry the right girl and start a family? Once this happened, Parvez would be happy. His dreams of doing well in England would have come true. Where had he gone wrong?" This quote directly shows how Parvez had planned out a life for Ali, not letting him choose. Parvez wants the best for Ali, but Ali already knows who he wants to