The Depiction of Class and Self-Created Identity in "The Buddha of Suburbia"

Hausarbeit (Hauptseminar) , 2009 , 22 Seiten , Note: 1,3

Anglistik - Literatur

Being one of Hanif Kureishi’s most famous works, The Buddha of Suburbia has been discussed numerously in academic writing. Up to now, most scholars have, unfortunately, only focussed on the most apparent topics of hybridity and racial as well as migrational identity. Although fairly striking, only few have paid attention to the British class system that is portrayed in the novel, and if they have, only in passing.
This paper is not intended to be added to this long list. I rather want to concentrate on how diverse and comprehensively the topic of class is approached by Kureishi, how class is depicted. For this reason, I want start with some more general facts about lower middle class, but will try to directly compare them to the contents of The Buddha of Suburbia.
Secondly, I aim to show how, especially, class is depicted and to describe what makes someone belong to a certain class. How is affiliation expressed and how can one distinguish from other social groups? What does influence our thoughts and beliefs, and why do people want to break out? In regard to this, I will pay special attention to how the suburbs are presented in the novel and to what extent they differ from London.
Finally, I want to examine in how far London offers a chance to flee suburbia and lower middle class influences. Does the anonymity of England’s capital provide the basis for a new self, to create something new, and leave the past behind? Do people have to surrender, not to say sacrifice, their old identities in order to make it in London? What is the price for climbing the social ladder, and can one find a new, but genuine, self after having left the old behind?
My paper shall answer these questions, it seeks to unfold some of the complexity of Kureishi’s début novel and to offer a new approach for interpreting The Buddha of Suburbia.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Lower Middle Class in Britain and its Portrayal in the Buddha of Suburbia
• The Depiction of Class
  • Suburbia
  • Housing and Appearance
  • The Role of Education
  • Jobs and Everyday Life
• London: The Chance to Invent a New Self
  • The Depiction of London
  • London: A Masquerade Ball?
  • Being Oneself
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to analyze the depiction of class and self-created identity in Hanif Kureishi's novel, The Buddha of Suburbia, focusing on the lower middle class in Britain. It explores how Kureishi portrays the social structures and influences of this class and examines the characters' attempts to break free from these constraints. The paper will also investigate the role of London as a potential escape from the suburbs and the possibilities for creating a new identity within the anonymity of the city.

• The portrayal of the British class system and its impact on individual lives
• The depiction of the lower middle class and its distinctive characteristics
• The significance of social mobility and its influence on identity formation
• The contrasting environments of the suburbs and London and their respective influences on the characters
• The search for self-creation and the challenges of escaping pre-determined social roles

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the concept of class in Britain and its relevance to Kureishi's novel. It highlights the negative perception of the lower middle class and its lack of a distinct identity. The second chapter focuses on the portrayal of the lower middle class in The Buddha of Suburbia, analyzing the characters' occupations, lifestyles, and aspirations. It examines the impact of social mobility on the characters' lives and explores the complexities of class identity.

The third chapter delves into the depiction of class in the novel, specifically examining the suburbs and their influence on the characters' lives. It analyzes the themes of housing, appearance, education, and everyday life, highlighting the limitations and opportunities presented by the suburban environment.

The fourth chapter explores the contrasting environment of London and its potential for self-creation. It examines the characters' experiences in the city and the opportunities it offers for escaping the constraints of their previous lives. The chapter analyzes the themes of anonymity, self-discovery, and the price of social climbing.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of the text include: class, identity, social mobility, lower middle class, suburbia, London, self-creation, hybridity, racial identity, migrational identity, British class system, The Buddha of Suburbia, Hanif Kureishi.

• Hochschule: Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg
• Veranstaltung: London in Literature through the Ages
• Note: 1,3
• Autor: Robert Willrich (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2009
• Seiten: 22
• Katalognummer: V143543
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640543113
• ISBN (Buch): 9783640542932
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: Hanif, Kureishi, Buddha, Suburbia, Buddha of Suburbia, class, identity, London, Indian, India, Immigration, hybridity, migration, literature, contemporary, Zadie Smith, White Teeth, Monica Ali, Brick Lane, lower middle class, lower, middle