This present bachelor thesis deals with the concept of dualism
in the novel The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi. It
mainly focuses on the novel’s main character Karim Amir, a
young Anglo-Indian adult living in London of the 1970s, and his
confused sense of identity. Karim’s identity has been analysed
in many previous works, usually in relation to his dual origin.
However, this thesis aims to prove that not only the dual
national identity affects the main protagonist, but that there
are other contradictory elements which contribute to his
confused sense of self. The elements analysed in this thesis
are Karim’s national identity (Indian and British), sexuality
(heterosexual and homosexual), family situation (a separated
mother and father) and surroundings (the suburbs of London and
the City of London).