Nature, representation and value of sexuality in The Buddha of Essay

Nature, representation and value of sexuality in The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi and The Gangster of Love by Jessica Hagedorn - Essay Example Charlie had the additional advantage of the able and valued advice of his ex-guru dad! How simple was the suburban life. Hanif provides an apt description: "We were proud of never learning anything except the names of footballers, the personnel of rock groups and the lyrics to I Am the Walrus.†(p.178) Karim Amir gives the frank self-introduction, befitting the teenager of the 1970s in the suburban London, as â€Å"a funny kind of Englishman, a new breed as it was, having emerged from two old histories† (Kureishi, p. 3). Hanif weaves several other stories, around the life of Karim. He creates situations through which Karim is obliged to react the way he reacts. He has no ideal on which he can build his life in a disciplined manner. He gets wrong idols and Karim makes use of them, as a directionless youngster would! Count his misfortunes/fortunes one by one. His dysfunctional family, his best friend with a rebellious daughter, her peculiar Indian-based friend Changez, Charlie who is the object affection, several theatre actors with whom he has opportunistic relations—Karim’s sex and sarcasm goes hand in hand. Hanif describes the problems of adolescent Karim Amir growing into manhood. How he learns about himself and the world around him and discovers the operati ve rules of family, work, institutions, society, and culture. Karim Amir’s own schooling proves to be an adventure, quite contrary to the gloomy atmosphere at home. He has affairs with Eleanor, Jamila etc. that provide him much excitement. His companions also teach him sex by example, About Charlie Karim says, â€Å"No, Charlie was the cruelest and most lethal type of seducer. He extorted not only sex, but love and loyalty, kindness and encouragement, before moving on. I too would gladly have exercised these master-skills, but †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p.119) Once Karim’s father receives the official sex-license, the possibilities of business in the line are immense! Hanif describes it in style: â€Å"Was