Identity and Belonging in Hanif Kureishi`s The Buddha of Suburbia

This thesis aims to shed light on the much discussed topic of identity and belonging. Through a close reading of Hanif Kureishi`s The Buddha of Suburbia, I focus on how the development of identity is portrayed in the novel and argue that this development differs from 1st generation immigrants to 2nd generation immigrants and is ever-changing. I explore how identities are shaped and function, with special reference to characters who grow up with Indian culture in an English environment. The main focus will be on the characters representing the 1st and 2nd generation immigrants, but I will also look at how the development of identity is shaped with regard to the non-immigrant perspective. Kureishi`s works present debatable subjects both individually and collectively in relation to the differences in culture, especially with regard to sexuality and masculinity. These subjects are all presented through the theory of Homi Bhabha and Stuart Hall