The Decline of the West
The Decline of the West
Analysis and interpretation
In the year 2008 a huge and comprehensive financial crisis began. For some people it had almost invisible consequences, and for others it transformed their everyday life completely. Being used to making and spending money without having to worry about one's economics, a firing can put the world upside down and force a family into a less materialistic life, which they are not at all comfortable with. That's exactly what the protagonist, Mike, fears will happen to him, his wife and their two sons in the short story “The Decline of the West” by Hanif Kureshi, written in 2010.
This short story is certainly about what consequences both a capitalistic and materialistic society can have to a family, such as how a world-wide financial crisis can influence and reflect the values of a family living in this kind of society. The short story is told with a 3rd person narrator limited to the protagonist, Mike. Therefore the reader only knows about his feelings and his thoughts, not the boys’ or the wife's thoughts. Hence, the point of view is very subjective and that makes the narrator unreliable. The reader only sees the world through Mike's eyes and thus the reader is inclined to sympathize with Mike and his opinions, even though they can be wrong. For instance the reader perceives the boys as rude and ungrateful to their father's struggle to keep them materialistic satisfied. Maybe the unhealthy relationship is based on a lack of attention and love from their father, but the reader doesn't get that impression, because the point of view is limited only to Mike and his thoughts about the relationship.
However, the family seems to agree that Mike is a hopeless husband and father: "You've spoiled and neglected him, you ridiculous, foolish man. And now you expect him to obey you!" (ll. 134-135)
"You've done nothing for me." (ll. 64) Mike appears as a man, who obviously doesn't get the respect and thanks
Analysis and interpretation
In the year 2008 a huge and comprehensive financial crisis began. For some people it had almost invisible consequences, and for others it transformed their everyday life completely. Being used to making and spending money without having to worry about one's economics, a firing can put the world upside down and force a family into a less materialistic life, which they are not at all comfortable with. That's exactly what the protagonist, Mike, fears will happen to him, his wife and their two sons in the short story “The Decline of the West” by Hanif Kureshi, written in 2010.
This short story is certainly about what consequences both a capitalistic and materialistic society can have to a family, such as how a world-wide financial crisis can influence and reflect the values of a family living in this kind of society. The short story is told with a 3rd person narrator limited to the protagonist, Mike. Therefore the reader only knows about his feelings and his thoughts, not the boys’ or the wife's thoughts. Hence, the point of view is very subjective and that makes the narrator unreliable. The reader only sees the world through Mike's eyes and thus the reader is inclined to sympathize with Mike and his opinions, even though they can be wrong. For instance the reader perceives the boys as rude and ungrateful to their father's struggle to keep them materialistic satisfied. Maybe the unhealthy relationship is based on a lack of attention and love from their father, but the reader doesn't get that impression, because the point of view is limited only to Mike and his thoughts about the relationship.
However, the family seems to agree that Mike is a hopeless husband and father: "You've spoiled and neglected him, you ridiculous, foolish man. And now you expect him to obey you!" (ll. 134-135)
"You've done nothing for me." (ll. 64) Mike appears as a man, who obviously doesn't get the respect and thanks