The Buddha of Suburbia

Karim’s interpretation and narration of events as well as his insights and growth form a substantial portion of the novel. Karim embraces life at every turn in his quest for acceptance and belonging, as he constructs an adult identity. Early on, he says he wants to live intensely, with all the drugs, sex, and new life experiences that he can possible have. He achieves his goal.

He is sexually adventurous and bisexual. His sexuality and physical beauty, which includes his exotic appearance as an English-Indian man, draw people to him. Jamila nicknames him Creamy because of his potent sexuality.

Acting brings Karim many opportunities, but it also costs him dignity and self-respect in terms of his ethnic identities. His first role is as Mowgli in The Jungle Book. They cover him in brown shoe polish, and his costume is a loin cloth. He is doubly betrayed; exploited for his beauty and insulted for his Indian heritage.

As a middle class young man, he is completely out of place with upper-crust people, like Eleanor. However, limits his own choices by dropping out of secondary school, never finishing his A-levels. He falls into acting simply because it’s something that he’s interested in, and Eva helps him get his first part.