Act 2 Scene 5 of ‘East is east’ is the key scene to the whole play. This vital moment specifies the means and feelings of all the characters. The tension reaches its climax, and the line is drawn, all the characters learn their priorities and begin to understand each other. This final scene in particular, is most successful in the amalgamation of pathos, humour and social commentary. The title of the play was taken from a poem by Rudyard Kipling -‘East is east, and West is west, and never the twain shall meet. The title contradicts the points made by the playwright; it is as if the playwright aims to prove the quote wrong through out the play.

During the final scene, Khan-Din aims to create a sense of pathos within the audience. An obvious example of this is when George is physically abusing his wife Ella, minutes before his children aim to restrain him. This moment indicates a cue for eldest son Abdul to take over the patriarchal position. ‘No Dad it’s over.’ Abdul takes control of the situation for the first time during his life of family discord. Khan-Din deliberately chooses Abdul because he is the most mature of the siblings, the most understanding and considerate. Abdul was the only one who actually understood his father and respected his views of becoming a traditional Pakistani. ‘It was right to be here, to belong to something’. He only wanted his father to understand him as he was; his aim was to relate to father who actually cared about him. Khan- Din adds warmth and love to the scene when times are at their worst. Even though the family witness domestic violence, when George leaves, the atmosphere becomes warm and understandable again. The transfer of the patriarchal position pays a big emotional impact on the characters.

It caused the children to realize that things were to be different from now on; they became aware that their father had exceeded their expectations of cruelty and desire for them to conform. At this moment of poignancy, George Khan hangs in shame as a broken man, he finally accepts that his children are unique in their own way, and his family traditions cannot alter them. He accepts that his offspring cannot avoid the western society they live in. At this pivotal moment, George tries to repent his mistakes without success. ‘I love my family. I have to bloody stick up for family when people calling.’