Changez’ failed persistence to fit in and adopt the American culture causes him to waste many years of his life as an outsider. Likewise, it is only Jim’s willingness to change to causes him to gain acceptance in the American culture, although it is clear that he too is an outcast in his own unique way. Erica is consumed by her nostalgic past, and chooses to distance herself from society in order to live in her nostalgic past. While Changez works tirelessly to be accepted as an American, he is only ever recognised as an outsider. Changez’ continual determination shows us that he is never accepted by those around him.
Wilson Lewis faces conflict with his relationships between his wife, his kids, and even himself. Lewis wants to be a better husband, but he is afraid he will not be able to make up for his past mistakes. When Lewis forgets his twenty-ninth anniversary his wife, Jane, is absolutely devastated. Soon after the anniversary is forgotten, Jane leaves to go to New York to spend a few weeks away from Wilson Lewis with their children. In this time apart Lewis spends quality time with Jane’s father, Noah Calhoun, and its Noah’s advice that helps Wilson to deviate the ideal plan.
However, beneath her facade, Jeanette begins to realize that her father doesn’t have the strength of character to stay sober. By the section’s end some of Jeannette’s naiveté has faded. She matures enough to be able to distinguish between the ‘good’ times and the ‘bad,’ instead of the thrilling adventure her parents try to convince her she is living. She knows all families do not live as hers does. Character: Rose Mary: It is hard to take pity on Rose Mary because at this point in the novel she becomes very self-centered.
Outsider In his novel THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST mohsin hamid explores changez attempt to make a life for himself in America. While at first he is successful at Princeton and then in securing a job with a well-respected American firm, the reader becomes aware that he finds it increasingly difficult become he is marginalized as an outsider. As he strives to live the American dream, seeking money and status, he begins to question his own values and those of American society. This self-examination triggers such a crisis of identity that he rejects the persona he is trying to fabricate. ‘I did not know where I stood on so many issues of consequence; I lacked a stable core.
Then again, I do not work as indicated by agendas and in order to start achieving my goals, I need to be highly motivated. After taking the survey, I learned that I need to manage my time accordingly. There should be time for fun and time for serious work. Individuals who have lower future orientation experience arousal procrastination, putting things off to get a last minute rush. I sometimes distance from or reject future goals so that I can reduce present tension and look for more immediate and pleasurable rewards than longer arranges or future objectives.
The Great Gatsby’s failure to answer the questions of whether or not Tom knew of Daisy’s involvement in Myrtle’s death and what the exact meaning of Nick’s assertion at the end of the book meant reflect the ongoing themes that are based upon the harsh reality that the American dream brings, the confused disillusionment of the time, and the synthetic moral and societal values of the United Sates during the nineteen twenties. In the final chapter of The Great Gatsby, Nick claims that the American dream was originally based on pure and optimistic desires, such as individuality and the idea of producing one’s own gladness, but it was then clouded by the growing greed of man and the progressively weak ethical standards created during this period. Nick’s visions of the West as having a more honest and moral based culture indirectly imitate Gatsby’s romanticized feelings towards the future he hoped for with Daisy. The “real snow” (Fitzgerald, 175) that he refers to helps to drive this idea into a more directly formed opinion. All in all, his romanticized feelings towards the west compared to the growing phoniness of the east help to create the image of the dream of America moving from a state of bright development to a point of tainted existence.
Holden’s perception of phoniness causes him to become critical and suspicious and detaches him from society. His relationship with June whom he meets midway through his journey of discovery fails to flourish because he cannot commit fully to her he refuses altogether the ‘phoniness’ of a partial commitment. Holden does not know how to make a connection without becoming phony himself. In the end however holder comes to a accommodation with the world and this change is seen especially in the last pages when he describes his affection for phoebe: ‘…I felt so damn happy, if you want to know the truth. I don’t know why.
Enlisting in the war would help him feel more secure about where he stands at that point in his life. Since the war symbolizes the coming of age, Gene is looking for who he is ties in perfectly with this theme. In the novel the passage beginning with “To enlist. To slam the door…” (Knowles 100) is when Gene finally realizes that he is insecure about whom he is and that he just wants to be someone else because he’s just not comfortable being in his own skin. This relates to the theme of coming of age because Gene towards the end of the book finally decides to enlist in the war with Brinker Hadley and he finds himself with the war and that’s why the war symbolizes Gene growing as a person in this novel.
The Evolution of a Hero Our lives are based on our vivid memories of the past. The experiences that we had early on in our childhood of learning to not steal candy from the corner store, or to say please and thank you at the table all intertwine to form our visions of our future. In the novel, The Kite Runner, Amir is a character we observe that has to deal with the painful memories of the past. His main regret of betraying his loyal friend Hassan has haunted his soul for the last 26 years of his life. “It maybe unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometime even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime” (Hosseini 183).
Changez does find his identity throughout his journey, however, at time he loses himself and is confused about where he belongs. Ideas: Finding his identity: Realisations, moves back to Lahore Losing his identity: Pretending to be Chris, starts acting like an American (in Philippines) Confused about his identity: Beard, 9/11 attacks, “Princeton made everything possible…but it did not, could not, make me forget such things as how much I enjoy the tea in this, the city of my birth” Mohsin Hamid’s novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist, illustrates the conflicting struggle between the protagonist Changez and his ongoing pursuit to discover his identity throughout his peregrination. Through the duration of the novel, the reader is subjected to Changez’s transitioning character as he endeavours the challenges which are faced by a foreigner in New York during the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Changez battles with the uncertainty which is bestowed up him from being both a New Yorker and a Pakistani man, which puts his identity into question. Through the many events which feature in the novel, the reader is able to deduct that whilst Changez may lose himself and become perplexed about his identity during his time in New York, he ultimately is a man who is entrenched in his heritage.