“I was never an American. I was immediately a New Yorker.” How is Changez’s sense of identity altered over the course of the novel? In Mohsin Hamid’s novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist the reader is confronted with the harsh reality of what it means to fit in within a specific society, whether it being America or Pakistan. The narrator Changez is unsure of who he is, and whilst his values and characteristics remain unchanged, his sense of identity is altered significantly by the novel’s conclusion. Through the use of a dramatic monologue Changez is able to explore how he sees himself as he attempts to clarify his experiences in America.
“The Reluctant Fundamentalist intertwines several stories in order for the reader to make sense of the post 9/11 world” Pakistani Author, Mohsin Hamid’s “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” is a potent example of post 9/11 literature. The story follows an encounter between two apparent strangers in a Lahore Café: one, a silent and nameless American, the other a talkative and educated Pakistani, Changez, who imposes an array of stories of his experience in America upon “The American”. Recounting his experiences, Changez, and indeed Hamid, reveal much about the patriotic and emotional climate in the USA after the September 11 attacks. Hamid’s multiple narratives help the reader to make sense of the post 9/11 world as the framed narrative can be read as an allegory, with characters symbolic of different facets of America and its relationship with the international community. The action unfolding in the café helps the reader to evaluate the complex cultural tensions and fears of the post 9/11 world.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist ‘Does Changez find or lose his identity throughout his journey? Discuss.’ In The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which is written by Mohsin Hamid, the protagonist, who is a Pakistani, Changez struggles over whether he belongs in the modern Western world, which hold “one of the most advanced civilisations”, or his motherland of Pakistan which has the “appearance of former greatness” and is “rich with history”. As a person who likes discoveries, Changez moves across different countries and is exposed to a variety of different lifestyles and cultures. Although Changez has somewhat lost his old identity while living in New York, studying at Princeton and working for Underwood Samson, he ultimately remembers and resorts to his old identity when he is placed in a pressured situation, and is forced to examine his beliefs and attributes. During the beginning of the novel when Changez begins to talk to the ‘unknown’ American, he initially claims to be a “lover of America”.
‘I did not know where I stood on so many issues of consequence; I lacked a stable core. I was not certain where I belonged… my own identity is so fragile’ During his time at Princeton changez adopted a persona which he believed would make him fit in, but there is still something that actually set him apart from the Princeton peers. In pretending to be a young prince while surreptitiously supporting himself with three jobs he had begun the process of transforming himself. He admitted he was well liked an ‘exotic acquaintance’ but in his desire to makes a life for himself in America he did not recognize the danger in subjugating his true self. Moreover the readers cannot be convinced that he had acceptance he believe he fit in.
Changez’ continual determination shows us that he is never accepted by those around him. Hence he must continually prove himself in order to feel accepted even though he is an outcast. Before the events of 9/11 the narrator states that Changez “was never an American, but I was instantly a New Yorker.” Initially Changez feels comfortable in New York, a very multicultural place, yet as a result of September 11, New York loses its identity and independence and becomes a part of America again, and with it Changez loses his sense of belonging. Furthermore, through one of Changez’ epiphanies it is made clear that he is in no way similar to his American colleagues. “I felt at that moment much closer to the Filipino driver than to him.” It is through this epiphany the author demonstrates that Changez has never really been adopted as an American.
Jovi Ann Varquez Professor Flores English 1302 16 Sept. Racial Prejudice Along with the progress of this country came cultural diversity and discrimination. Different issues on opposing beliefs and traditions have come up, but most issues on superiority of race and color. Sherman Alexie, one of the greatest Native American writers, never let discrimination get the better of him. Instead he used literature as his way of inspiring others to fight against stereotypes as is evident in his article “Indian Education.” The article is a narration of brief encounters or memories of an Indian boy, from first to twelfth grade, depicting how he struggled to succeed despite stereotypes.
In the text “The Reluctant Fundamentalist “written by Mohsin Hamid, demonstrations that the main tension is due to the shifting of identity by the protagonist, changez a young Pakistani man who journeys through different surroundings and atmospheres trying to find his way in the world. With constant tensions and pressures he is forced to remould his identity to fit his environment .Changez begins his soul searching journey at Princeton, an Ivy League school, fruitful with opportunities. Being the top of his class and only being one of two Pakistani in the whole university, changez is forced to up hold a particular image. With changez attending Princeton it exposes him to high ranking jobs, which he is offered a place at underwood Samson. Underwood Samson a meritocracy, the job enforces a responsibility, a rank, a hunger for changez to the reach the top, the reluctance of upholding the pressures and weight of the job; he forced to reshape his personality to uphold an obedient “soldier”.
Jasmine Shah Priest Into The Wild Final Paper 22 November 2011 Into The Wild Final Paper Derived from the Declaration of Independence, the quote, “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”(The Declaration of Independence 89), helps shape the way many Americans define there happiness and go about there daily lives. Basing his ideas off the declaration of Independence Alexis de Tocqueville states, “ one will then find people continually changing path for fear of missing the shortest cut leading to happiness”(de Tocqueville 166). This statement shows how Americans will do anything to find their happiness, even if they don’t achieve it. A man who goes by the name Christopher Johnson McCandless rejects these ideas and believes to achieve happiness one must invest their time in non-materialistic
Then the term of being a reluctant fundamentalist is somewhat an ironic term, because this is a person who is not sure what beliefs it should adhere to. In the novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid our protagonist Changez becomes struggles between his identities of being an American or Pakistani through certain events in his life. The first part Changez’s journey to becoming a reluctant fundamentalist is his stay in America. Changez was native of a place called Lahore in the country of Pakistan. He was raised there by his family until the age of eighteen, where we was sent off to Princeton in the United States of America.
He taught me to consider everyone as a part of my family and taught me how to love people by sharing and giving. I believe that the biggest fantasy in life is to buy someone something he really needs and watch his facial expression. I learned that being humble is what makes friends, team or anyone you meet feel comfortable to connect with you in the future. My dad has been such an enormous, wonderful influence on me over the years.