The Reluctant Fundamentalist Essay

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The Reluctant fundamentalist shows us that nostalgia is a poison In Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, apparently is shown the other aspect, despite the beneficial side as a salve, but the far lethal side of nostalgia. The astonishing issue---the September 11, undoubtedly turns the USA’s theme from “openness” to “nostalgia”, and as a dire turning-point to be in the story, triggers subsequent changes. The same as America, Erica, who is assumed to be a symbolic character reflects the USA, also gets lost into the endless reminiscence of the bygone affections with Chris, finally destroy her. Nevertheless, these remind Changez of his relatives, who are addicted to nostalgia as well. Strikingly, Hamid sets these enormously realistic and secular scenes to the readers in order to substantiate the havoc of odious recalling back, which is with blindness and narrow-vision, septic grudge and mutiny, like a chronic but fatal poison. America is particularly a victim of this mood. With underlying intention of grabbing its own profit and entitlement in the name of “fundamentalism”, the Underwood Samson & Company, is a notable metaphor to indicate America, represents a rising hegemony’s ambition to take control of the whole world. Armed with the most advanced technologies and elites, the USA once considered itself the world’s dominant power, with arrogance and vanity. Even until the September 11 arises, America is inclined to be nostalgic, and turn its cannon with fury to Third World, especially Islamic world, instead of sensitive introspection of its own deeds. A window of mutual communication is shut down. American flags “invaded New York after attacks”. In Changez’s eyes, a “cosmopolitan” state has turned to an arbitrary and narrow-minded foreign world. The flame of hatred is lit up, America has not only lost thousands of lives, but also the chance to talk and

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