The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid.
Reluctant Fundamentalist is Mohsin Hamids great piece of art in Literature. In the novel he has shared somehow his own life experiences and perceptions therefore, we can call it an auto-biographical novel. He is using the technique of vexation cause, during the course of the story we see the protagonist Changez sharing his life experiences to an American stranger. He is basically, crying his heart out what he always wanted. He deep in his hear wished to share these experiences to an American to let them know how we Asian especially, Pakistanis think about them.
The story basically deals with the theme of identity crises at large. As, we can see that Changez till the end of the story is not sure about his true perception whether, he hates America or not. He is a prisoner of his own soul. He does not know what he really wants and who he really is. He wants to find the answers of these questions but till the end they seem to be unsolved and unanswered. He is a simple person who wants touch the heights of success. He is a passionate fellow, he wants to become something and someone. Thus, he thinks America is a great opportunity to get what he is aiming at. This is the first perception which we see through his character. He likes American people, has many American friends. His girlfriend is also an America Erica. But, even after getting everything apparently, he feels lonely cause, there is nobody with whom he can relate himself.
The trauma begins with the event of 9/11. That was a horrible sight which he couldn't resist. He felt bad about those people but, when he saw them blaming the Muslims, he then became rigid towards American. We cannot say that the fault here lies in the character of Changez wholly but, the reaction of Americans has made him rigid. America's changed policies and the view of racism against Muslims have made him realize that he does not belong to this country and nation. Moreover, when he came to know that the company he is working for is an anti-Muslim company he started hating them more. He then decides to leave America and go back to his own place, Lahore Pakistan. Now we see him as a fundamentalist, a sensative Pakistani who, cannot hold criticism against his country and religion. He in Pakistan becomes a teacher and tell people the true face of America. He tries to disillusion the fake perceptions of Pakistani nation about America. He tells them that America does not bring any glory to the lives of people rather, it shatters the inner abilities of Muslims and Pakistanis. They use and abuse Muslims for there own suit.
The title itself reveals that the story is about someone who, is reluctant to hate America, and fundamentalist to love Pakistan and his religion. And to share it with a stranger reveals that somehow he does not need the clarity. It makes the reluctant vivid here that he himself does not know the true root of his perception. Thus the crux of the story is that, your heart is the only voice that tells you the truth, but to listen to that you need to dive deep into yourself which, Changez couldn't do as, he is still following the surface feelings of his heart. He is not able to listen to the deeper voice of his soul.
The story basically deals with the theme of identity crises at large. As, we can see that Changez till the end of the story is not sure about his true perception whether, he hates America or not. He is a prisoner of his own soul. He does not know what he really wants and who he really is. He wants to find the answers of these questions but till the end they seem to be unsolved and unanswered. He is a simple person who wants touch the heights of success. He is a passionate fellow, he wants to become something and someone. Thus, he thinks America is a great opportunity to get what he is aiming at. This is the first perception which we see through his character. He likes American people, has many American friends. His girlfriend is also an America Erica. But, even after getting everything apparently, he feels lonely cause, there is nobody with whom he can relate himself.
The trauma begins with the event of 9/11. That was a horrible sight which he couldn't resist. He felt bad about those people but, when he saw them blaming the Muslims, he then became rigid towards American. We cannot say that the fault here lies in the character of Changez wholly but, the reaction of Americans has made him rigid. America's changed policies and the view of racism against Muslims have made him realize that he does not belong to this country and nation. Moreover, when he came to know that the company he is working for is an anti-Muslim company he started hating them more. He then decides to leave America and go back to his own place, Lahore Pakistan. Now we see him as a fundamentalist, a sensative Pakistani who, cannot hold criticism against his country and religion. He in Pakistan becomes a teacher and tell people the true face of America. He tries to disillusion the fake perceptions of Pakistani nation about America. He tells them that America does not bring any glory to the lives of people rather, it shatters the inner abilities of Muslims and Pakistanis. They use and abuse Muslims for there own suit.
The title itself reveals that the story is about someone who, is reluctant to hate America, and fundamentalist to love Pakistan and his religion. And to share it with a stranger reveals that somehow he does not need the clarity. It makes the reluctant vivid here that he himself does not know the true root of his perception. Thus the crux of the story is that, your heart is the only voice that tells you the truth, but to listen to that you need to dive deep into yourself which, Changez couldn't do as, he is still following the surface feelings of his heart. He is not able to listen to the deeper voice of his soul.
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