CHARACTERS OF THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST

 Q: What are the major themes and characters in Hamid's "The Reluctant Fundamentalist"?

INTRODUCTION:

"The Reluctant Fundamentalist" is considered to be one of the flagship works of well known literary author Mohsin Hamid.

The novel revolves around the life events of the protagonist Changez who has to bear the brunt of the post 9/11 scenario in America. The rationale of this novel was to give an insight into the post 9/11 dilemma and skepticism of Americans towards Muslims, specifically Pakistanis.

PLOT SYNOPSIS:

The novel has its setting in a post-9/11 world. The discussion centered on the experience of a Pakistani living in the skeptical and terrorism-altered western world.

The novel is a brief and comprehensive narration of one evening at a local café. In the café, Changez describes his life during his years in America.

Changez arrives in America intending to pursue his higher education at Princeton University. Upon graduating with high honors, he falls in love with his classmate Erica. Erica seems to be a complex character struggling with intense depression caused due to the death of her lover Chris. 

 In New York, Changez wins the popularity of a very able and hardworking professional. At the same time, his relationship with Erica undergoes some development as he starts visiting her parents. Changez was on an international assignment when he heard the news of the deadly attack on the World Trade Centre in 2001. Upon flying back to America, he finds life different there. He was treated like an alien when he was strip-searched at the airport. It marks the novel's turning point when Changez begins to feel uncomfortable in America.

Changez ended up abandoning his stay in America and returning to Pakistan. In Pakistan, he proved to be a strong voice against the policies of the United States.

SIGNIFICANCE OF CHARACTERS:

In any literary work, characters seem to be the author's mouthpiece to reflect his inner feeling on the paper. By employing various characters, MOHSIN has effectively presented his version of the post 9/11 scenario of the United States.

CHANGEZ:

INTRODUCTION:

Changez serves to be the protagonist and the narrator of the novel. He does not belong to a wealthy family, but his manners show that he was raised in a high social setup. Within the course of the novel, Changez falls in love with Erica, a Princeton classmate whom he met in Greece.

After the terrorist attack of 9/11, Changez feels that it is now very difficult for him to keep his job and love of Erica. So he left America and got himself settled in Pakistan. After returning to his homeland, he begins criticizing the policies of America. Due to this fact, he was labeled as "Anti American."

CHANGEZ AND PATRIOTISM:

In the novel, we come across many instances that show the strong commitment of Changez to Pakistan. One such example is the reaction of Changez when Erica's father criticizes the social and political setup of Pakistan. His reply to the assessment of her father was:

"Yes, there are challenges, sir, but my family is there, and I can assure you that it is not that bad."

Further, Changez explains that it is not a truthful assessment of his homeland. In his view, it is the typical mentality with which Americans assess things.

"American undercurrent of condescension."

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ELEMENTS:

The character of Changez is considered to be the reflection of Mr. Mohsin Hamid as the author himself was a very sound and able professional working for a top American company. He, like Changez, also left America owing to post 9/11 skepticism towards Muslims and Pakistanis.

SENSE OF IDENTITY:

The biggest disadvantage of Changez's disillusionment is its identity crisis. The question: is he Pakistani or American?

This question stirs the imagination of the reader of the novel. Erica's above comments show that Changez was a true patriot at the start.

"You seem solid."

At times we feel that Changez is stuck up between the two nationalities. i.e., America and Pakistan. This sense of difference forces the protagonist to feel that:

"Uncomfortable in my own face."

ERICA:

INTRODUCTION:

She is a wealthy, thin, athletic person interested in writing. Her inspiration for writing was blocked after the tragic death of her lover Chris.

"In all likelihood, she longed for her adolescence with Chris, for a time before his Cancer made her aware of the impermanence and mortality… I did not know whether I believed in the truth of their love; it was, after all, a religion that would not accept me as a convert."

ERICA AND CHRIS:

It is a fact that Chris is not technically a character in the novel. But his presence is very significant as it leaves deep imprints upon the life of fellow characters. The relationship between Erica and Chris has its tragic and gloomy ending upon the death of Chris.

ERICA'S DEPRESSION:

Upon the death of her childhood sweetheart, Erica took it to her heart and became a mental patient. He owing to her bitter past was not willing to pay heed to the emotions of Changez. She was more obsessed with her thoughts and nothing else. It epitomizes her to be a self-centered creature having no interest in everything else; after the tragic incident of 9/11, her desire to return to Chris increases.

"She falls into a detached and seemingly ascetic state."

ERICA AND AMERICA:

In many ways, the relationship between Changez and Erica reflects the troubled relations between Changez and United States. When they make love, he can only enter her by pretending that he is someone whom he is not.

In the same way, America will only accept him if he abandons his native culture.

THE AMERICAN:

INTRODUCTION:

The American serves to be the unnamed character of the novel. His character enables us to make our assessments about the novel. 

He is tall and barrels chested with an appearance of a detective. The discussion between Changez and The American spreads the novel's entire plot.

ANALYSIS OF THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN CHANGEZ AND AMERICAN:

The discussion between the two characters becomes the central issue of the novel. On the one hand, the discussion between the two characters epitomizes a standoff. But on the other hand, the discussion seems to be an opportunity for Changez to explore his feelings about America. One important excerpt of the discussion between the two characters is shown as follows:

"It seems an obvious thing to say, but you should not imagine that we Pakistanis are all potential terrorists, just as we should not imagine that all you Americans are undercover assassins."

Throughout the novel, we remain aloof toward the identity of the American. The American's voice is only heard through Changez's reaction to it. For example, in comments such as:

"Yes, you are right: it was Princeton!"

JIM:

"They try to resist change. Power comes from becoming change."

He was the boss and mentor of Changez. Although Jim supports him in his career, eventually, he fires him from his company.

JIM AND PROGRESS:

Jim is completely the opposite of Erica as he passionately follows progress in life. He also serves to represent the corporate face of America, whose primary focus was to gain financial power without feeling about the others.

It is true that the blind commitment the philosophy serves to be a destructive thing. In one instance, Jim advises Changez to be loyal to his company fellows. Well! This advice reflects larger financial interests.

"Jim advice Changez to be loyal to his friends at Underwood Samson rather than his flag."

AN OFFICER OF EMPIRE:

Changez says that Jim had a very strange personality because it resembles

"Had the look of seasoned army officer."

After sometimes he realizes that he is working with the officer of the Empire. Both the statements highlight the parallel in the novel between international finance and war.

WAINWRIGHT:

INTRODUCTION:

The following quote gives us a glimpse of his personality.

"Almost universally well-liked"

He was the friend of Changez and the only non-white graduate at Underwood Samson. He was also a brilliant person as his performance rating lies second to Mr. Changez. He was the only fellow that acknowledged the Changez's departure from Underwood Samson.

ENTHUSIASM:

Unlike his friend, Wainwright was very much interested in American pop culture and had a

"A penchant for quoting lines from popular cinema, much as(Changez's) mother quoted the poems of Faiz and Ghalib."

His interpretation of society is comparatively better than Mr. Changez.

TRAGIC FLAW:

Well! He believed that everything is fair to achieve success and to please others. He would not mind doing something wrong to satisfy his interests.

"Just remember your deals would go ahead whether you worked on them or not"

CHRIS:

Chris serves as a character having a significant impact on the novel. Although he never appears on the scene, he has a deep impact on the novel's plot. He was Erica's childhood love.

"With long skinny fingers"

Chris died from lung cancer, and his sudden death caused certain psychological issues for Erica.

MINOR CHARACTERS:

Some of the minor characters of the play are:

⦁ Sherman

⦁ The Filipino Driver

⦁ The Nurse

⦁ The Cashier