The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid: A Critical Review- Reveling Identity and Conflict
(A Deep Dive into the Complexities of Identity, Cultural Clash, and Power Dynamics in Hamid’s Provocative Novel)
Book Reviewed by: Anjana Bohara_
About The Auther Moshin Hamid
Mohsin Hamid, born on July 23, 1971, in Lahore, Pakistan, is a renowned British-Pakistani author and brand consultant. His notable novels include Moth Smoke, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, Exit West, and The Last White Man. Hamid holds degrees from prestigious institutions such as Princeton University and Harvard Law School. His writing is influenced by literary figures like Haruki Murakami and Saadat Hasan Manto. He is married to Zahra and has a daughter, Dina. Over the years, Hamid has been honored with several awards, including the Sitara-i-Imtiaz and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction.
THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTAL
The Setting of the Book Reluctant Fundamentalist
A Book Review of the Reluctant Fundamentalist utilizes a frame story technique, unfolding in an outdoor cafe in Lahore throughout a single evening. Changez, a bearded Pakistani man, shares with a jittery American stranger his romantic involvement with an American woman and his eventual detachment from America.
Characters Of The Book Reluctant Fundamentalist
Changez,
Changez, the main character of the novel, is a Pakistani man who attended college at Princeton. He recounts his experiences in the United States to a character referred to as the Stranger. Throughout most of the novel, he admires the United States and makes significant efforts to integrate with his American friends and colleagues while working at a financial firm in New York. However, his perspective shifts after the events of 9/11, leading to increased experiences of racism and discrimination. Additionally, his romantic relationship with an American woman named Erica is disrupted by her preoccupation with her deceased former boyfriend Chris. These experiences culminate in Changez feeling disenchanted with his adopted country, perceiving it as a threat to the world.
Subsequently, he decides to leave America and return to Pakistan, where he becomes a lecturer opposing the US. In his narration, Changez occasionally speaks directly to the Stranger, and the nature of these interactions remains ambiguous. Changez’s tone reflects a mix of concern, courtesy, and caution, conveying his complex feelings towards the US at that stage of his life. Ultimately, the novel concludes without offering clarity on whether Changez is a trustworthy narrator or a reliable friend to the Stranger,if he has embraced anti-American views while still holding some affection for the country, or if he has resorted to terrorism. The ambiguous ending suggests that Changez, at that particular moment, is making a defining choice about his future, with the potential for either solidifying a friendship with the Stranger or descending into violence.
The Stranger
Changez tells his story to an unnamed person, referred to as the Stranger, who never speaks in the book. The reader only knows the Stranger through Changez’s descriptions. It remains unclear how much Changez can rely on the Stranger — the Stranger may be simply a tourist, but it’s also possible that he is some sort of government agent. There’s a feeling that the Stranger might even be an American spy sent to investigate, capture, or possibly even harm Changez. However, the novel ends with a cliffhanger, not revealing the true identity of the Stranger, which reflects the uncertainty and tension between these cultures in the post-9/11 world.
Erica
Erica is a Princeton graduate who is beautiful and popular. Changez falls in love with her. She has deep feelings for Changez, but at times she seems to see Changez more as an exotic foreigner than a true friend and lover. She is a writer and feels nostalgic for Chris, a childhood friend and boyfriend who passed away a year before she met Changez. After 9/11, she becomes depressed and mentally ill, fixated on an obsessive longing for Chris, which prevents any chance of a relationship with Changez. Toward the end of the novel, it is suggested that she might have taken her own life. Despite living in Pakistan, Changez still remembers her fondly and imagines, albeit without much hope, that she might come to him someday. The presence of the name “Erica” within the word “America” is not a coincidence, and Changez’s relationship with Erica can be seen as parallel to his relationship with America.
Jim
Jim holds the position of executive vice president at Underwood Samson and serves as Changez’s mentor for most of his tenure with the company. Having risen from an impoverished background, Jim can relate to Changez’s financial circumstances and consistently brings this up with Changez. Similar to Erica, Jim’s feelings towards Changez may be constrained by his limited comprehension of Changez’s culture and personality. The novel also suggests that Jim may have romantic feelings for Changez, although Jim’s sexual orientation is never disclosed.
The Waiter
The Waiter serves Changez and the Stranger as they sit and enjoy tea at the café in Lahore that Changez brought the Stranger to. Coming from a tribe affected by America’s military, he seems unfriendly and resentful towards the Stranger, despite Changez’s assurance that he is polite and kind. Toward the end of the novel, the Waiter is seen running towards the Stranger in a dimly lit street, possibly preparing to attack him, although this is not entirely certain.
Wainwright
Wainwright is an acquaintance of Changez at Underwood Samson and the only other trainee who is not white. He is relaxed and well-liked by his fellow trainees. He and Changez form a quick friendship, but they drift apart after 9/11 because Wainwright is more at ease with America and American culture. Despite this, Wainwright is the only one among Changez’s peers who shakes his hand when Changez is dismissed.
Chris
Chris was Erica’s deceased boyfriend. According to her, he had a dapper appearance and an “old-fashioned” charm. Throughout the book, Erica’s love for Chris persists, even years after his passing. Her increasing fixation with Chris following 9/11 eventually results in her experiencing depression and mental illness.
Mike
A classmate of Changez at Princeton. He joins Changez, Erica, and Chuck on a trip to Greece and makes an unsuccessful attempt to flirt with Erica.
Juan-Batista
Juan-Batista is the president of a Chilean publishing company that is valued by Underwood Sampson. Changez is involved in the project and develops a friendship with Juan-Batista. Juan-Batista’s inquiries lead Changez to identify himself as a “janissary” — a person who has been abducted and forced to fight against his own culture. This realization prompts Changez to stop working at Underwood Sampson.
Jeepney Driver
One day, as Changez is on his way to work at Underwood Sampson in a limousine, he notices a jeepney (a type of public bus) driver glaring at him with anger. Changez is unsure if the man’s anger is directed personally at him, due to jealousy of Changez’s suit and limousine, or because of a general resentment towards Americans. After their silent confrontation, Changez looks at his fair-haired Underwood Samson colleagues and suddenly feels a sense of foreignness, feeling a deeper connection to the driver than to his colleagues. This encounter marks the beginning of Changez’s growing sense of detachment from the United States.
Chunk
A classmate and soccer buddy of Changez at Princeton, he travels to Greece with Changez, Erica, and Mike.
Erica’s Mother
Erica’s mother is a gentle yet quiet woman who appears to have a fondness for Changez.
Erica’s Father
Erica’s father is an influential entrepreneur who tends to treat Changez with a hint of condescension.
Sherman
Sherman is a vice president at Underwood Samson and is ranked below Jim.
Changez’s Brother
Residing in Pakistan, he gets married shortly after Changez’s return and informs Changez that many people are reinforcing their homes due to their apprehensions of a potential conflict with U.S.-backed India.
Changez’s Father
Residing in Pakistan, he is apprehensive about a potential war with U.S.-backed India, although he is reluctant to discuss it.
Changez’s Mother
Changez’s Mother resides in Pakistan. Upon Changez’s return to Pakistan, she anticipates his imminent marriage and is curious about his hesitation.
Plot of the book Reluctant Fundamentalist
The story begins in the streets of Lahore, where Changez, a Pakistani man, meets an American visitor and offers to help him find a good cup of tea. As they sit and wait, Changez shares his life story, reflecting on his time in the United States. He weaves in vivid descriptions of Lahore, his beloved hometown, while the unnamed American listens with growing impatience.
Changez reveals that he excelled as a student, graduating from Princeton and landing a prestigious job as an analyst with Underwood Samson, a top consulting firm. During a vacation in Greece, he met Erica, an aspiring writer, and became deeply attracted to her. However, Erica was still mourning the loss of her childhood love, Chris, who had died of cancer. Despite their budding connection, her emotional attachment to Chris kept her from fully reciprocating Changez’s feelings. After a brief moment of intimacy, facilitated by Erica imagining she was with Chris, their relationship slowly unraveled. Erica eventually sought treatment at a mental institution, but when Changez visited her, he saw how much she had deteriorated. Afterward, she disappeared, leaving only her clothes by the Hudson River, and was presumed dead.
Professionally, Changez thrived at his firm, gaining the respect of his colleagues and building a strong bond with his boss, Jim. He worked on various international assignments, including one in Chile. While there, he became distracted by global events and began to reflect on his role in the American corporate world, seeing himself as complicit in the exploitation of countries like his own. He visited the home of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, which deepened his growing disillusionment with the United States. Unable to focus on his job, he returned to New York without completing his assignment and was eventually fired.
After the September 11 attacks, Changez was shocked by his own reaction, admitting that he initially felt a sense of satisfaction. He noticed a growing atmosphere of suspicion toward Pakistanis in the U.S., though his privileged status spared him from direct mistreatment. However, his feelings of alienation deepened. He grew a beard in solidarity with his fellow Pakistanis, and as tensions escalated between India and Pakistan following the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, he began to see his country as a pawn in U.S. foreign policy. With no job, his visa nearing expiration, and no reason to stay, he returned to Lahore.
Back in Pakistan, Changez became a university professor, gaining respect for his knowledge of global affairs. He mentored students, some of whom were involved in protests against U.S. policies. Though Changez advocated for nonviolence, one of his students was arrested for an attempted assassination of an American official, which brought unwanted attention to Changez. In a public interview, he harshly criticized U.S. militarism, further fueling suspicions that he might become a target of American retaliation.
As the conversation in Lahore continues, Changez becomes increasingly aware of the American’s anxiety. He notices the man’s frequent use of a sophisticated satellite phone and the possible presence of a gun under his jacket. As they leave the café and head toward the American’s hotel, the tension builds. The American, feeling threatened, reaches into his pocket, and though Changez reassures himself it’s probably just business cards, the novel ends on an ambiguous note, leaving readers to wonder whether the American might be a CIA agent or if Changez had planned harm all along.
Main Theme Of The Book The Reluctant Fundamentalist
American Imperialism
The Reluctant Fundamentalist explores the vast influence of the United States on the world, as seen through the life of Changez, the protagonist. The novel demonstrates both the “hard” power of American military dominance and the “soft” power that encourages foreign nationals to embrace American culture. American characters in the novel often appear unaware of their country’s immense global impact and the difficult position it places foreigners in.
One notable method of exerting this soft power is through the education system, where talented international students, like Changez, are drawn to prestigious American universities and later recruited to work in U.S. companies. Changez attends Princeton University on a scholarship, gains employment at Underwood Samson (a firm whose initials subtly reference the U.S.), and becomes part of a system that perpetuates American wealth and power. When Changez evaluates a publishing company in South America, the company’s president compares him to a janissary, a soldier forced to fight against his own people after being abducted by a foreign power. This analogy strikes a chord with Changez, who comes to recognize that the United States, through education and employment, has manipulated him to serve its interests.
After the events of September 11, the novel illustrates the hard power of the U.S., particularly through its military actions in Pakistan, which threaten Changez’s family and further alienate him from his adopted country. Though he feels a deep connection to America due to his experiences, particularly his romance with Erica, these events make him feel increasingly estranged from both Pakistan and the U.S. The dual forces of American hard and soft power ultimately lead Changez to return to Pakistan, where he uses his education to oppose the same soft power that once drew him in.
The novel’s ambiguous ending, with the possibility that the Stranger could be a U.S. agent sent to eliminate Changez, underscores the novel’s portrayal of American imperialism as an omnipresent force, blending threat and hospitality in ways that are difficult to disentangle.
Patriotism and Post-9/11 America
As a Pakistani man living in America, Changez provides a unique perspective on American patriotism, which he observes at both Princeton and in the post-9/11 climate. During his time at Princeton, he comes to realize that the university is part of a larger, covert effort to instill patriotism and encourage graduates to contribute to the American economy. However, after 9/11, he witnesses a surge in American patriotism that becomes hostile to foreigners like himself, as New York City begins to align itself with the broader patriotic sentiment sweeping the nation.
Although Changez remains attached to America because of the opportunities it has afforded him, including his education and job, he begins to see troubling parallels between his relationship with America and his romantic involvement with Erica, whose name symbolically contains “America.” Just as Erica becomes fixated on her dead boyfriend, Chris, the U.S. becomes obsessed with an idealized version of its past. This nostalgic obsession ultimately prevents both Erica and America from fully embracing Changez. Despite his attempts to fit in, including a painful moment where he asks Erica to pretend he is Chris during an intimate encounter, Changez eventually realizes that neither Erica nor America will ever truly accept him for who he is.
This growing disillusionment leads Changez to return to Pakistan, as his love for the U.S. is ultimately unreciprocated, both by the country and by Erica, whose emotional attachment to the past prevents any future connection.
Racism and Fundamentalism
From the very beginning of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, the novel highlights how judgments based on appearance and ethnicity shape Changez’s interactions with others. Despite being treated with respect by his friends at Princeton, Changez is still perceived as an outsider. During a trip to Greece, he experiences subtle forms of racism, as his friends see him as an exotic figure, and Erica is drawn to him precisely because he is different. Initially, Changez embraces this perception, but over time, he begins to feel uncertain about his identity.
Following the events of 9/11, Changez is subjected to more overt forms of racism, such as being racially profiled at airports and harassed by security officers. In response, he defiantly changes his appearance to emphasize his foreignness, even growing a beard. This resistance is a form of protest against the racism he faces, and the novel suggests that such prejudice can create the very fundamentalism it fears. Changez’s growing resentment toward the U.S. leads him to question his loyalty to a country that increasingly views him with suspicion, driving him back to Pakistan, where he may or may not embrace fundamentalism.
The novel’s framing narrative, in which Changez and the Stranger judge one another based on their prejudices, further illustrates how racism influences perceptions. Readers are left to decide whether these judgments are accurate, as Hamid deliberately leaves ambiguous whether Changez has indeed become a terrorist and whether the Stranger is a secret agent.
Coming of Age
The Reluctant Fundamentalist also functions as a coming-of-age story, tracing Changez’s development from a passive young man into someone more aware of his identity and the forces shaping his life. Early in the novel, Changez is unsure of his own desires, following the path laid out for him by others, including his choice to attend Princeton and work for Underwood Samson. It is only in retrospect that he realizes how he has allowed others to control his life, particularly through the unspoken expectation that he will use his talents to serve American capitalism.
As Changez faces increasing hostility in the wake of 9/11, he begins to rebel in small ways, such as by growing a beard, symbolizing his desire to assert control over his life. Ultimately, his decision to leave the U.S. and return to Pakistan marks a significant turning point in his personal growth, as he takes ownership of his future.
However, the novel leaves open the question of what Changez has grown into. Although he became a university lecturer in Pakistan, it remains unclear whether he is a peaceful critic of American foreign policy or has embraced more extreme views. This ambiguity, particularly in the novel’s final moments, suggests that Changez’s coming-of-age journey is ongoing, with critical decisions still ahead of him.
Summing of The Book Review:
The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a “metafictional” novel by Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid, published in 2007. It explores postmodern and postcolonial perspectives, shedding light on the neglected peripheries of the colonial legacy and engineering the voice of the East. While focused on Pakistanis, it is considered a good read and recommended for its potential to provide valuable insights.
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