Essay On The Reluctant Fundamentalist

“The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid is the incredible chronicle of a young Pakistani man’s experience in America during the height of the fear of terrorism. This was not only a time of evolving ideals in the American nationalist consciousness but it was also a catalyst for changing ideas around the globe, especially within and towards the Middle-East. “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” is the story of Changez’s struggle with change, and his decision whether to embrace it or to stick to his formerly understood fundamentals. This struggle is illustrated through Changez’s relationships to people, social groups and institutions. Changez speaks many times of his family throughout the novel, both in reference to times within the timeline and before he travels to America for school. Very early on we learn of his family’s social and economic situation, saying: “I am not poor; far from it,” and further explaining that his childhood home sits on an acre of land in one of the most expensive city districts, yet, inflation and unchanging salaries have inhibited Changez’s family to stay within the evolving upper class (9-10). Therefore, his motivation to travel to America to get an ivy-league education and to find a job that pays well, is clearly linked to his desire for change for both himself and his family. We later see him sending money back home to support his family in the time of possible war with India. This illustrates the strong connection which Changez has to his family and his desire to support them, to restore them to their …show more content…
“In a period of great uncertainty […] [I] remained utterly convinced of the possibility of progress while others longed for a sort of classical period which had come and gone,” yet this chance had already passed and Changez’s reluctance to change returned him to once he came