Nostalgia and the Reluctent Fundamentalist
Hamid suggests that in difficult times people and nations retreat into nostalgia. How is this explored in the novel?
Mohsin Hamid's one man monologue narrative 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' provide us with an interesting insight of the difficult times faced, in the past and present of the novel's protagonist Changez. It is considered that 'nostalgia' has a audacious effect on the main characters of the novel, and most unrecognisably, the United States of America. Throughout the novel it is suggested that the theme of nostalgia shown through the characters and the country, is brought upon by strenuous events and occurrences that are implemented on each character differently and somewhat the same. When the theme is drawn to a close, Hamid's intentions are to show the victims different perceptions, giving the readers a clear view of how nostalgia is portrayed in the novel, what nostalgia really is, and the surroundings of nostalgia revolving around Changez. The course of the Reluctant Fundamentalist, presents how the characters, nor the country, can resist the changes that occur in this dynamic cycle of life. The changes of all victims, are inevitable, therefore it is required they accept the changes, and resort back to nostalgia as fond memories that have been shared. Although, nostalgia is sometimes progressively dangerous and cannot, be accepted or overcome.
In the delivery of the theme it is obvious that nostalgia is the result of ongoing difficult times and events. Throughout the novel there is circumstances that bring nostalgia from the past back as memories and also enforce nostalgia as an aftermath of arduous events. Both perceptions being positive, and negative. After graduating from princeton, Changez landed a job with Underwood Samson and was comfortably living in New York. He fell in love with a manhattanite named Erica. Changez loved to reminisce to Erica about his life in Pakistan because it reinforced his nostalgia. Changez mentioned his
Mohsin Hamid's one man monologue narrative 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' provide us with an interesting insight of the difficult times faced, in the past and present of the novel's protagonist Changez. It is considered that 'nostalgia' has a audacious effect on the main characters of the novel, and most unrecognisably, the United States of America. Throughout the novel it is suggested that the theme of nostalgia shown through the characters and the country, is brought upon by strenuous events and occurrences that are implemented on each character differently and somewhat the same. When the theme is drawn to a close, Hamid's intentions are to show the victims different perceptions, giving the readers a clear view of how nostalgia is portrayed in the novel, what nostalgia really is, and the surroundings of nostalgia revolving around Changez. The course of the Reluctant Fundamentalist, presents how the characters, nor the country, can resist the changes that occur in this dynamic cycle of life. The changes of all victims, are inevitable, therefore it is required they accept the changes, and resort back to nostalgia as fond memories that have been shared. Although, nostalgia is sometimes progressively dangerous and cannot, be accepted or overcome.
In the delivery of the theme it is obvious that nostalgia is the result of ongoing difficult times and events. Throughout the novel there is circumstances that bring nostalgia from the past back as memories and also enforce nostalgia as an aftermath of arduous events. Both perceptions being positive, and negative. After graduating from princeton, Changez landed a job with Underwood Samson and was comfortably living in New York. He fell in love with a manhattanite named Erica. Changez loved to reminisce to Erica about his life in Pakistan because it reinforced his nostalgia. Changez mentioned his