zaverecna prace is

8/13/2019 Zaverecna Prace Is

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/zaverecna-prace-is 1/45

MASARYK UNIVERSITY BRNO

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

Department of English Language and Literature

Post-9/11 Tension in Mohsin !"i#$s

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Final Thesis

Brno 2012

Supervisor: Written b:

M%&' !n! (!isse&o)*+ Ph'D' M%&' Ri,h!&# Tete



De,.!&!tion

Hereby I declare that I worked on this thesis on my own and used only

the sources listed in the bibliography.

I agree that the thesis be placed in the library of the Faculty of Education of Masaryk

University in Brno and made accessible for study purposes.

rohla!u"i# $e "sem %&v're(nou pr&ci vypracoval samostatn'# s vyu$it)m pou%e citovan*ch liter&rn)ch pramen+# dal!)ch

informac) a %dro"+ v souladu s ,isciplin&rn)m -&dem pro studenty edagogick fakulty Masarykovy univer%ity a se %&konem

(. /0/10222 3b.# o pr&vu autorskm# o pr&vech souvise")c)ch s pr&vem autorsk*m a o %m'n' n'kter*ch %&kon+ 4autorsk*

%&kon5# ve %n'n) po%d'"!)ch p-edpis+.

!!!"""!!!!""""""""""""""""""""""

Brno 1#th $ugust 2012 %gr" &i'hard Tete(

2



A,no.e#%e"ent

I would like to thank my supervisor Mrg. Hana 6aisserov&#h.,. for all her kind

help# valuable advice and support. I would also like to thank her for her patience and

friendly approach# which contributed to compiling this thesis.

)



Contents

Contents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"!!*

Int&o#0,tion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"!!!!""+

1' Mohsin !"i# !n# is (&itin% o The Reluctant Fundamentalist !!"",

1"1 %ohsin -amid.s /ersonal arrative"""!!!!""!!!!!!!!!,

1"2 The &efle'tion of the 11 Events in Writing 7he 8eluctant

Fundamentalist !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"!!""

2' Ch!n%e34s Attit0#es to!&#s A"e&i,! 5eo&e !n# !te& 9/11 !"""!!"12

2"1 3hange4.s /ersonal E5perien'e of $meri'an Dream !!!""""""""""!""12

2"2 3hange4.s 6ro7ing &esentment and Tribalism'!!!!""!""!!!"18

2") 3hange4.s $7a(ening in the 11 $ftermath!!!!"""!!!"!!"1#

2"* The %eaning of Fundamentalism and 3hange4.s /arting 7ith

$meri'a!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"!!!""2)

6' Ch!n%e34s Se. Dete&"ine# 57 Re.!tions!!!"!!!!!!!!!"2

)"1 &elationship 7ith $mEri'a""!!!!!!!!!!!!"!!!!"2

)"2 The 6eneri' $meri'an and Lahore Lo'ation!!!!!!!!!!"")2

Con,.0sion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""!!"!"),

Bi5.io%&!8h7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!")

List o A88en#i,es!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""""*2

A88en#i,es!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""""*)

*



Int&o#0,tion

9n m final thesis 9 e5amine 11 impa't on the protagonist named 3hange4 in %ohsin

-amid.s boo( 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist " &easons and aspe'ts of his transformation are

e5plored" 9 propose that 11 terrorist atta'(s in e7 or( shaped his per'eptions of the ;S

and $meri'ans signifi'antl" $lso< the 7or(s dis'usses the dramati' 11 event as an integral

part of the novel and ma=or turning point to personal transformation of the non>$meri'an" 9

suggest that -amid.s ba'(ground and dire't en'ounter 7ith /a(istani and $meri'an 'ultures

ali(e enable him to form and verbali4e his relevant personal and 'olle'tive 'riti'ism of

$meri'a after 11"The novel seem to parallel -amid.s life stor? %ohsin -amid as 7ell as the protagonist

3hange4 e5perien'ed dire'tl the aftermath of 11< and he 7itnessed impa't of the @War on

TerrorA 7hi'h follo7ed soon after from @the other sideA> the had to 'onstantl defend

themselves against gro7ing suspi'ion and fa'e various abuse be'ause of their origin<

'omple5ion or their supposed %uslim radi'alism< often generall attributed to all people

'oming from %uslim 'ountries" $part from that< both -amid.s and 3hange4.s families had to

deal 7ith a real thread of an impending armed 'onfli't< arguabl 'aused b the ;S foreign

poli'" 3hange4 tries to e5plain these feelings in the novel:

9t 7ill perhaps be odd for ou an $meri'anC> 'oming< as ou do< from a 'ountr

that has not fought a 7ar on its soil in living memor< the rare snea( atta'( or

terrorist outrage e5'epted> to imagine residing 7ithin 'ommuting distan'e of a

million or so hostile troops 7ho 'ould< at an moment< attempt a full>s'ale

invasion" % brother 'leaned his shotgun" ne of m un'les sto'(ed up on

bottled 7ater and 'anned food" ur part>time gardener 7as deploed 7ith

reserves" -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 1**

9t is this authenti'it 7hi'h gives -amid advantage over 7estern 7riters 7ho tr to deal

7ith post>11 @%uslimA 'hara'ter" -is novel stands to benefit from -amid.s a'ute

(no7ledge of %uslim so'iet< 'onfronted and 'ompared 7ith 7estern 7orldvie7s and values<

7hi'h gives the novel multi'ultural 'omple5it" %oreover< 3hange4 represents an untpi'al

protagonist > he is an e5ample of a 7ell>assimilated %uslim elite< a su''essful graduate of

+



prestigious universities< 7or(ing at the top levels of international finan'e< 7hose fall from

gra'e is not e5pe'ted and so eas to e5plain" Therefore< 9 7ould li(e to anal4e in m thesis

ho7 the 11 events 'ontributed to his unintended but intensive a7a(ening from his $meri'an

dream"

$nother 'ru'ial point of m 7or( 7ill be the per'eption and understanding of the term

fundamentalism" 9 argue that the novel tries to add ne7 'onnotations to the term in post>11

s'enario and subvert the traditional notion of alleged %uslim fundamentalism" $dditionall< 9

7ish to e5plore ho7 -amid plas 7ith 'omple5it of the term and offers various

interpretations for the reader"

The first 'hapter introdu'es -amid.s ba'(ground< des'ribes the 7ritings pro'ess and the

development of the novel< regarding both its 'ontent and form< fo'using on in'orporating the

11 events into the boo(" 9t also provides an inside into the re'urrent autobiographi'al

features present in the novel and tou'hes upon its 'riti'al a''laim"

The se'ond 'hapter follo7s the development and 'omments on the dnami's of

3hange4.s attitudes to7ards $meri'a and the gradual de'line of the relationship" $gain< the

emphasis is put on 3hange4.s rea'tion to 11 atta'(s and the 'onseGuent 'rumbling of his

$meri'an dream" %oreover< the Guestions of fundamentalism seen from various perspe'tives

are dealt 7ith in the 'hapter"

The other part of the thesis depi'ts 3hange4.s personal relationship 7ith his girlfriend

Eri'a< paralleling the personal 7ith the politi'al" Within the 'hapter< 9 also attempt to have a

'loser loo( at numerous allusions< puns and referen'es 7hi'h are freGuent in the boo( and

their possible interpretation" $nother part of the 'hapter is devoted to the se'ond main

'hara'ter> an $meri'an interlo'utor and the tense relation bet7een him and 3hange4"

8



1' Mohsin !"i# !n# is (&itin% o The Reluctant

Fundamentalist

1'1 Mohsin !"i#4s Pe&son!. N!&&!ti)e

9n his novel 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist -amid seems to refle't on his a'tual life>

e5perien'e< 7hi'h allo7s him to re>evaluate $meri'an publi' treatment of 9slam and people

7ith %uslim ba'(groung in general" The per'eptions of %uslims in 7estern 7orld is often based on presumptions and 'li'hHs< 7hi'h intensified after the 11 atta'(s 7hen the supposed

%uslim terrorists 7ere de'lared the ar'h enemies of $meri'an demo'ra'" &i'hard 6ra

states it in his boo( e5ploring various novels dealing 7ith the impa't of 11 that:

With the 'ollapse of 'ommunism< a sinister other that enabled

$meri'an self>definition ma have disappeared" 9t is a truism< ho7ever< to

sa that it has no7 been repla'ed b 9slam" Fa'ing the other< in all its

differen'e and danger< is surel one of the 'hallenges no7 for 7riters: not

=ust be'ause of obs'ene a'ts of terrorism 'ommitted b a small group of

people but be'ause the ;nited States has be'ome< more than ever< a border

territor in 7hi'h different 'ultures meet< 'ollide and in some instan'es

'ollude 7ith ea'h other"

There is the threat of the terrorist? there is also the fa't of a 7orld that

is luminal< a proliferating 'hain of borders< 7here familiar oppositions>

'ivili4ed and savage< to7n and 7ilderness< @themA and @usA> are 'ontinuall

being 'hallenged< dissolved and re'onfigured" 6ra )2

-amid.s boo( is an attempt to respond to this bigger pi'ture< to the broader 'on'ept of

multi'ultural 7orld" Due to his dire't (no7ledge of both 'ultures< -amid 'an see the relation

bet7een people from the east and the 7est in a different light" These a'ute personal

per'eptions had to 'ontribute to 7riting his novel"

,



%ohsin -amid 7as born in 1,1 in Lahore< the se'ond largest 'it of /a(istan" When he

7as three< he moved to the ;S$ 7ith his famil be'ause his father 7as a''epted to a /hD

program at Stanford< 3alifornia" -amid felt more li(e an $meri'an 'hild than a /a(istani

immigrant"

9 learned to sing IThe Star>Spangled BannerI ears before 9 'ould sing the

/a(istani national anthem< plaed baseball before 9 'ould pla 'ri'(et and

7rote in English before 9 'ould 7rite in ;rdu" % earliest memories are of

7at'hing IStar Tre(I and I%$S-I 7hile m parents barbe'ued 'hi'(en in

the ba'( ard" 9 7as an $meri'an (id< through and through" /art of me still

is" -amid< @Wh Do The -ate ;sJA

Full assimilated into $meri'an so'iet< -amid had to move ba'( to /a(istan at the age

of nine" B that time< he had almost forgotten about ;rdu language and life in Lahore"

&e'alling the time he sas: @9 li(ed m ne7 e5isten'e< but 9Kd li(ed m old one too< and 9

imagined pla'es 7here the t7o 'ould 'ome togetherA -amid< @n'e upon a LifeA" Soon he

developed a hobb of 'reating imaginar maps of non>e5isting 'ountries and started to 7rite

almana' entries about their histories and demographi'< @al7as mi5ed< 7ith no 'lear ma=orit<

and signifi'ant immigrant groups of Lahori and San Fran'is'an des'entA -amid< @n'e upon

a LifeA"

-amid.s travelling 'ontinued 7hen he moved to the ;S$ again at the age of eighteen to

attend /rin'eton ;niversit and -arvard La7 S'hool" While at /rin'eton< -amid also studied

'reative 7riting under o'e 3arol ates and Toni %orrison" $fter his graduation< he 7or(ed

as a management 'onsultant at %'Minse N 3ompan< a reno7ned global finan'ial institution

based in e7 or(< and due to this =ob travelled all over the 7orld" 9n 2000 he published his

first novel Moth 3moke" 9n 2001 -amid moved to London< still 7or(ing for the 'ompan"

There he met his future 7ife and also 7itnessed the 11 atta'(s Thomas"

-is se'ond novel 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 7as published in 200," %ohsin -amid

also 7rites for various ne7spapers li(e 7ime maga4ine< 7he 9uardian< 7he :ew ;ork 7imes<

7he Independent et'" -e has one daughter and no7 lives in /a(istan< freGuentl travelling to

the ;"M" and the ;S$" When as(ed about ho7 he 7ould des'ribe himself< -amid.s ans7er

7as:

#



f m *0 ears< 9 have lived about 18 ea'h in the ;nited States and in

/a(istan< and most of the remaining eight in Europe" 9.ve 'alled Lahore<

/alo $lto< /rin'eton< %anila< Boston< e7 or(< and London home" ne of

m passports suggests 9.m British< m diplomas and birthda 'ards suggest

9.m substantiall $meri'an< and on most das 9 7a(e up< 7rite< and hang

out 7ith m 7ife and daughter in /a(istan" 9.m as tribal as anone else< 9

suppose" But be'ause 9 belong to so man< 9.m 'onstantl reminded of ho7

ridi'ulous and harmful m tribes 'an be" -amid< @The /erils of TribalismA

1'2 The Re.e,tion o the 9/11 E)ents in (&itin% The

Reluctant Fundamentalist

7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist is -amid.s se'ond novel 7ritten after his su''essful

debut Moth 3moke" 9t is interesting to e5plore the 'ir'umstan'es under 7hi'h the novel 7as

7ritten and to see ho7 its form 'hanged in the 'ourse of time" %oreover< it is note7orth to

see ho7 the 7riting pro'ess 7as influen'ed b the 11 atta'(s and ho7 the events 7ere

in'orporated into the novel"

Though the original draft of the novel 7as finished three months before 11 2001 and

-amid.s main goal 7as to tr to e5plore 'ultural pressures on oung $sians and e5press his

split feelings about his future< the terrorists atta'(s made him re'onsider the 'on'ept entirel"

$t first< he =ust 7anted to des'ribe a situation of a su''essful oung /a(istani 7ho de'ides to

return to /a(istan despite his life and 'areer in the ;S$" Then the 11 atta'(s happened

7hile -amid 7as in London" -amid understood that the events are bound to 'hange not onl

his future:

9 hoped people 9 'ared about 7erenKt dead< and then 9 thought: % 7hole

7orld is about to 'hange" 9 had this gut feeling it 7ould be some (ind of

%uslim terrorist group< and after that 7ho (ne7 7hat 7ould happenJ %

mother 7as in /a(istan and 7hen she 7itnessed it she started 'ring



hsteri'all" She used to visit me for a month ever ear and sheKd fallen in

love 7ith e7 or(" 9 had to 'onsole her" &eese

Soon after the events< -amid de'ided to 7rite another draft< still not in'luding the events

in it" -o7ever< he reali4ed that it 7as not possible for him to ignore the traged and 7rote et

another version< this time addressing 11 dire'tl" Therefore< the novel 'hanged 'ompletel"

-amid e5plains:

Eventuall< 9 reali4ed that< =ust as in m e5terior 7orld< there 7as no

es'aping the effe'ts of September 11 in the interior 7orld that 7as m

novel" The stor of a /a(istani man in e7 or( 7ho leaves =ust before that

'ata'lsmi' event 7ould inevitabl be bathed in the glare of the readerKs

(no7ledge of 7hat 7ould happen immediatel after" -amid< @%

&elu'tant FundamentalistA

-e then 'ontinued re7riting his ne7 'on'ept< unsure about ho7 to 'ontinue"

B the fifth draft< 7hi'h 9 finished in 200+< 9 had arrived at the 'hara'ters

and plot line of the 'urrent novel" But 9 7asnKt et happ 7ith it" $nd es< at

that point 9 7as 7orried about ho7 to handle the sub=e't matter" 9 (ne7 7hat

9 7anted to sa< but it 7as 'ompli'ated and perhaps 'ontroversial< and 9

7anted to sa it effe'tivel > in other 7ords< in a 7a that used the sedu'tive

po7er of narrative fi'tion to deliver something not entirel palatable"

-amish -amilton

$fter 'onsulting the fifth draft 7ith his agent and friends< -amid plaed 7ith the tpe of

voi'e used in the novel and finall de'ided for a frame stor using a dramati' monologue<

ta(ing pla'e during the 'ourse of a single da @that allo7ed t7o points of vie7< t7o

perspe'tives< to e5ist 7ith onl one narrator< thereb 'reating a double mirror for the mutual

so'ietal suspi'ion 7ith 7hi'h /a(istan vie7s $meri'a and $meri'a vie7s /a(istanA

@-amish -amiltonA" The final edited version 7as finished and the boo( published b

-amish -amilton in 200,"

The novel soon 7on -amid international attention and it 7as later translated into more

than )0 languages not into the 34e'h language et< being mostl 7ell re'eived both b

10



'riti's and readers 7orld7ide< be'oming an international bestseller" $dditionall< it has

be'ome a popular boo( for universit seminars and literature dis'ussions" 9t 7on numerous

a7ards and 7as shortlisted for the 200, Boo(er /ri4e" $ movie based on the boo( is set to be

released in 201) @The &elu'tant FundamentalistA"

11



2' Ch!n%e34s Attit0#es to!&#s A"e&i,! 5eo&e !n#

!te& 9/11

2'1 Ch!n%e34s Pe&son!. E8e&ien,e o A"e&i,!n D&e!"

Throughout the novel< the reader 'an follo7 the development of 3hange4.s relation 7ith

the ;S and its 'hanging dnami's" The beginning of the novel des'ribes 3hange4.s su''essful

pursuing of his $meri'an dream< from attending /rin'eton to his emploment in a prestigious

valuation 'ompan" This is later put into a sharp 'ontrast 7ith his disillusion follo7ing the

11 events"

3hange4< the main 'hara'ter and the sole narrator of the novel< is introdu'ed to the

reader 7hile he is addressing a stranger at a 'afH in Lahore" B that time< 3hange4 has an

appearan'e of a tpi'al radi'al %uslim< 7hi'h frightens the stranger 7ho is< as 7e 'an later

infer from the te5t< probabl an $meri'an" $lthough 3hange4 'alls himself @a lover of

$meri'aA and =ust offers his servi'es to the $meri'an< his true intentions remain un'lear as he

goes on 7ith a unnaturall length des'ription of his life in $meri'a and des'ribes the 'ourse

of events that led him ba'( to /a(istan"

3hange4 starts his stor b his arrival in the ;S$ at his t7enties" -e 'omes there to

stud at /rin'eton" 6etting to /rin'eton means a lot to 3hange4< he feels li(e on the top of the

7orld" @This is a dream 'ome true" /rin'eton inspired in me the feeling that m life 7as a film

in 7hi'h 9 7as the star and everthing 7as possibleA -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist

)" -e even ta(es his feelings further and 7hen 'omparing himself to other students< he is far

from being humble"

9 7as< 9 must admit< overl generous in m initial assumptions about the

standard of the student bod!"the non>$meri'ans among us tended on

average to do better than the $meri'ans< and in m 'ase 9 rea'hed m senior

ear 7ithout having re'eived a single B" -amid< 7he 8eluctant

Fundamentalist )>*

12



3hange4.s self>'onfiden'e and self>per'eption even borders on nar'issism and his

feeling of being superior to everbod around him are plain to see"

Ever fall< /rin'eton raised her s(irt for the 'orporate re'ruiters 7ho 'ame

onto 'ampus and> as ou sa in $meri'a> sho7ed some s(in< of 'ourse>

oung< eloGuent< and 'lever as 'an be> but even among all that s(in< 9 (ne7

in m senior ear that 9 7as something spe'ial" 9 7as a perfe't breast< if ou

7ill> tan< su''ulent< seemingl defiant of gravit> and 9 7as 'onfident of

getting an =ob 9 7anted" -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist +

3hange4.s feelings ma have their roots in his famil ba'(ground" Even in /a(istan< his

homeland< he des'ribes himself as a s'ion of @a famil of great 7ealthA -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist 11" -e feels so in spite of the fa't that his famil 7as no longer

ri'h and that he needed s'holarship to get to /rin'eton" evertheless< in 3hange4.s 7ords<

@status< as in an traditional< 'lass>'ons'ious so'iet< de'lines more slo7l than 7ealthA and

he e5plains that the situation of his famil is @not so different from that of old European

aristo'ra' in the nineteenth 'entur< 'onfronted b the as'endan'e of the bourgeoisieA

-amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 11"

3hange4 at that time does not feel 'ulturall inferior either" Ouite the opposite< he is

proud of his /a(istani roots and does not forget to point out that the histor of /a(istan

rea'hes mu'h further than the histor of 7hite $meri'a" -e notes that seemingl 6othi'

buildings in /rin'eton are mu'h ounger than mosGues in Lahore and refers to the /a(istani

'it as to @an'ient 'apital of /un=ab< home to nearl as man people as e7 or(< laered

li(e a sedimentar plain 7ith the a''reted histor of invaders from the $rans to the %ongols

to the BritishA -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist #"

3hange4.s self>assuran'e is further boosted after he is offered a =ob for ;nder7ood

Samson< a prestigious valuation 'ompan operating all over the 7orld" During the =ob

intervie7 for the position of an analst< 3hange4 learns that he 'an 7ell use the fa't that he is

@differentA and @hungrA< as he is des'ribed b his interlo'utor during the intervie7< to @sellA

himself and ma(e impression on other people" $fter getting the =ob< he feels self>satisfa'tion

and pride" &e'alling the moment he sas: @The s( 7as a brilliant blue< so different from the

orange< dust s( above us toda< and 9 felt something 7ell up inside me< a sense of pride so

strong that it made me lift m head and ell!A -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 18"

1)



When it 'omes to 3hange4.s personal life< things also seem to go 7ell for him" $fter his

graduation from /rin'eton< he goes to 6ree'e 7ith members of a prestigious /rin'eton eating

'lub" $lthough 3hange4 is not a member< he is a''epted to go as 7ell be'ause of the help of

his friend and mostl be'ause he @7as 7ell>li(ed as an e5oti' a'Guaintan'e b some of the

othersA -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 1" 9n 6ree'e he meets a beautiful<

@stunningl regalA girl Eri'a" 3hange4 is immediatel attra'ted to her" Even though there are

man handsome and ri'h bos in the group< it is 3hange4 7ho eventuall 7ins her heart in

almost a 'heap< 'hi'(>fli'( stle< mostl maintaining @magnanimous silen'eA and plaing a

role of an e5oti' and enigmati' et 7itt and irresistible man 7ho is 7aiting to be 'aught

rather than 'hasing his pra" 9ndeed Eri'a su''umbs to his 'harms and the start a romanti'

relationship"

9t ma be diffi'ult for the reader to believe that 3hange4< and mabe in a 7a also

-amid himself< is telling a 'redible stor and is not =ust boasting and e5aggerating< plaing a

'raft game< tring to ma(e impression on other people" 3ertainl 3hange4 does his best to

loo( smart< attra'tive and su''essful to su'h an e5tent< that one 'annot help but to feel that it

is all =ust fabri'ated and artifi'ial" Sin'e then< 3hange4.s unreliabilit resonates throughout

the novel"

$fter his short sta in 6ree'e ends< 3hange4 returns ba'( to e7 or( to start his 7or(

for ;nder7ood Samson" $nother 7ave of su''ess 'omes< as he soon be'omes the most

praised ne7 emploee in the 'ompan and earns more mone than ever before" -e is being

appre'iated b his ne7 'olleagues for his tena'it< sense of formalit and natural politeness<

something 7hi'h his $meri'an 'ounterparts seem to la'(" -is origin and ba'(ground is not an

obsta'le for him< it is an advantage" 3hange4 (ne7 that he @stood out from the pa'(A and he

a'(no7ledges that 7hen he sas: @9 7as a7are of an advantage 'onferred upon me b m

foreignness< and 9 tried to utili4e it as mu'h as 9 'ouldA -amid< 7he 8eluctant

Fundamentalist *," -e baths in the sense of a''omplishments and feels li(e @a veritable

ames Bond> onl ounger< dar(er< and possibl better paidA -amid< 7he 8eluctant

Fundamentalist ,2"

9t is interesting to 'ompare 3hange4 to some other 'hara'ters of @%uslimA ba'(ground

that emerged in literature 'on'erned 7ith the 11 events and their aftermath" Even though it

7ould be simplifing and in'orre't to spea( about @%uslimsA as about a homogenous< unified

group< sharing the same values and opinions< it is true to sa that the are often per'eived li(e

that" $''ording to a surve< $meri'an %uslims 'an be roughl divided into three ma=or

distin't groups> $fri'an $meri'ans< $rabs and south $sians" 3hange4 7ould fit into the last

1*



group< at least geographi'all< be'ause he 'omes from /a(istan< although he never 'omments

on an religious aspe'ts of his personalit and it is therefore Guestionable 7hether 3hange4

'an be 'alled a %uslim in a religious sense at all" What the surve sas about south $sian

%uslim is that @7hile $rabi' spea(ers often dominate in mosGues and edu'ational setting<

south $sians have a higher so'io>e'onomi' profile and are arguabl more privileged in

$meri'an so'ietA Leonard 22)" 3hange4 7ould be 'learl in a''ordan'e 7ith the

des'ription"

ther 'hara'ters< for e5ample $hmad from ohn ;pdi(e.s novel 7errorist# are b no

means as su''essful and established 7ithin the $meri'an so'iet as 3hange4" $hmed

embodies numerous stereotpes 'onne'ted 7ith %uslims" -e is sh< fails to fit in< has

unfulfilled se5ual desires 7hi'h he is tring to repress< 7hi'h subseGuentl leads to further

alienation 7ith the @spoiltA 7estern 'onsumer so'iet" -e is eas to manipulate and finds

sola'e onl in 6od and <ur=an" This fa't is later abused b his imam< 7ho introdu'es $hmad

to other %uslim radi'al fundamentalist< 7ho 7ill later send $hmad on a deadl mission"

$hmad tpi'all sas e5a'tl 7hat 7e 7ould e5pe't from a %uslim fundamentalist:

Western 'ulture is 6odless ! and be'ause it has no 6od< it is obsessed 7ith

se5 and lu5ur goods" ! 9 of 'ourse do not hate all $meri'ans" But the

$meri'an 7a is the 7a of infidels" 9t is headed for a terrible doom" Loo(

at television< %r" Lev< ho7 itKs al7as using se5 to sell ou things ou

donKt need" Loo( at the histor the s'hool tea'hes< pure 'olonialist" Loo(

ho7 3hristianit 'ommitted geno'ide on the ative $meri'ans and

undermined $sia and $fri'a and no7 is 'oming after 9slam< 7ith everthing

in Washington run b the e7s to (eep themselves in /alestine" ;pdi(e )#

-is opinions and 7orldvie7s are rigid and easil predi'table" $hmad is a solitar misfit

abhorring an tpe of entertainment< hated or ignored b most of his peers" Similarl< 7hen

des'ribing his protagonist based on %uhammad $tta< one of the 11 hi=a'(ers< %artin $mis

uses the follo7ing 'hara'teristi':

-e $ttaC also =oined the hatred of musi'" $nd the hatred of laughter" PWh

do 7e ever laughJ. he 7as sometimes as(ed" Qaid another hi=a'(erC 7ould

ans7er< P-o7 'an ou laugh 7hen people are ding in /alestineJ.

%uhammad $tta never laughed!"he found nothing funn" >100

1+



9t is true< that the t7o 'hara'ters are both supposed to depi't the mind of a future

terrorist< but the both represent some tpi'al traits often assigned to %uslim protagonists in

literature dealing 7ith the 11 events" This ma often be a problem of 7estern 7riters 7ho

are attempting to get under the s(in of their fi'tional %uslim 'hara'ters" @What is meant to

sound different but authenti' too often 'omes a'ross as artifi'ial< even stereotpi'alA 6ra

#0"

3hange4< on the other hand< is everthing but a tpi'al e5ample of a @%uslimA in fi'tion

'onne'ted 7ith the 11 atta'(s" -e is a representative of a su''essful< self>'onfident model

minorit< 7ithout an problems to so'iali4e and e5ist 7ithin @7esternA so'iet" -amid is

7ell> suited to 'reate su'h a 'hara'ter< be'ause he 'an dra7 from his personal e5perien'e"

2'2 Ch!n%e34s :&oin% Resent"ent !n# T&i5!.is"

$lthough on the surfa'e everthing goes 7ell for 3hange4 both in his personal life and

at his =ob< there is some (ind of inner tension in him" -e indeed 'laims that he 7as @a oung

e7 or(er 7ith the 'it at his feetA< but he is still ambivalent about 7here he reall belongsto -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist +1" Those feelings intensif 7hen the situation in

/a(istan and $meri'a is being 'ompared" During su'h moments< 3hange4 feels angr and in a

7a humiliated 7hen the so'ial and e'onomi' problems of his homeland and generall South

$sia are mentioned" The sense of superiorit felt b $meri'ans< often un'ons'iousl revealed

in their spee'h and behaviour< prevents 3hange4 from identifing 7ith them" -e graduall

starts to feel that he is a member of a different @tribeA and his longings for going ba'( to his

roots gro7 in him strongl" There is a strange mi5ture of being proud and ashamed of his

ba'(ground in him"

&i'h histor and status of /a(istan seemed to fade in shade of globali4ed 7orld led b

e'onomi' superpo7ers< 7ith $meri'a in the lead"

Four thousand ears ago< 7e< the people of the 9ndus &iver basin< had

'ities that 7ere laid out on grids and boasted underground se7ers< 7hile the

an'estors of those 7ho 7ould invade and 'oloni4e $meri'a 7ere illiterate

barbarians" o7 our 'ities 7ere largel unplanned< unsanitar affairs< and

18



$meri'a had universities 7ith individual endo7ments greater than our

national budget for edu'ation" To be reminded of this vast disparit 7as< for

me< to be ashamed" -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist )#

3hange4 feels irritated and resentful 7hen< during meeting Eri'a.s parents for the first time<

her father 'omments on the situation in /a(istan"

E'onom is falling apart though< noJ 3orruption< di'tatorship< the ri'h

living li(e prin'es 7hile everone else suffers" Solid people< donKt get me

7rong< 9 li(e /a(istanis" But the elite has raped the pla'e 7ell and good<

rightJ $nd fundamentalism" ou gus have got some serious problems 7ith

fundamentalism" -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 82>8)

3hange4 more and more often starts distan'ing himself from $meri'a and from 7hat it<

in his ees< often represents> po7er< arrogan'e and 'ondes'ension a''ompanied b

indifferen'e and ignoran'e"

Despite of earning a lot of mone in 'orporate e7 or( and the fa't that he is seen as a

pleasant e5oti' person< respe'ted and not at all un7el'ome b $meri'ans< 3hange4 is

in'reasingl a7are that there are< as -amid himself puts it @first order and se'ond order

'iti4ens in our globali4ed 7orld< and although 7e intera't at offi'es and dinner parties as

eGuals< 7ere not treated as eGualsA @Seven OuestionsA" This feeling be'omes parti'ularl

strong during his 7or( assignment in %anila" Stru'( b the modernit of the 'it< he again

'annot help himself 'omparing it 7ith his hometo7n Lahore" @9 felt li(e a distan'e runner

7ho thin(s he is not doing too badl until he glan'es over his shoulder and sees that the

fello7 7ho is lapping him is not the leader of the pa'(< but one of the laggardsA -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist ,*"

When he sees ho7 $meri'ans are being loo(ed up to b the Filipinos the 7or( 7ith<

3hange4 feels an urge to have his share and pretends to be an $meri'an< tring to a't and

spea( in $meri'an 7a" 9t also means adopting the 'on'eited< self>assured attitude used b his

$meri'an 'olleagues< 7hi'h ma(es 3hange4 even more ashamed" 3hange4 also for the first

time e5perien'es the hostilit of ordinar lo'al people to7ards him< as a representative of a

superpo7er altering their lives< 7hile being driven through %anila in a limousine 7ith his

'olleagues"

1,



We 7ere mired in traffi'< unable to move< and 9 glan'ed out the 7indo7 to

see< onl a fe7 feet a7a< the driver of a =eepne returning m ga4e" There

7as an undisguised hostilit in his e5pression? 9 had no idea 7h" We had

not met before> of that 9 7as virtuall 'ertain> and in a fe7 minutes 7e

7ould probabl never see one another again" But his disli(e 7as so obvious<

so intimate< that it got under m s(in" -amid< 7he 8eluctant

Fundamentalist ,8

This moment is a (ind of satori< an epiphan for 3hange4" When he later turns to his

$meri'an 'olleague 7ho is as(ing him something< he is no longer the same person" -e finds

out that he shares something 7hi'h he 'alls @a sort of Third World sensibilitA 7ith the angr

Filipino"

9 loo(ed at him one of his $meri'an 'olleaguesC > at his fair hair and light

ees and< most of all< his oblivious immersion in the minutiae of our 7or(R

and thought< ou are so foreign" 9 felt in that moment mu'h 'loser to the

Filipino driver than to him? 9 felt 9 7as pla>a'ting 7hen in realit 9 ought to

be ma(ing m 7a home< li(e the people on the street outside -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist ,,"

2'6 Ch!n%e34s A!enin% in the 9/11 Ate&"!th

3hange4.s $meri'an dream is further marred b the 11 atta'(s in e7 or(" The

aftermath 7as far>rea'hing and global" For people from the %uslim 'ountries< ho7ever< the

impa't of the events 7as more tangible and dire't" The atta'(s 7ere 'on'eived and

a''omplished as to have a smboli' impa't" 9t 7as intended as a big media spe'ta'le< its

purpose 7as @not to 'onGuer or o''up territor or< or even slaughter as man 'ivilians as

possible< but to stage a stunning media event< photo op< and real>life sho7A< and spe'tators all

over the globe 'ould see them in real time" The role of media 7as 'ru'ial and it is interesting

that often @even those in the T7in To7ers apprehended the atta'(s through the mediation of

te'hnolog" Survivors in the South To7er des'ribe ra'ing for television s'reens< 'omputer

1#



terminals< 'ell phones and se'urit monitors after the first plane hit to per'eive 7hat 7as

happening in the phsi'al spa'e the o''upiedA Tanner 80>81"

The above mentioned smboli' meaning of the atta'(s is pre'isel 7hat fas'inates

3hange4" The events 'at'h 3hange4 in %anila 7here he also e5perien'es them via live media

'overage and is mesmeri4ed b the visual po7er the images" $s man people 7at'hing it on

T< he first 'onsiders them to be too surreal to be true" $fter reali4ing that 7hat he sees is

realit< 3hange4 is surprised b his rea'tion" n one had he feels sorr for the real vi'tims of

the atta'(< on the other hand he 'annot help smiling"

9 stared as one> and then the other> of the t7in to7ers of e7 or(.s

World Trade 3enter 'ollapsed" $nd then 9 smiled" es< despi'able as it ma

sound< m initial rea'tion 7as to be remar(abl pleased ! but 9 am no

so'iopath? 9 am not indifferent to the suffering of others" When 9 hear of an

a'Guaintan'e 7ho has been diagnosed 7ith a serious illness< 9 feel > almost

7ithout fail > a smpatheti' pain< a t7inge in m (idnes strong enough to

eli'it a 7in'e" When 9 am approa'hed for a donation to 'harit< 9 tend to be

forth'oming< at least in so far as m modest means 7ill permit" So 7hen 9

tell ou 9 7as pleased at the slaughter of thousands of inno'ents< 9 do so

7ith a profound sense of perple5it"

But at that moment< m thoughts 7ere not 7ith the victims of the

atta'(> death on television moves me most 7hen it is fi'titious and happens

to 'hara'ters 7ith 7hom 9 have build up relationships over multiple

episodes> no< 9 7as 'aught up in the symbolism of it all< the fa't that

someone had so visibl brought $meri'a to her (nees" -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist #)

3hange4 is grateful and relieved that due to his personal relationship 7ith Eri'a< 7ho

7as in e7 or( at the time of the atta'(s< he 'an share some real an5iet 7ith his 'olleagues

and pretend to be sho'(ed and saddened b the events" There is< ho7ever< a lingering Guestion

that troubles him> that is 7h he desires to see $meri'a harmed" -e does not (no7 the

ans7er< but 7hat he is sure about is the fa't that these feelings 7ould be una''eptable for his

'olleagues and other $meri'ans? therefore he does his best to hide them" 3hange4 also tries to

=ustif and e5plain his feeling b 'omparing them to feelings familiar to most $meri'ans" -e

as(s the $meri'an listening to him at the 'afH in Lahore: @Do ou feel no =o at the video

1



'lips so prevalent these das> of $meri'an munitions laing 7aste the stru'tures of our

enemiesJA -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist #*"

3hange4.s rea'tions to the 11 events is arguabl one of the most 'ontroversial

moments of the boo(" 3hange4.s feelings are different from -amid.s< at least -amid 'laims

so< 7hen he des'ribes ho7 he felt 7hen seeing the 11 atta'(s" @9 7as devastated" $ 7all had

suddenl 'ome up bet7een m $meri'an and %uslim 7orlds" The novel is m attempt to

re'onne't those divided 7orldsA" But at the same time< -amid e5plains that @in mu'h of the

7orld< there is resentment to7ard $meri'a< and the notion that the superpo7er 'ould be

humiliated or humbled or damaged in this 7a is something that gives satisfa'tionA

Solomon"

The potential danger 'onne'ted 7ith su'h a remar( is that an effort to present another

vie7 than a stri't 'ondemnation of the atta'(s ma be seen as an attempt to =ustif them"

onetheless< silen'ing of these @otherA voi'es prevents us from understanding the reasons

behind the atta'(s and 'onseGuentl the means of minimi4ing them in the future"

9t is not enough to 'ondemn and fight terrorism? 7e must understand its

'auses" ne reason that 7e failed to anti'ipate the events of 11 September is

our persistent ignoran'e of ma=or non>Western 'ultures and our government

poli'ies based on su'h ignoran'e" Shirane

-amid attempts to point at this dis'repan' of voi'es and is 7ell a7are that the issue of

terrorism 'an be rather sensitive? but sensitive and 'ontroversial issues are also more li(el to

get some attention< provo(e dis'ussions and trigger some rea'tion on the sub=e't matter"

%oreover< 'ontrovers sells 7ell" When as(ed if he 7ould admit that he @o7es his su''ess to

sama bin LadenA and that @al>Oaida.s atro'ities in the ;S proved to be the ma(ing of himA<

-amid surprisingl does not den the idea entirel" @Well< 9 7ouldnKt resist that at all<I he

agrees I9 mean< the -olo'aust 7as the ma(ing of /rimo Levi" $nti>bla'( sentiment 7as the

ma(ing of ames Bald7in" $nd 'ertainl< 9 thin( that this 'urrent tension bet7een the West

and 9slam is< for a 7esterni4ed %uslim li(e mself< identit>forming as an artist" But<A he

adds @9 7ould ver happil trade a 7orld 7here 9 didnKt have to 7orr about m famil in

/a(istan > 7hi'h $meri'an presidential 'andidates tal( about invading > for the su''ess of m

se'ond novel" 9Kd be happ to ma(e that s7apA @''upational -a4ardsA"

Despite 3hange4.s 'ontroversial rea'tion to the atta'(s< he tries to 'ontinue to pursue his

'areer at ;nder7ood Samson" -o7ever< 3hange4 soon reali4es that things have 'hanged for

20



him dramati'all after the events" The 7orld is no longer the same pla'e< neither is the

per'eption of people 7ith presumed %uslim ba'(ground" 3hange4 is sear'hed at the airport<

separated from his $meri'an 'olleagues and he eli'its 'on'erned loo(s 7hen he boards the

plane" -e is both annoed and upset b the 'hange" @9 fle7 to e7 or( un'omfortable in m

o7n fa'e: 9 7as a7are of being under suspi'ion? 9 felt guilt? 9 tried therefore to be as

non'halant as possible? this naturall led to m be'oming stiff and self>'ons'iousA -amid<

7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist #8"

Suddenl< 3hange4.s status has 'hanged despite his edu'ation at prestigious universit

and his =ob for a reno7ned 'ompan" The 'hange is 7ell represented b the dialog 7ith an

offi'er after 3hange4.s arrival at the e7 or( airport"

@What is the purpose of our trip to the ;nited StatesJA she the offi'erC

as(ed me" @9 live here<A 9 replied" @That is not 7hat 9 as(ed ou< sir<A she

said" @What is the purpose of our trip to the ;nited StatesJA ur e5'hange

'ontinued in mu'h this fashion for several minutes" 9n the end 9 7as

dispat'hed for a se'ondar inspe'tion in a room 7here 9 sat on a metal

ben'h ne5t to a tattooed man in hand'uffs" % team did not 7ait for me? b

the time 9 entered the 'ustoms hall the had alread 'olle'ted their stuff and

left" $s a 'onseGuen'e< 9 rode to %anhattan that evening ver mu'h alone"

-amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist #8

3hange4 also e5perien'es a ra'ist atta'(< 7hi'h dis'on'erts him 'ompletel" -e is

verball atta'(ed b a man 7ho 'alls 3hange4 @fu'(ing $rabA and tries to pi'( a fight 7ith

him" The surprising and groundless 'onfrontation =ust be'ause of his ra'e and appearan'e

infuriates 3hange4 to su'h an e5tent that he is 'onsidering using violen'e too"

9 unlo'(ed the boot< retrieving the tire iron from 7here it la? the 'old metal

of its shaft rested hungril in m hands< and 9 felt< at that moment< full

'apable of 7ielding it 7ith suffi'ient violen'e to shatter the bones of his

s(ull" -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 1)*

The a''ident again proves 3hange4 that his so'ial status ma(es no differen'e and 'annot

save him 7hen it 'omes to ra'ial pre=udi'e" -e 7as of 'ourse a7are of gro7ing tension

bet7een people of %uslim ba'(ground and 7hite $meri'an population" -e also (ne7 that

21



/a(istani 'abdrivers @7ere being beaten to 7ithin an in'h of their lives? the FB9 7as raiding

mosGues< shops< even people.s houses? %uslim men 7ere disappearing< perhaps into shado7

detention 'enters for Guestioning or 7orseA< but in his o7n 7ords< he believed that similar

things @invariabl happened< in $meri'a as in all 'ountries< to helpless poor< not to /rin'eton

graduates earning eight thousand dollars a earA -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 10,>

10#" The a''ident is =ust one signal that he 7as 7rong"

3hange.s e5perien'e 7ith the aftermath of 11 is not so different from -amid.s o7n"

-e also des'ribes the gro7ing tension and feelings of suspi'ion a fear 7hi'h 7as the

'onseGuen'e of the terrorist atta'(s"

Earlier this ear 2010C< on a trip from /a(istan to e7 or( 7ith m 7ife

and bab daughter< 9 had m usual length en'ounter at "F"M" $irport" Sent

to se'ondar inspe'tion< 9 7aited m turn to be investigated" Eventuall it

'ame< the offi'er Guestioning me about su'h things as 7hether 9 had ever

been to %e5i'o or re'eived 'ombat training" $s a result< 7e 7ere the last

passengers on our flight to 'laim our luggage< a lonel set of suit'ases and a

foldable plapen on a no7>stationar baggage 'arousel" $nd until 7e

stepped out of the terminal< m heart (ept pounding in a 7a in'ongruent

7ith m status as a visitor 7ith papers in order" -amid< @Dis'ontentA

The similarit 7ith 3hange4.s e5perien'e is 'lear there< although the events too( pla'e

almost ten ears after the atta'(s" 9n another intervie7 -amid remar(s that @all %uslims are

suspe't to a 'ertain e5tent" We.re all fundamentalists until 7e prove other7ise< until 7e order

that beer< or our girlfriend sho7s up in a minis(irtA &eese"

While -amid.s des'ribes 'onfrontations of %uslims or foreigners 7ith strong general

pre=udi'e< it is interesting in this 'onte5t to have a 'loser loo( at some surves des'ribing the

development of per'eption of %uslims in $meri'a and Europe after the 11 atta'(s" There

are< no doubt< signifi'ant regional differen'es< but some features are re'urrent in the surves

and are 'ommon for all des'ribed regions" Firstl< it is the fa't that the number of atta'(s on

%uslims or people 7ho supposedl loo(ed li(e %uslims gre7 signifi'antl after the events"

$lthough these atta'(s 7ere mostl verbal and the level of phsi'al violen'e 7as relativel

lo7< this fa't is 'lear and rather alarming"

Se'ondl< 'ontrar to 'ommon e5pe'tations and perhaps rather surprisingl< the surves

sho7 that $meri'ans generall sa7 $meri'an %uslims in a more smpatheti' 7a than

22



before 11 during the first fe7 months after the atta'(s" This ma be due to the huge media

attention given to the %uslim 'ommunit and also due to 'lear 'ondemnation of the atta'(s

from 7ithin the 'ommunit" n the other hand< this trend has been diminishing in the 'ourse

of time and the vie7s on %uslims and 9slam are getting more negative again" $nother side

effe't of the atta'(s is the gro7ing interest in %uslim 'ulture and literature in re'ent ears

$miri< E;%3< /anagopoulos" The popularit of -amid.s novel follo7s this trend" These

@other voi'esA are getting stronger and more distin'tive" $fter all< it is 3hange4 7ho is

spea(ing throughout the novel< spouting on about his memories and feelings< 7hereas the

$meri'an is silent< seldom able to shortl rea't"

2'; The Me!nin% o F0n#!"ent!.is" !n# Ch!n%e34s

P!&tin% ith A"e&i,!

$fter the 11 atta'(s< 3hange4 begins to feel more resentment to7ards $meri'a" -is

/a(istani side 7ithin him starts to 7in" ne reason is the 'haos after 11 and the feeling that

his status in the ;S$ 7ill not be the same anmore? he feels to be loo(ed do7n upon and his

pride is hurt" %oreover< he is further angered b the @War on TerrorA and $meri'an poli' in

$sia in general" $meri'a< a''ording to 3hange4< su''umbed to dangerous nationalisti'

nostalgia and gro7ing self>righteous rage" -e sees $meri'a differentl than he used to"

9 had al7as thought of $meri'a as a nation that loo(ed for7ard? for the

first time 9 7as stru'( b its determination to loo( back " Living in e7

or( 7as suddenl li(e living in a film about the Se'ond World War? 9< a

foreigner< found mself staring out at a set that ought to be vie7ed not in

Te'hni'olor but in grain bla'( and 7hite" What our fello7 'ountrmen

longed for 7as un'lear to me a time of unGuestioned dominan'eJ of

safetJ of moral 'ertaintJ 9 did not (no7 but that the 7ere s'rambling to

don the 'ostumes of another era 7as apparent" 9 felt trea'herous for

7ondering 7hether that era 7as fi'titious< and 7hether if it 'ould indeed

be animated it 'ontained a part 7ritten for someone li(e me" -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist 1)1

2)



When the ;S$ 'ampaign in $fghanistan starts< 3hange4 is infuriated to su'h an e5tent

that he avoids 7at'hing the ne7s" Later on< the tension bet7een /a(istan and 9ndia is also

gro7ing and 3hange4 blames $meri'a for not supporting /a(istan enough" 3hange4 is

ashamed and angr be'ause of 7ea(ness and vulnerabilit of his 'ountr and in a broader

sense of the 7hole %uslim 7orld" -e holds $meri'a responsible for man ills and 7rongs all

over the 7orld"

$s a so'iet< ou $meri'aC 7ere un7illing to refle't upon the shared pain

that united ou 7ith those 7ho atta'(ed ou" ou retreated into mths of

our o7n differen'e< assumptions of our o7n superiorit" $nd ou a'ted

out these beliefs on the stage of the 7orld< so that the entire planet 7as

ro'(ed b the reper'ussions of our tantrums< not least m famil< no7

fa'ing 7ar thousands of miles a7a" Su'h an $meri'a had to be stopped in

the interest not onl the rest of humanit< but also in our o7n" -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist 10

3hange4 'learl be'omes in'reasingl anti>$meri'an in the 'ourse of his narrative although

he still 'laims to be a friend of $meri'a"

The 'riti'al loo( at the impa't of $meri'an influen'e and a'tions is something that

3hange4 again shares 7ith -amid" 9t is apparent< that one of the main aims of the novel is to

put for7ard a 'lear message that there are man people dis'ontent 7ith the 7a in 7hi'h

$meri'a 'ondu'ts its foreign poli' and to amplif this position" ;nli(e 3hange4.s< -amid.s

attitude is less aggressive< et Guite straightfor7ard 7hen it 'omes to re=e'ting the $meri'an

interferen'e in 7orld.s affairs" Though his opinions are not ver different from other 'ritiGues

of $meri'a< his first>hand e5perien'e 7ith living both in the ;S and /a(istan ma(es them

more plausible and perhaps gives them more authenti'it"

-amid is 'riti'i4ing $meri'a not onl in 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist but also in his

arti'les and essas for various ne7spapers" 3hange4 'laims man times< and he also does his

best to persuade his $meri'an interlo'utor< that he is a lover and friend of $meri'a< regardless

his 'riti'ism" So does -amid< 7ho stresses that @saing these things to an $meri'an audien'e

is helpful to $meri'aA &eese" -amid is also 'onvin'ed that @if ou 7ant to persuade people<

it.s a hell of a lot more effe'tive to tr to persuade them as friends< than it is to ell at them as

enemiesA @''upational -a4ardsA" 9t is Guestionable to 7hat e5tent is 3hange4 su''essful in

2*



this matter be'ause it is diffi'ult to believe that he is reall friendl to7ards $meri'a" $s

man other times in the novel< 3hange4 sas a lot but there is not enough eviden'e that 7hat

he sas is true"

$part from his politi'al 'riti'ism< 3hange4 also starts to be dubious about his

professional 'areer in $meri'a" -e had some doubts about his =ob for ;nder7ood Samson

before 11 but after the evens his 'onfusion intensifies" n one hand he is perfe'tl happ to

be a part of a privileged @'lassA< earning a lot of mone on the highest levels of 'orporate

business< but on the other hand he suffers from remorse be'ause of its 'onseGuen'es for other

people" im< 3hange4.s supervisor< tries to e5plain to him that:

E'onom.s an animal< it evolves" First it needed mus'le" o7 all the blood it

'ould spare 7as rushing to its brain" That.s 7here 9 7anted to be" 9n finan'e"

9n the 'oordination business" $nd that.s 7here you are" ou.re blood brought

from some part of the bod that the spe'ies doesn.t need anmore" The

tailbone" -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 110

3hange4 is upset about the fa't that @the tailboneA< in other 7ords the pla'e he 'omes

from< is no longer needed< obsolete and 'ounted out a''ording to im< 7ho represents

$meri'an business elite in the novel" When 3hange4 arti'ulates his doubts to one of his

'olleagues< the 'olleague replies: @ou.re 7or(ing for the man< budd" Didn.t anone tell ou

that at orientationJ But 9 get 7here ou.re 'oming from" ust remember our deals 7ould go

ahead 7hether ou 7or(ed on them or not" $nd fo'us on the fundamentalsA -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist 112"

B @the fundamentalsA is 'learl meant single>minded attention to business su''ess<

gaining profit at an 'ost< regardless the possible 'onseGuen'es for the others< the

'hara'teristi' so tpi'al of the $meri'ans< at least in 3hange4.s ees" 9n this sense< 3hange4

be'omes in'reasingl @relu'tantA" For some time< @fo'using on the fundamentalsA helps him

to forget about his inner 'onfli't< it serves as a save shelter 7here he 'an hide" But more and

more often< 3hange4 reali4es that it is hpo'riti'al and feels guilt about it"

3hange4 de'ides to go ba'( to Lahore< be'ause he is 7orried about the situation in

/a(istan" ;pon his arrival in his hometo7n< he feels et again ashamed be'ause of the

shabbiness of the pla'e" But he soon reali4es that there is nothing to be ashamed of< that he

has =ust adopted the @$meri'anA per'eption of things"

2+



9 had 'hanged? 9 7as loo(ing about me 7ith the ees of a foreigner< but not

=ust an foreigner< but the parti'ular tpe of entitled and unsmpatheti'

$meri'an 7ho so annoed me 7hen 9 en'ountered him in the 'lassrooms and

7or(pla'es of our 'ountr.s elite" This reali4ation angered me? staring at m

refle'tion in the spe'(ed glass of m bathroom mirror 9 resolved to e5or'i4e

the un7el'ome sensibilit b 7hi'h 9 had be'ome possessed" -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist 1*1

3hange4 feels li(e a 'o7ard and traitor< abandoning his origin and roots" n a personal

level< he feels ashamed and is 'onsumed b self>'ontempt be'ause he 7ants to go ba'( to

$meri'a< leaving his relatives in the unsettled /a(istan< 7hi'h 7as possibl on the verge of

7ar 7ith 9ndia" @What sort of man abandons his people in su'h 'ir'umstan'esJ $nd 7hat 7as

9 abandoning them forJ $ 7ell>paing =ob and a 7oman 7hom 9 longed for but 7ho refused

even to see meJ 9 grappled 7ith these Guestions again and againA -amid< 7he 8eluctant

Fundamentalist 1*+"

Before he goes ba'( to e7 or(< 3hange4 de'ides to gro7 a beard< although his

mother tries to persuade him to shave it" When he reappears in his offi'e< his ne7 loo( is met

7ith 'on'erned stares" B gro7ing the beard 3hange4 de'lares 7ar on his $meri'an self" 9t is

a smbol of his /a(istani roots and also a form of a protest" 9t is a provo'ation< meant to 'ause

strong rea'tion and ir( those 7ho are suspi'ious about %uslims" 9n that sense< 3hange4 is

su''essful" -e re'alls:

9t is remar(able< given its phsi'al insignifi'an'e> it is onl a hairstle< after

all> the impa't a beard 7orn b a man of m 'omple5ion has on our fello7

$meri'anC 'ountrmen" %ore than on'e< traveling on the sub7a> 7here 9

had the feeling of seamlessl blending in> 9 7as sub=e'ted to verbal abuse b

'omplete strangers< and at ;nder7ood Samson 9 seemed to be'ome

overnight a sub=e't of 7hispers and stares" Wain7right one of 3hange4.s

'olleaguesC tried to offer me some friendl advi'e" @Loo( man<A he said< @9

don.t (no7 7hat.s up 7ith the beard< but 9 don.t thin( it.s ma(ing ou

%ister /opular around here"A -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 1*#

-o7ever< the inabilit to tolerate different appearan'e 7ithout attributing it immediatel

'ertain< often biased< 'hara'teristi' is =ust one trait that 3hange4 7ishes to 'riti'i4e" $s he

28



observes< it is also the $meri'an intoleran'e of other 'ultural s'hemes< together 7ith the rigid

adheren'e to the 7estern understanding of the @'orre'tA 7orld order" From 3hange4.s point of

vie7< the $meri'ans 'an be< in that sense< also mar(ed as fundamentalist"

Turmoil ta(ing pla'e inside 3hange4 is further in'reased during his sta in 3hile 7here

he is sent to evaluate a publishing 'ompan" There he meets uan>Bautista< the 'hief of the

'ompan" uan>Bautista noti'es that 3hange4 is someho7 lost and relu'tant about his =ob and

introdu'es him to the 'on'ept of so 'alled =anissaries" During the ttoman Empire< anissaries

7ere the most loal< elite and po7erful 'orps serving the sultan" The 7ere re'ruited from

3hristian bos< severed from their families< brought up as %uslims and given the best militar

edu'ation" $t the time< the 7ere one of the most effe'tive and best trained soldiers in

Europe< 7ell>paid and en=oing high so'ial status< 7ho 7ere a'tuall fighting against their

o7n 3hristian 'ivili4ation @3ampaignsA )>*"

This 'on'ept is of a great importan'e for the boo(" 3hange4 often feels torn< he sees

himself as a traitor:

There reall 'ould be no doubt" 9 7as a modern>da =anissar< a servant of the

$meri'an empire at a time 7hen it 7as invading a 'ountr 7ith a (inship to

mine $fghanistanC and 7as perhaps even 'olluding to ensure that m o7n

'ountr fa'ed the thread of 7ar" -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 1,)

3onseGuentl< 3hange4 refuses to 7or( for ;nder7ood Samson an further and goes ba'( to

e7 or(" 9n his 7ords< his @das of fo'using on fundamentals 7ere doneA -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist 1,+"

9nterestingl enough< ta(ing into a''ount -amid.s 'areer< the 'on'ept of =anissaries

7ould be probabl more relevant for -amid himself than for 3hange4" 9t is mentioned man

times in the novel that it is finan'e 7hi'h is the most important means b 7hi'h the $meri'an

empire e5er'ise its po7er" -amid has been involved in finan'e and in a 7a helps to fa'ilitate

the ;S domination in the se'tor" %oreover< as uan> Bautista remar(s< @=anissaries 7ere

al7as ta(en in 'hildhood" 9t 7ould have been far more diffi'ult to devote themselves to their

adopted empire< ou see< if the had memories the 'ould not forgetA -amid< 7he 8eluctant

Fundamentalist 1,2" ;nli(e %ohsin -amid 7ho spent a big part of his 'hildhood in

$meri'a< 3hange4 7ent there 7hen he 7as eighteen"

B leaving his =ob< 3hange4 also loses his visa and returns to Lahore" From then on< his

life stor be'omes blurred" 9t is revealed b him that he started to 7or( as an universit

2,



le'turer< popular 7ith students but also suspe'ted to be rather radi'al and anti>$meri'an< even

supporting terrorists< 7hi'h 3hange4 stri'tl denies"

When listening to 3hange4.s stor< one 'annot help finding it diffi'ult to believe" Would

he reall give up his su''essful 'areer and life in $meri'a for the reasons he mentionedJ -is

disgust 7ith $meri'an foreign poli' and arrogan'e< the impa't of his 7or( on average

emploees of the evaluated 'ompanies< his national pride are =ust some reasons he gives< but it

someho7 does not seem to a''ount enough for su'h a profound 'hange" The 11 events

'ertainl 'hanged his 7orldvie7 and prospe'ts of life in $meri'a but still there seems to be

something missing< something else 7hi'h 7ould help to e5plain the transformation" 9t ma be

also his age? he is in his t7enties< therefore sear'hing his identit< and more li(el prone to

radi'al 'hanges and his transformation ma be a form of rebellion and sear'h for finding his

pla'e in the 7orld< a need to belong to some @tribeA" The reader 'an onl spe'ulate and

although 3hange4 tal(s a lot< sometimes mabe to mu'h< 7e do not (no7 if he gives us the

7hole stor or if 7hat he sas is 'raftil 'hosen to manipulate the listener"

2#



6' Ch!n%e34s Se. Dete&"ine# 57 Re.!tions

6'1 Re.!tionshi8 ith A"/E&i,!

$ 'onsiderable part of 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist deals 7ith 3hange4.s relationship

7ith Eri'a" She embodies 3hange4.s desires 7hen it 'omes to 7omen and also she be'omes

an important part of his $meri'an dream< as he often imagines that 7ill be'ome a 'ouple one

da" The beginning of the relationship seems to go smoothl for 3hange4" Eri'a is attra'ted to

him in a 7a remaining romanti' movies< 7here a proud< enigmati' foreigner 7ins the heart

of the most beautiful 7oman over other admirers" 3hange4 baths in his su''ess and is far from

humble about his abilit to sedu'e 7omen" $s 7ith his relationship 7ith $meri'a< after the

promising start 3hange4.s relationship 7ith Eri'a undergoes a gradual 'hange< leading to the

end of the roman'e"/aralleling the personal 7ith 3hange4.s politi'al vie7s is tpi'al for the

novel" -amid e5plains:

9 believe that the personal and the politi'al are deepl intert7ined? in m o7n

life 9 'ertainl e5perien'e them as su'h" 9 don.t set out to find a balan'e

bet7een the t7o in m novels" 9nstead< 9 tr to e5plore the pla'es 7here the

interse't most po7erfull" /eople and 'ountries tend to blur in m fi'tion<

both serving as smbols of the other" @-ar'ourt 9ntervie7A

;sing smbolism and allusions is another feature often used in the boo(" This is

espe'iall evident 7ith the names of the main 'hara'ters" The parallel bet7een Eri'a and

$meri'a is 'learl visible" Similarl< 3hange4 ma stand for 'hanges< although -amid denies

it and argues that it is an ;rdu name for 6enghis Mhan" 6enghis Mhan 7as a great 7arrior<

mu'h li(e 3hange4 in his profession" -amid 'learl tries to lin( the 7orld of international

finan'e 7ith 7ar" %oreover< a''ording to -amid< 6enghis Mhan fought against %uslim

'ivili4ation of his time and therefore it 7ould be an odd name for a %uslim fundamentalist"

B this< -amid 7ants to impl that 3hange4.s fundamentalism is not 'onne'ted< at least

dire'tl< 7ith religion and has more to do 7ith nationalism and @tribalA identit @We $re

$lread $fraidA"

2



uan>Bautista< another name used in the novel< is obviousl an allusion referring to

$lbert 3amusK 7he Fall < published e5a'tl fift ears before 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist "

ot unli(e 3hange4< ean>Baptiste 3lamen'e< the narrator in 7he Fall# uses a dramati'

monologue to refle't upon his life to a stranger" -amid a'(no7ledges 7he Fall as a model for

his novel< espe'iall 7hen it 'omes to its form" -e also admits the lin( bet7een uan>Bautista

and ohn the Baptist> in the 7a in 7hi'h he redeems 3hange4 from the life he had 'hosen"

@3riti'al uta(esA< %ullan" et another possible pla on a name 'omes 7ith the name of

Eri'a.s de'eased bofriend 3hris 7hi'h ma be a pun on 3hristianit or even 3hristopher

3olumbus as is suggested b 6ra" 6ra also points out that this pla on names is of a great

importan'e for the boo(:

This is a novel set in and about a liminal 7orld< a proliferating 'hain of

borders< 7here 'hara'ters and 'ultures 'ross and re'ross the lands'ape<

dissolving and re'onfiguration 7hat might on'e have seemed a series of stati'

opposition: past and present< %uslim and $meri'an< East and West" The

verbal slippages< su'h as Eri'a $meri'a< 3hange4 'hanges and 3hris

3hristopher 3olumbus are a vital part of this< inviting us into a verbal 7orld

7here even the primar a't of naming turns out to be partial and provisional<

'onstantl open to later a't of renaming" 6ra 82

This rather heav s'holarl observation ma be a''urate< but it ma be also possible that

-amid is again 'ons'iousl plaing 7ith his readers" B providing often too obvious allusions

and smbols< -amid seems to tests ho7 far the reader is 7illing to go in his sear'h for se'ond

meanings" 9t ma be a tongue>in>'hee( invitation for 'riti's and intelle'tual readers to dis'uss

possible 'onnotations of the novel< or even an attempt to mo'( su'h a disse'tion" Whatever is

the 'ase< it is evident that the names used in the boo( 7ere 'arefull 'hosen to trigger ne7

thoughts and Guestions in the reader"

The smbolism of the relationship bet7een 3hange4 and Eri'a reappears man times in

the stor" Their relationship is never full fun'tional both emotionall and se5uall" Despite

her smpath for 3hange4< Eri'a remains an impenetrable< deta'hed figure for 3hange4" -e

des'ribes Eri'a as @out of rea'h< lost in thoughts unsaidA -amid< 7he 8eluctant

Fundamentalist 2+" Their onl su''essful attempt to ma(e love 'omes 7hen 3hange4

pretends to be 3hris" $s 3hange4< he is re=e'ted and unable to en=o an real phsi'alintima' 7ith Eri'a" f 'ourse< this fa't upsets him greatl: @B ta(ing on the persona of

)0



another< 9 had diminished mself in m o7n ees? perhaps 9 7as humiliated b the 'ontinuing

dominan'e< in the strange romanti' triangle of 7hi'h 9 found mself a part< of m dead

rival!A -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 121" The analog to his relation 7ith

$meri'a is ver obvious here" Furthermore< the feelings of being re=e'ted and denied fill

3hange4 7ith gro7ing anger and resentment both on personal and politi'al level" -e feels

humiliated and turns to his roots for shelter" -imself re=e'ted< he in turn starts to re=e't the

sour'e of his humiliation"

The 11 atta'(s further 7orsen his interior struggle" -umiliating pro'edures he has to

undergo at the airport< 'on'erned loo(s be'ause of his 'omple5ion together 7ith verbal and

other abuse< the all lead to his loss of dignit" 3hange4.s pride is 7ounded and his $meri'an

dream 'rumbling" $gain< it is the same 7ith his relationship 7ith Eri'a" $fter 11< Eri'a

seems even more distant< 'older and (eeps thin(ing of 3hris" 3hange4 des'ribes that their first

meeting after the atta'(s felt li(e @en'ountering one another at a funeralA -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist 1" Their relationship graduall de'lines and the spend hardl

an time together" $''ording to 3hange4< Eri'a< as 7ell as $meri'a< su''umbed to a

dangerous nostalgia after 11" The both loo(ed ba'( rather than to the future and there is no

pla'e for 3hange4 in $mEri'a.s ne7 realit" 3hange4 too is preo''upied 7ith thoughts of

his homeland and distan'ing himself from his life in 'orporate e7 or("

What is also tpi'al of the relationship is that 3hange4 is not in 'ontrol of it" 9t is mostl

Eri'a 7ho de'ides 7hen or if at all the 7ill meet" The dire'tion of the relation is entirel in

Eri'a.s hands" 3hange4 dreams of their mutual future but the realit is different" 3hange4

graduall be'omes =ust Eri'a.s soul mate< an e5oti' es'ort a''ompaning her 7henever she

'hooses to" ne ma even Guestion 7hether he is not =ust being used as her 'onsolation< a

spurned lover 7ithout an 'han'e to be'ome her real love"

The end of 3hange4.s relationship 7ith Eri'a is rather pu44ling and again seems to be

almost too fantasti' to be possible to happen" Eri'a.s metal state is deteriorating and finall

she is hospitali4ed at a 'lini' 7ith an un'lear diagnosis" $fter some time< she leaves the 'lini'

and disappears 'ompletel< leaving behind =ust a pile of her 'lothes on the edge of a 'liff< all

eviden'e leading to the 'on'lusion that she had 'ommitted sui'ide< although her bod 7as

never found" 3hange4.s rea'tion is anger and defian'e" -e tries to 'ut himself off the past< to

burn his bridges and 'ome to terms 7ith the fa't that Eri'a 7ould be no longer a part of his

life" This is not eas pro'ess for 3hange4" Des'ribing his feeling at the time he re'alls:

)1



9 7as an in'oherent and emotional madman< fling off into rages and sin(ing

into depressions" Sometimes 9 7ould lie in bed< thin(ing in 'ir'les< as(ing the

same Guestions 7h and 7here Eri'a had gone? sometimes 9 7ould find

mself 7al(ing the streets< flaunting m beard as a provo'ation< 'raving

'onfli't 7ith anone foolhard enough to antagoni4e me" $ffronts 7ere

ever7here? the rhetori' emerging from our 'ountr $meri'aC at that

moment of histor> not =ust from the government< but from the media and

supposedl 'riti'al =ournals as 7ell> providing a read and 'onstant fuel for

m anger" -amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 10

Evidentl< 3hange4.s relation 7ith Eri'a is a failure and 'ontributes to his overall

resentment to7ards $meri'a" 9t also sho7s ho7 personal matters influen'e the one.s

7orldvie7s and vi'e versa" The politi'al and the personal realit is inseparable in the boo("

6'2 The :ene&i, A"e&i,!n !n# L!ho&e Lo,!tion

$s 3hange4 be'omes a sole narrator of the novel< he spea(s to a foreigner< 7hose

identit is never 'learl revealed< although 3hange4 is 'onvin'ed that he is $meri'an in

man intervie7s< -amid himself also refers to the 'hara'ter as to @the $meri'anA" 3hange4

e5plains ho7 he (ne7 the foreigner 7as $meri'an: @!it 7as our bearing that allo7ed me to

identif ou< and 9 do not mean it as an insult!but merel as an observationA -amid< 7he

8eluctant Fundamentalist 2" $lso the purpose of the foreigners visit in /a(istan is un'lear<

even thought there are some hints in the stor" -e ma be or ma be not an intelligen'e agent

tring to (ill 3hange4 or perhaps he is =ust a tourist meeting 3hange4 a''identall at the 'afH"

The foreigner never spea(s dire'tl and 7e 'an onl infer 7hat he sas from 3hange4.s

rea'tions and 'omments" These 'omments< ho7ever< let the reader almost see the foreigner in

front of him and even feel 7hat bod language and gestures he uses" But his rea'tions never

last for long< as the are soon silen'ed and interrupted b 3hange4" The language 3hange4

uses to address his presumabl $meri'an interlo'utor is of a strange sort" 9t is polite<

sometimes almost artifi'iall polite< et behind it is possible to feel anger and rage" -amid

)2



des'ribes that 3hange4.s voi'e is @born of the British 'olonial infle'tions taught in elite

/a(istani s'hools and 'olored b an ana'hronisti'< 'ourtl mena'e that resonates 7ell 7ith

popular 7estern pre'on'eptions of 9slamA -amid< @% &elu'tant FundamentalistA"

$lthough it is Guestionable 7hether su'h an artifi'ial language 'ould be reall used b anone

of an ba'(ground< it is true that it possesses the mentioned mena'ing effe't"

Ta(ing into a''ount the length of 3hange4.s spee'h< it is 'lear that it should be ta(en

more li(e $rabian ights>li(e narrative rather than an authenti' 'onversation" -amid

e5plains:

/eople often get literalist about these things" The as( me< @3ould 3hange4

reall have spent )>* hours tal(ing to this $meri'an tourist in $nar(ali

Ba4aar< 7ith the other gu =ust sitting there and listeningJA and the ans7er is

< of 'ourse he 'ouldn.t haveU Basi'all 7hat.s happening here is that

ou.ve 7al(ed into a dar(ened theatre and there.s one a'tor on the stage

ta(ing ou through the pla" Singh

B pla'ing his stor in Lahore and putting the foreigner into the 'hair< it is -amid

3hange4 7ho is in po7er and in 'ontrol of the situation" 9t almost feels as if the foreigner 7as

tied up to his 'hair and for'ed to listen to 3hange4.s stor 7ithout being able to respond or

rea't properl" -amid admits that silen'ing the foreigner 7as not a 'oin'iden'e and admits

that it 7as done on purpose" 9t gives him spa'e to favour non>$meri'an voi'e 7ithout being

interrupted" The $meri'an has to pa attention to 7hat 3hange4 is saing" $pparentl< it is

something that -amid thin(s $meri'ans la'(> the abilit to listen attentivel and emphati'all

to others voi'es" The novel< as he sas< should be the opposite of 7hat $meri'an media

usuall offer"

$'tuall< the novel stands up as the reverse of 7hat $meri'an media gives

everbod all the time" Whi'h is these gus don.t sa anthing" The are

the grain pi'ture 7hi'h stands for )0 se'onds before the bomb hits and

blo7s up 7hatever building that is" Who (no7s 7hat the 7ere saing

inside that buildingJ We don.t reall 'are" So the novel is a 7a of reversing

that" Who (no7s 7hat the $meri'an is saingJ @3riti'al uta(esA

))



9nstead of the $meri'an< ho7ever< there 'ould be an other person sitting in the 'hair" 9n

this 7a< 3hange4 spea(s dire'tl not onl to the stranger but to all readers< presumabl

mostl from the West"

$lthough 3hange4 uses this @shut up and listenA attitude and 'hurns out his life stor

and 7orldvie7s< it is Guestionable to 7hat e5tent he is a reliable narrator or 7hether 7hat he

is saing is invented or fabri'ated" From time to time< his e5perien'e seems to be a bit over

the top and too abstra't to be plausible" This is espe'iall appli'able to his roman'e 7ith

Eri'a"

%oreover< although he is 'onstantl stressing that he loves $meri'a< there is not enough

eviden'e to prove it" ne $meri'an 'riti' 7ent even further and a''used -amid of being as

anti>$meri'an as his fi'tional 'hara'ter" She sas that -amid.s opinions published in various

periodi'als Aare nearl 'ontinuous 7ith the hateful 'hara'teri4ations of $meri'ans and

$meri'a e5pressed in the long monologue that the boo(.s narrator< 3hange4< delivers to an

unnamed $meri'an in a Lahore 'afH<A and adds that the novel is @anti>$meri'an agitprop

'lumsil masGuerading as a 7or( of art" /eople 7ho are buing 8F are sending their mone

to someone 7ho is aggressivel anti>$meri'anA %arlo7e"

-amid nevertheless denies that his opinions are the same as 3hange4.s" 3hange4 'an be

more li(el seen =ust li(e one voi'e resonating inside -amid< 7hi'h 7as brought to life and

further e5plored in his fi'tion" To ma(e matters even more ambiguous< -amid offers another

possible 'on'ept regarding the role of the $meri'an in the novel" -e sas: @/eople often as(

me if 9 am the boo(.s /a(istani protagonist" 9 7onder 7h the never as( if 9 am his

$meri'an listener" $fter all< a novel 'an often be a divided man.s 'onversation 7ith himselfA

-amid< @% &elu'tant FundamentalistA"

What is 'ertain< ho7ever< is that the $meri'an is not entirel 'onvin'ed that 3hange4 is

telling the truth" 9t is not diffi'ult to infer from 3hange4.s rea'tions that the $meri'an implies

that he does not believe him" Seeping through 3hange4.s spee'h< 7e 'an see the hints

revealing that 3hange4 is< at least< not telling the e5a't truth" The more 3hange4 tries to

reassure the $meri'an that 7hat he is saing is the realit< the less plausible it sounds" For

e5ample he sas:

To be honest< 9 'annot no7 re'all man of the details of the events 9 have

been relating to ou" But surel it is the gist that matters? 9 am< after all

telling ou histor< and in histor< as 9 suspe't ou> an $meri'an> 7ill agree<

it is the thrust of one.s narrative that 'ounts< not the a''ura' of one.s

)*



details" Still 9 'an assure ou that everthing 9 have told ou thus far

happened< for all intents and purposes< more or less as 9 have des'ribed"

-amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 1)+"

Similarl< in another part of the boo( 3hange4 tries to persuade the foreigner about his

vera'it:

But our e5pression< sir< tells me that ou thin( something is amiss" Did this

'onversation reall happen< ou as(J For that matter< did this so>'alled uan>

Bautista even e5istJ 9 assure ou< sir: ou 'an trust me" 9 am not in the habit

of inventing untruthsU $nd moreover< even if 9 7ere< there is no reason 7h

this in'ident 7ould be more li(el to be false than an of the others 9 have

related to ou" 3ome< 'ome< 9 believe 7e have passed through too mu'h

together to begin to raise Guestions of this nature at so late a stage" -amid<

7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 1,)

Similar statements 'ertainl do not add 'redibilit to 3hange4.s narrative< 7hi'h

subseGuentl leads to mutual distrust bet7een him and the $meri'an"

$t the end of the novel< as the tension bet7een the t7o protagonists is gro7ing< it is

obvious that 3hange4 did not manage to persuade the $meri'an about his truthfulness"

3hange4 noti'es that his $meri'an interlo'utor is in'reasingl nervous about 3hange4.s real

intentions and less 7illing to believe him:

9t seems to me that ou have 'eased to listen to m 'hatter? perhaps ou are

'onvin'ed that 9 am an inveterate liar! 9t seems an obvious thing to sa< but

ou should not imagine that 7e /a(istanis are all potential terrorists< =ust as

7e should not imagine that ou $meri'ans are all under'over assassins"

-amid< 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist 20#>20

3hange4 also suspi'iousl often reassures the $meri'an that he is not in danger and

that neither 3hange4 nor anbod around 7ants to hurt him" The ambiguous ending implies

that either 3hange4 or the $meri'an ma be or ma be not (illed" The interpretative

ambiguit of the ending ma seem a bit too s(et'h but -amid 'laims that the 7a the reader

)+



interprets the final part of the novel 'an reveal a lot about the reader.s per'eption of the

7orld after the 11 events"

9 7as 'ertainl 7or(ing to7ards an ambiguous ending< one 7hi'h refle'ts

the reader.s o7n vie7 of the 7orld ba'( at him or her" The reader 'an see

the novel as a thriller or as an en'ounter bet7een t7o rather odd gentlemen<

depending on 7hat the reader believes about the 7orld in 7hi'h the novel

ta(es pla'e" But be'ause the emotional =ourne 9 7as as(ing readers to

underta(e is a troubling one< 9 (ne7 9 7anted a strong narrative pull< a

mster that added urgen' to their reading< and the ending is 9 hope the

'ulmination of that" @-ar'ourt 9ntervie7A

9t is apparent that the $meri'an in the novel is a post>11 $meri'an" The lingering

mutual suspi'ion bet7een 3hange4< 7ho represent eastern< %uslim>based 'ivili4ation< and the

$meri'an< representing the 7estern point of vie7< is the 'ru'ial theme of the boo(" The

atta'(s have deepened the gap and 'hanged the 7a in 7hi'h people from different 'ultures

ma see ea'h other" The relation bet7een 3hange4 and the $meri'an sho7s these an5ieties

'onne'ted 7ith the painful aftermath of 11< 7hi'h is still visible to this da" B lo'ating the

$meri'an to Lahore< displa'ing him from his homeland< -amid gives his boo( an un'ommon

t7ist and manages to turn the tables in his fi'tional dialog bet7een the East and the West"

Last but not least< situating the novel to /a(istan ma help -amid to address his potential

readers in there too and to help him introdu'e his homeland and its affairs to often biased

7estern reader"

)8



Con,.0sion

7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist manages to refle't on the post>11 'haos in a fresh<

po7erful 7a< b s7it'hing the roles and giving the most dominant voi'e to his $meri'ani4ed

%uslim protagonist" 9t provides a uniGue point of vie7 and introdu'es a rare tpe of

@%uslimA 'hara'ter" Dra7ing from his a'tual life>e5perien'e< -amid is able to ma(e his

fi'tional 'hara'ter sound authenti' and genuinel non>$meri'an"

9t is 'lear that the boo( aims at subtle 'riti'ism of e5posed an5ieties of $meri'a" $s if

-amid assists 7estern readership to see( ans7ers to 'ommon pre=udi'e resonating in the

minds of 'ommon $meri'ans: @7h the hate usA? he does not reall 7ant to provide lessons

about the mind of a fundamentalist< and he hardl helps to 'omprehend the possible motives

and mindsets 7hi'h ma stand behind the 11 atta'(s"

The 11 events as refle'ted in the novel serve as a 'ru'ial point in mutual relations

bet7een the $meri'an and %uslim 7orld" &ather than fo'using on terrorism and its 'auses<

the novel e5plores the impa't of transforming 'ultural for'es after 11< 7ith its 'on'rete

'onseGuen'es for immigrants from %uslim 'ountries" What also ma(es the boo( signifi'ant is

that 3hange4 is predominantl se'ular 'hara'ter< 7hi'h gives his 'riti'ism of $meri'a a ne7

perspe'tive une5pe'ted from a @%uslimA 'hara'ter and reinvents the 'on'ept of

fundamentalism 'ompletel"

-amid sho7s that so 'alled %uslim 7orld is not a homogenous< rigid pla'e? rather than

that it is as multilaered and diverse as other parts of the 7orld" -amid.s 'riti'ism of $meri'a

is self>'onfident< rather 7esterni4ed and -amid.s personal e5perien'e gives it a 'ertain global

dimension< although man of the anti>$meri'an arguments put for7ard it the novel are not so

original and 'an be heard else7here too"-amid manages to sho7 that< despite all the differen'es< people from the West and the

East are not so different and also points out ho7 7e are all bound to be influen'ed b 7orld

affairs on a personal level" 9n 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist it is sho7n on the e5ample of the

impa't of the 11 atta'(s on the protagonists of the boo(" $''ording to -amid< these tragi'

events should not lead to our re'oiling and nostalgi' es'ape into the past> it should rather

sho7 us the need for mutual understanding and empath and avoiding various forms of

fundamentalism"

),



$lthough the boo( tou'hes on man issues and raises man Guestions< it does not

provide man ans7ers and solutions" Some parts of the boo( ma seem a bit artifi'ial and

a7(7ard< and it is also Guestionable 7hether the pro'laimed ambiguit of the boo( the 'an

have the strong revealing effe't on the reader 7hi'h -amid probabl intended to a'hieve"

9n spite of these 7ea( points< the boo( still has its value" 9f -amid intended to dra7

some attention to him as a 7riter< to trigger a dis'ussion on %uslim rea'tion to 11 and on

the relations bet7een $meri'a and %uslim 7orld and /a(istan in parti'ular< he has definitel

su''eeded" -is boo( is evidentl a popular sub=e't for dis'ussions on the topi' and its su''ess

enables -amid to present his ideas to 7ide audien'e"

-e 7as able to elegantl ta(e advantage of the 'ontinuing hunger for literature refle'ting

the 11 trauma and on the 7a he managed to amplif 7hat man non>$meri'ans ma 7ant

to e5press" $dditionall< the good re'eption and popularit of 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist

ma open the door for other authors of a similar ba'(ground and therefore 'ontribute to

diversit of voi'es< 7hi'h ma add some ne7 dnami' to the ne'essar multi'ultural dialog"

one of that 7ould be possible if 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist did not ma(e an en=oable

and engaging read"

)#



Bi5.io%&!8h7

P&i"!&7

-amid< %ohsin" 7he 8eluctant Fundamentalist " London: /enguin Boo(s< 200#" /rint"

Se,on#!&7

$miri< %ohammad $bid" @%uslim $meri'ans and the %edia after September 11"A

6ordpress" Wordpress< %a 2011" Web" 1# ul 2012"

$mis< %artin" 7he 3econd lane" e7 or(: intage Boo(s< 200#" /rint"

@3ampaigns N the $rm> $rm N the %ilitar &an(s"A 7he>ttomas.org " Lu'(Ee< an"

2002" Web" 1) $ug" 2012"

@3riti'al uta(es: %ohsin -amid on 3amus< 9mmigration< and Love"A Bookcriticks.org " The

ational Boo( 3riti's 3ir'le< )0 %ar" 200," Web" 1* $ug" 2012"

@E;%3 > Summar &eport on 9slamophobia in the E; after 11 September 2001"A Media?

diversity.org " %ediadiversit< %a 2002" Web" 1, ul 2012"

6ra< &i'hard" @fter the FallA @merican iterature 3ince C1//" 5ford: Wile>Bla'(7ell<

2011" /rint"

-amid< %ohsin" ADis'ontent and 9ts 3ivili4ations"A 7he :ew ;ork 7imes" 9nternational -eraldTribune< 2 De'" 2010" Web" 1# ul 2012"

RRVR" @% &elu'tant Fundamentalist"@ owells.com" /o7ell.s Boo(s< %ar'h 200," Web"

, ul 2012"

RRVR" @n'e upon a Life: %ohsin -amid"A 7he >bserver " The bserver<

1 %a 2011" Web" , ul 2012"

)



RRVR" @The /erils of Tribalism"A rinceton @lumni 6eekly" /rin'eton $lumni Wee(l<

1* Sept" 2011" Web" , ul 2012"

RRVR" @We $re $lread $fraid"A 7hemanbookerpri%e.com" The Boo(er /ri4e

Foundation< $ug" 200," Web" 1* $ug" 2012"

RRVR" AWh Do The -ate ;sJA 7he 6ashington ost. The Washington /ost< 22 ul

200," Web" 8 ul 2012"

@-amish -amilton 9ntervie7 7ith %ohsin -amid"A Mohsinhamid.com" %ohsin -amid

Website< Feb" 200," Web" , ul 2012"

@-ar'ourt 9ntervie7 7ith %ohsin -amid"A Mohsinhamid.com" %ohsin -amid Website< %ar"

200," Web" , $ug" 2012"

Leonard< Maren" @$meri'an %uslims< before and after September 11< 2001"A Economic and

olitical 6eekly ),"2* 2002: 22)>2)02" /rint"

%arlo7e< $nn" @Buing $nti>$meri'an"A :ationalreview" ational &evie7 nline< 1* %a

200," Web" 1+ $ug" 2012"

%ullan< ohn"@The &elu'tant Fundamentalist b %ohsin -amid"A 7he 9uardian" The

6uardian< 21 %a 2011" Web" 1* $ug" 2012"

@''upational -a4ards"A 7he 9uardian" The 6uardian< 11 $ug" 200," Web" 20 ul 2012"

/anagopoulos< 3ostas" @Trends: $rab and %uslim $meri'ans and 9slam in the $ftermath of

11"A 7he ublic >pinion <uarterly ,0"* 2008: 80#>82*" /rint"

&eese< ennifer" @&elu'tant Su''ess"A Entertainment 6eekly" Entertainment Wee(l<

1) une 200," Web" , ul 2012"

@Seven Ouestions: &elu'tant FundamentalismA Foreign olicy" Foreign /oli'< 1# $pr" 200,"

Web" ul 2012"

*0



Shirane< -aruo" @Terrorism< 3ulture< and Literature"A M@ 11,") 2002: +1)" /rint"

Singh< ai $r=un" A $ 3onversation 7ith %ohsin -amid"A Dabberwock " abber7o'(< # %a

200," Web" 1* $ug" 2012"

Solomon< Deborah" AThe Stranger"A 7he :ew ;ork 7imes" The e7 or( Times< 1+ $pr"

200," Web" 1+ ul 2012"

Tanner< Laura E" @-olding on to 11: The Shifting 6round of %aterialit"A M@ 12,"1

2012: 80>81" /rint"

@The &elu'tant Fundamentalist"A 6ikipedia< 2# une 2012" Web" , ul 2012"

Thomas< Landon r" @$(hil and %ohsin 6et /aid: %oonlighting Salomon Smith Barne<

%'Minse 6us Write ovels"A 7he :ew ;ork >bserver " The Washington /ost< 2) $pr"

2001" Web" 8 ul 2012"

Walter< atasha" @The Leap into the Terrorist %ind $ppears Too 6reat for %ost $uthors"A

7he 9uardian" The 6uardian< 2* ul 2008" Web" 8 ul 2012"

;pdi(e< ohn" 7errorist " e7 or(: Ballantine Boo(s" 200," /rint"

*1



List o A88en#i,es

A88en#i 1- $ %ap of /a(istan

A88en#i 2- ld $nar(ali< Lahore

A88en#i 6- %ohsin -amid

*2



A88en#i,es

$pp"1: $ %ap of /a(istan

Sour'e: http:pa(istanhindupost"blogspot"'420110)si(hs>protest>against>pla4a"html

*)

http://pakistanhindupost.blogspot.cz/2011/03/sikhs-protest-against-plaza.html





$pp" 2- ld $nar(ali< Lahore

Sour'e: http:en"7i(ipedia"org7i(iFile:Foodstreetlahoreb(amran"=pg

**

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Food_street_lahore_by_kamran.jpg





$pp" )- %ohsin -amid

Sour'e: http:pa7"prin'eton"eduissues201101*perspe'tiveL9E"Essa-amid"=pg

http://paw.princeton.edu/issues/2011/09/14/perspective/LIVE.EssayHamid.jpg



zaverecna prace is

Documents