book contains the title, perhaps one of the most important pieces of information about any literary work. Frequently the title will give an indication about the main character, or perhaps the leading metaphor. Thus is the case with Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid, a novel about a banker in Lahore, Pakistan who falls in love with his best friend’s wife, and plummets into a difficult lifestyle. The novel centers on the image of a moth flying around a flame; the closer it gets to what it desires, the more
“Time only moves in one direction. Remember that. Things always change” (Hamid 96). In the book The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Mohsin Hamid portrays a young international student from Pakistan named Changez. Changez comes to the United States to fulfill the American dream, but America is about to let Changez down. He starts with every immigrant’s interpretation of the American dream: get rich and be able to provide for their family. Later, he changes his perspective briefly to America being a
Many immigrants come to America to achieve the American Dream, but what is the American Dream? The American dream to foreigners is equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work. In the novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, the protagonist Changez is an intelligent Pakistani Muslim man who works hard to reach the American Dream. However, his version of the American Dream is symbolized through his relationship with Erica. Erica comes to represent America for Changez
West. Mohsin Hamid has used a rather unique narrative mode- the dramatic monologue –and used it skillfully to weave an account of a young Pakistani’s class aspirations and inner struggle in corporate America. Throughout the novel, Hamid maintains a tense atmosphere, an atmosphere of imminent danger and radical violence. What results from the two devices is an allegorical reconstruction of post-9/11 tensions, and an inflective young man’s infatuation and disenchantment with America. Mohsin Hamid
How does Mohsin Hamid use ominous details and imagery to enhance the atmosphere and create suspense in The Reluctant Fundamentalist? The Reluctant Fundamentalist written by Mohsin Hamid, tells the story of a young Pakistani named Changez, who arrived at Princeton at the vulnerable age of 18. Four years later he graduated “without having received a single B”(4), and began working at the elite valuation firm Underwood Samson. Changez was, in the beginning, infatuated with the idea of the American
While Hamid mainly focuses on double-consciousness in terms of race and ethnicity, this sense of a divided self can be present politically, mentally, socially, and economically in American society. One who experiences a mental double-consciousness might struggle
Centre bombings, The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) by Mohsin Hamid uses an engaging monologue to tell thought provoking story of a young Pakistani man’s journey to self discovery and addresses the ramifications of the controversial nature of nostalgia inflicted upon characters and nations. The novel explores the notion of nostalgia in various ways. Through the characterization of Erica, Hamid conveys the self-destructive nature of nostalgia. Hamid furthermore uses Erica as an allegory for America; both
religious fanaticism. Usually, this is what comes to mind when there is mention of a fundamentalist. However, in Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist starring the protagonist Changez, a Pakistani Princetonian who is a top-ranked employee at a prestigious New York valuation firm, turns out not to be an Islamic fundamentalist, but a reluctant fundamentalist of US Capitalism. Hamid challenges readers to reevaluate their preconceived notions and prejudices of people different from themselves in
“You can avoid reality, but you can not avoid the consequences of avoiding the reality” (Ayn Rand, 1905-1982). In Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid, the air-conditioning is one of the most significant details in the novel that represents some of the themes that Hamid wants to emphasize. Besides jewelry, enormous house, and high-priced car air-conditioner is one of the elements that distinguish wealth from poverty. More than that, one of the reasons why Mumtaz falls in love with Daru relates to the air-conditioner
means leaving your family and friends, going somewhere that you have nothing, and possibly endangering your life. Mohsin Hamid describes the difficulties of migration through the novel Exit West. In this novel Hamid follows a young couple migrating out of their home town for safety and a better life. These reasons also apply to real life migration for why people are migrating. Hamid represents the traveling part of migration through these magical doors that leads to another country, depicts learning
achieve his goal of wealth he goes through many challenges including near-death, deceit, violence, and love. Ultimately, the main character does fulfill his dream, but his business began to decline. Unlike other typical fiction books, the author, Mohsin Hamid, differentiates his tale by writing without many specifics (such as character names and places) in the second person point of view. He also disguises it as a self-help book, where you are main character trying to become rich. Although I am not
Afghanistan’s importance with respect to the cultural impact of globalization is increasing as the war in Afghanistan draws down. Afghanistan sits on the edge of the unknown. Once the United States leaves it will be left to create its own destiny. The eyes of the world will be on Afghanistan to see who it allies with, who it trades with and how it conducts itself. Historically speaking, Afghanistan has modernized only when forced by invaders. The Soviet Union built many roads, schools, power plants
The war on terrorism in Afghanistan has been the longest war in the history of the United States of America, the war that nobody wanted is finally coming to an end. Ever since the September 11th attack on the twin towers in the heart of New York, the United States has led a 13 year long war on terrorism in the war-torn country, Afghanistan. The ending of the war is a major turning point in the history of America and Afghanistan. The ending of the war will be the greatest test on the people of Afghanistan
Demand of Pakistan and Two nation theory 1. Introduction Pakistan was created on 14th of august 1947 it was 27th of Ramadan and Quaid-e-Azam (The Founder Of Pakistan) said that Pakistan came on the day when the first non Muslim was converted into a Muslim. The struggle for an independent state for the Muslim stood for years and they had to face many difficulties through the years. There were many important events which had a significance on the creation of Pakistan. Two nation theory Sir Syed
not commit to himself whatsoever.it has assumed importance as it was seen as a step leading towards the foundation Muslim league.bade 5 .ALL INDIA MUSLIM LEAGUE The annual session of the all india muslim education conference was to be held in Dhaka. mohsin-ul-mulk who was also secretary of the simla deputation ,forbade the political discussion at Dhaka. The delegation regarded him and founded all india muslim league (AIML) at Dhaka on 30 december 1906. the british who were averse of the creation of
The influence of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness on Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist is obvious. Since Hamid's work represents a new Heart of Darkness, the similarity between Hamid's novel and Conrad's novel can be seen in almost the whole novel. This study aims to detect the effect of Conrad's Heart of Darkness on Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist by reading the background of the two authors, the circumstances that led to write both works, by examining the narrative and symbolism
Identity is not merely a phenotypic trait. There is a frequently blurred line between race and identity. Mohsin Hamid does exactly this in his work. For instance, the color of one’s skin and country of origin are not sound foundations in which to make judgments as race and identity are correlated, yet the formation of identity as a result of race is inaccurate. In addition to inappropriate and premature labeling on the basis of race and unfamiliarity, life as an outsider in a new land lends to actions
Another psychological disorder faced bay Daru was that the development of desire in him to over powering on others. To show his relatively higher social status he becomes very rude towards his servant boy called Mauncci. He narrates: “I don’t like it when low-class types forget their place and try to become too frank with you” (p. ). Daru’s own attitude to Manucci is nothing more than outrageous, but on the contrary he himself feels bitter at the way the elite class treats him. So it is a social
In the novel, Hamid also explores Changez’s relationship with Erica as a metaphor of the challenges faced by South Asian Americans in their efforts to assimilate and “become” American through one, the morning after Changez came down for breakfast, he and Erica were the only two there and so they had a conversation. In their conversation, Erica asked him about his home life in Pakistan, to which Changez replied, When I was a child, there were eight of us, eight cousins, all in the same compound ---
portrayed her as more superior than the boy, in reality she equaled out with him on many playing fields. She was cunning, and she was smart, “she was no fool” (Hamid, Mohsin), and she had potential. She knew her impact on him because he always floated back to her in the end and they ended up together. “You know a lot about movies.” (Hamid, Mohsin) is the action she made the first time she made the decision to talk to him. That action by which made everything else in the book, regarding each other,