Who is the reluctant fundamentalist?
“The Reluctant Fundamentalist” is a tale of where two different cultures clash. The novel is told through the point of view of a Pakistani by the name of “Changez”, who has a cross-culture love who speaks with a complete stranger (American). But ultimately the question that arises when one reads this book is who the reluctant fundamentalist is? The most obvious answer is “Changez” is he really the only one?
To determine whether or not Changez is a fundamentalist, one must decipher his past and consider his changes since. But strangely enough for a book with the title, “reluctant fundamentalist” Changez mainly refers to the fundamentals of finance, his time in America, his elite training at Princeton and employment at the company Underwood Samson. At Princeton, Changez was an overseas student who worked harder than the majority of others due to his “hunger” for greatness. After Princeton he joins Underwood Samson in the hope to become an acceptable, high-class American. Underwood Samson is based on meritocracy that doesn’t changes its ways.
The culture of Underwood Samson forces the people to work to the best of their abilities and ignore anything else- merit is all that matters, forcing one to become an economic fundamentalist- whether you like it or not, live with it or quit. The corporate world that Changez once desired required him to wear a suit and shave to fit in. In Erica’s sphere, he must prove his worth by mentioning both Princeton and Underwood Samson accolades; Changez has little opportunity to be himself. Before the events of 9/11, Changez was content with the privileges that come with his status while being employed, he tried to act more like his colleagues who have an air of superiority and live lives without respect or regard for those less privileged than themselves;
“I learned to cut to the front of lines…and I learned to answer…I was from New York”.
But after that fateful day, Changez begins to see things differently. He changes,
“I smiled…my initial reaction was to be remarkable pleased [that America was brought to its knees]”
He was cautioned for his actions, his beard and lack of work effort, but he no longer cared. Changez no longer desired the privileged American culture he once so anticipated. Changez comes to the conclusion that America will fall; like all great nations. At least the Pakistan he knows does not include a complex society and jobs based on meritocracy. But arguably he becomes a nationalist and a fundamentalist at the end because he rejects other opinions and his beliefs are final- but everything is ambiguous. He is a reluctant fundamentalist because of the events that unfolded. He couldn’t accept the culture of America, nor his previous desire to be an acceptable American citizen. His job, his apartment and expense accounts are actually what chain him to America, nothing else. Despite his former love for America, he becomes disenchanted with the USA and decides to fully accept his relationship with Pakistan.
The other most obvious reluctant fundamentalist is the American, but his name is never named. Nothing is directly spoken by the American, but it is possible to decipher the American from Changez’s answers to his implied questions and reactions to his implied expressions. Apparently he knows Manhattan well and has travelled to the East. He appears uncomfortable with Changez’s “smile” to the 9/11 attacks, but doesn’t express any other feelings/actions apart from obvious anger and clenching of fists. Apart from the American’s caution of his own safety and constant watchfulness of his surroundings, the American remains mostly quiet for the majority of the novel. Towards the end of the text, the American begins to doubt Changez’s reliability as he and Changez walks down Mall Road; but he constantly glances over his shoulders and asking whether the men behind them are following them. Too much evidence shows that the American is a typical American bloke, whose description also matches one who works for the military. The American is more of a fundamentalist who abides to the typical American culture of being overly patriotic, in a sense he is much less of a reluctant fundamentalist than Changez.
Hamid in his novel “the reluctant fundamentalist” explores many aspects of fundamentalism, but mainly economic and religious fundamentalism. The Pakistani that claims to be Changez is the reluctant fundamentalist. He was forced onto the road of fundamentalism from the events that occur in his life (9/11 and the American culture that he despises). He is reluctant because he doesn’t desire this path- “I love America”. From love to dislike of one country is quite a change. The novel is very ambiguous, there can be many interpretations of the metaphors and symbolism in the novel; this is just one possible interpretation of a complex novel.