The Reluctant Fundamentalist, There Are Many Parallels to America in the Novel
‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ by Mohsin Hamid opens in a tea house which locates in Lahore, Pakistan. Changez, who is the protagonist recounts his life in America and the changes he had gone through in his American Journey. The use of an extended monologue makes readers view events through Changez’s perspective. Readers can also see that Hamid used a lot of parallel to present America, and Changez’s relationship with America also shown by these parallels.
Initially, the company Changez works for, Underwood Samson. Underwood Samson is clearly a parallel to America, it has many similarities with America. As readers see, they all use ‘meritocracy’, they both are powerful and ‘professional’. Not only that, Hamid even chose the name deliberately. The abbreviation for Underwood Samson is US, which is also the abbreviation for United. States. Thus, it is seen that Underwood Samson is like a microcosm of America, which gives readers an idea how Changez’s life is like in America. His colleagues in Underwood Samson also is a parallel to America. Before 9/11 happened, his colleagues are close and friendly to him, that is the time when Changez is still welcome to America. However, after 9/11 happened, they begin to treat Changez differently, “(his) team did not wait for (him)” in the airport. Changez’s colleagues’ behaviors represent the general manner of American society. His colleagues express most American citizen, which makes the attitude of American clearer. Moreover, Changez talks a lot about ‘animal’ ‘Hawks and mouse’ those are all animals, which give a clue that Changez’s journey in America seems like a adventure in the forest. The life in America is not easy, it is a survival of the fittest. In Underwood Samson, you have to be the best, you have to be very competitive. In America, it is totally the same, the life is tough and challenging, you need to be strong and powerful. It is needed to be a “hunter” to actually survive in a society like America.
In addition,
Initially, the company Changez works for, Underwood Samson. Underwood Samson is clearly a parallel to America, it has many similarities with America. As readers see, they all use ‘meritocracy’, they both are powerful and ‘professional’. Not only that, Hamid even chose the name deliberately. The abbreviation for Underwood Samson is US, which is also the abbreviation for United. States. Thus, it is seen that Underwood Samson is like a microcosm of America, which gives readers an idea how Changez’s life is like in America. His colleagues in Underwood Samson also is a parallel to America. Before 9/11 happened, his colleagues are close and friendly to him, that is the time when Changez is still welcome to America. However, after 9/11 happened, they begin to treat Changez differently, “(his) team did not wait for (him)” in the airport. Changez’s colleagues’ behaviors represent the general manner of American society. His colleagues express most American citizen, which makes the attitude of American clearer. Moreover, Changez talks a lot about ‘animal’ ‘Hawks and mouse’ those are all animals, which give a clue that Changez’s journey in America seems like a adventure in the forest. The life in America is not easy, it is a survival of the fittest. In Underwood Samson, you have to be the best, you have to be very competitive. In America, it is totally the same, the life is tough and challenging, you need to be strong and powerful. It is needed to be a “hunter” to actually survive in a society like America.
In addition,