ENGL 115W Final: The Reluctant Fundamentalist
27 Apr 2018
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The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Reading Journal
In Mohsin Hamid’s novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist
, Erica’s experiences and
connection with Changez reflect Changez’s relationship with America. 9/11 functions as a
catalyst for Erica’s detachment from reality, providing insight into America’s state of nostalgia;
the events following 9/11, in particular, lead to a decline in Changez’s relationships with Erica
and America, revealing that beneath their masks of strength and pride are fears and weaknesses.
Erica’s past with Chris, which contrasts America’s response of “giving itself to a dangerous
nostalgia,” is what evokes her sense of grief (115). As she retreats further and further away from
reality and into her memories of Chris for a sense of comfort, she eventually alters Changez’s
initial perception of her from “a lioness, sleek and strong, and invariably surrounded by her
pride” into “a pale, nervous creature”; his attempts to retain his connection with her are futile and
“she [disappears] into a powerful nostalgia” (22, 102, 113).
Erica contrasts the the brutality of reality with the comfort of her past using the drawing
on her wall, which displays a “sheltered and calm” island within the caldera of a volcano that is
located on a larger island and is exposed to a storm (52). This perception is one shared by
Americans, as it refers to a past better than the present - a past in which they felt more secure and
confident in their dominance, and a past dominated by images of flags and uniforms and
“newspaper headlines featuring words as duty and honor” (115). Changez compares nostalgia to
“crack cocaine,” stating that although it may function as a sense of escape from pain and grief
associated with reality, there are inevitable consequences of this addiction. Erica’s mental
decline, which reflects America’s own decline, displays the extent of these consequences and
functions as a method in which America’s politically-motivated behaviour can be understood. It
Document Summary
In mohsin hamid"s novel, the reluctant fundamentalist , erica"s experiences and connection with changez reflect changez"s relationship with america. Erica"s past with chris, which contrasts america"s response of giving itself to a dangerous nostalgia, is what evokes her sense of grief (115). She [disappears] into a powerful nostalgia (22, 102, 113). Americans, as it refers to a past better than the present - a past in which they felt more secure and confident in their dominance, and a past dominated by images of flags and uniforms and. Newspaper headlines featuring words as duty and honor (115). Crack cocaine, stating that although it may function as a sense of escape from pain and grief associated with reality, there are inevitable consequences of this addiction. Erica"s mental decline, which reflects america"s own decline, displays the extent of these consequences and functions as a method in which america"s politically-motivated behaviour can be understood.
