by Anna Wu
The Oxford Dictionary defines fundamentalism as a “strict maintenance of ancient…doctrines of any religion or ideology, notably Islam.” This religiously loaded word can be interpreted many different ways, usually within political or cultural contexts. Interestingly, Mohsin Hamid does not utilise this word within either of these expected contexts in his novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist; rather, as he narrates from the perspective of a Lahore native named Changez who had spent years residing in New York, the meaning and symbolism of fundamentalism becomes apparent as the reader is introduced to Changez’s evolution from a New Yorker clinging to his social status in the corporate world, to a Pakistani embracing his cultural identity back home after renouncing his previous love for America. Hamid brings a new light to the meaning of the word as he defines it within the context of the morals of Changez’s highly demanding finance company, which emphasises fundamentalism in the sense of corporate efficiency, material success, and lack of empathy in favour of professionalism. The book centres around the protagonist’s journey from actively competing for a position at the company, to diligently performing his best to keep said position, to then utterly rejecting his highly sought-after position and ultimately leaving the company. Numerous changing factors occur in Changez’s personal life as well as the world around him for him to arrive at such a decision; the reader is led through his initial excitement as a young New Yorker, his increasing awareness of the world’s political state and his resulting internal turmoil, as well as his eventual shedding of his American identity and the fundamentalism he once welcomed.
Changez’s initial love for New York and America plays a crucial role in his determination to identify with their culture. His exciting integration into being a New Yorker was at first “wrapped up in [his] excitement about Underwood Samson,” (33) a prestigious company of great reputation. The company holds a powerful name and status, which naturally leads to it being associated with feelings of immense pride and achievement when one is a part of it. Changez recalls this initiation feeling in child-like wonder, saying, “I remember my sense of wonder on the day I reported for duty. Their offices were perched on the forty-first and forty-second floors of a building in midtown— higher than any two structures here in Lahore would be if they were stacked one atop the other… nothing had prepared me for the drama, the power of the view from their lobby” (33-34). This movie-like romanticism of the corporate world echoes the magic of the American dream, wherein Changez is bathed in the delight of emerging victorious in a competitive society; he marvels at the grandeur of it all, especially in contrast to his native birthplace. Interestingly, at the same time Changez’s love for New York and the corporate world grows, his slight judgement and disdain for Pakistan peeks through. Not only does he observe that Underwood Samson’s building is taller than any building from his hometown, he notes that this “was another world from Pakistan; supporting my feet were the achievements of the most technologically advanced civilization our species had ever known” (34). His praises and extreme categorization of New York as not just advanced but “the most” advanced civilization indicates a border-line idolisation he holds for the majesty of the city; simultaneously, the clear contrast with his home country hints at a possible dismay at his native culture. Moreover, Changez proceeds to remark that “America had universities with individual endowments greater than our national budget for education. To be reminded of this vast disparity was, for me, to be ashamed” (34). Not only is America’s abundance of financial resources outstandingly different from Pakistan’s lack of resources, but the fact that Changez admits to being ashamed of it is what calls attention to his growing discomfort in being Pakistani and preference for identifying as a New Yorker instead. This sentiment is evident as Changez concludes, “On that day, I did not think of myself as a Pakistani, but as an Underwood Samson trainee, and my firm’s impressive offices made me proud” (34). Evidently, an important moment occurs here in which Changez sheds whatever way he used to identify himself and, fueled by the pride and impressiveness of the corporate world, gladly adopts the persona of his company and inherently, its city, instead of his native birthplace. Such pride and high self-esteem is displayed on his first business flight: “We had flown first-class, and I will never forget the feeling of reclining in my seat, clad in my suit, as I was served by an attractive and— yes, I was indeed so brazen as to allow myself to believe— flirtatious flight attendant” (63). An air of superiority and vanity pervades this scene, as well as a kind of innocent enjoyment of his new status as a respected figure in society. Changez whole-heartedly enjoys the privileges of being important and highly-regarded, paying no heed to the possible consequences of the kind of ignorance that can result from being a part of the elitist class. Therefore, Changez’s eagerness to detach from his cultural identity and instead embrace the identity of his workplace and a city he just moved to signifies the power and pull of corporate New York, as well as his initial excitement in belonging to it.
However, nothing lasts forever in the shallow glamour of the corporate world, and neither does the cloak of New Yorker identity Changez desperately tries to put on himself. As Changez begins work, he establishes himself as a good performer and well-liked employee, thus further securing his New Yorker identity. He follows the company’s fundamentalism, which “mandated a single-minded attention to financial details,” (98-99) and “valued above all else maximum productivity” (116). Nonetheless, despite his efficiency as a worker and his successful assimilation into the New York society as well as the adoption of his American persona, cracks start to appear in Changez’s facade as an unusual moment occurs wherein “[He] was riding with [his] colleagues in a limousine… [He] glanced out the window to see, only a few feet away, the driver of a jeepney returning [his] gaze” (66). This occurrence was striking because “there was an undisguised hostility in his expression; I had no idea why… But his dislike was so obvious, so intimate, that it got under my skin” (67). It seems that although Changez had been upholding his New York persona extremely well, somehow the stranger saw through it, making him feel exposed and uncomfortable. The stranger’s hostility is also more understood when one compares the two’s social position side-by-side — one the driver of a public transport vehicle, the other a suit-clad businessman sitting in a limousine. However, what makes this interaction significant for Changez is the fact that he “looked at [his colleague] — at his fair hair and light eyes and, most of all, his oblivious immersion in the minutiae of our work — and thought, you are so foreign” (67). The crucial point in this line is that for the first time, Changez steps outside of his New York insider identity and perceives his co-worker as different from him, hence marking himself as an outsider. This thought is amplified as he concludes, “I felt in that moment much closer to the Filipino driver than to him; I felt I was play-acting when in reality I ought to be making my way home, like the people on the street outside” (67). What could be perceived here as imposter syndrome from the protagonist can also be seen as a moment of uncomfortable reflection, wherein Changez realises he still innately sees himself as an inferior foreigner, and for the first time, is being made aware of such a peculiar feeling within himself.
The turning point of the novel and the beginning of Changez’s deconstruction process is the attack on the twin towers on September 11th. After that, Changez’s identity as a Pakistani in America becomes increasingly exposed, despite his attempt to stay purely a New Yorker. As stated by Toosi in their article “Contingency of Empathy and Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” “Before its collapse, his world gives him the illusion that he lives in a post-racist world. His Princeton degree and his high-income career provide him with an assured sense of membership in transnational capitalism” (259). Hence, Changez’s world before 9/11 offered him a great sense of safety and security, as he was able to live confidently over the backdrop of his acclaimed credentials and status. The reality of a post-9/11 world is shown in Changez’s flight back to the city he loves, which is glaringly different from his first flight as an Underwood Samson employee, as this time around “[His] entrance elicited looks of concern from many of [his] fellow passengers. [He] flew to New York uncomfortable in my [his] face: [He] was aware of being under suspicion” (74). The stark contrast that is laid between this anxious scene versus Changez’s first flight, wherein he is filled with relaxed confidence, highlights a significant disparity in the attitude of his “fellow” New Yorkers, which in turn completely shifts his own perception of himself and possibly makes him question his identity as well. This sharp change of atmosphere for Changez and New York in general is only the beginning of a series of continuous shifts in atmosphere as the country deals with the aftermath of 9/11. Thus, the reader is able to witness the slow deterioration of Changez’s carefully constructed, but always fragile, American identity, as he admits, “I prevented myself as much as was possible from making the obvious connection between the crumbling of the world around me and the impending destruction of my personal American dream” (93). The foreshadowing here that is acknowledged even by Changez himself speaks volumes as the reality of whether Changez ever fully belonged in America comes into question. The identity that he had worked hard for and previously found much comfort in had suddenly become threatened, because the country he had called home was now in mourning and sees him as part of the problem. Changez makes an effort to not let his inner turmoil affect his work, but professes that, “I found it difficult to concentrate on the pursuit — at which I was normally so capable — of fundamentals” (100). His persistence in attempting to be an efficient employee comes not only from a desire to satisfy his employer, but from a personal desperation to cling on to his New York, American identity and to distance himself from the political reality around him. Therefore, in light of the gradual rejection from his changing world, Changez unsuccessfully tries to continue to do what his identity was once rooted in— focusing on the fundamentals.
Additionally, an evident shift in Changez’s internal attitude occurs during his visit back to Lahore; a deeply-embedded and internalised racism is displayed as Changez unwillingly finds himself in a state of disdain as he looks at his family home and the place where he grew up:
I recall the Americanness of my own gaze when I returned to Lahore that winter when war was in the offing. I was struck at first by how shabby our house appeared, with cracks running through its ceilings and dry bubbles of paint flaking off where dampness had entered its walls. (124)
Ironically, Changez is made aware of a condescending feeling within himself that he had identified against his whole life — a superiority complex against developing countries and non-Western cultures. Instead of looking in from the point of view as a Pakistani, Changez looks down at his own home through the eyes of a foreigner, a Western person, an American. However, the significance of this visit is not simply just his observation of the house, but what he proceeds to reflect on after noticing it within himself. As Changez acknowledges that he felt “shamed. This was where I came from, this was my provenance, and it smacked of lowliness,” (124) he reaches the realisation that “[he] had changed; I was looking about me with the eyes of… that particular type of entitled and unsympathetic American who so annoyed me when I encountered him in classrooms and workplaces of your country’s elite” (124). With this acknowledgement, Changez sees his own hypocrisy as he realises that he had become the very type of person he used to detest. Immediately, he “resolved to exorcise the unwelcome sensibility by which [he] had become possessed” (124). By actively trying to rid himself of this new American trait, Changez demonstrates a clear intention of wanting to return to his roots and de-fundamentalise at least this aspect of his American identity. His efforts prove successful as after a hard look at himself in the mirror, Changez “saw [his] house properly again, appreciating its enduring grandeur, its unmistakable personality and idiosyncratic charm” (125). This significant shift in attitude, from first indulging in the American superiority complex, to recognizing it, and then actively fixing it, is an essential process in Changez’s “de-fundamentalism.”
After this meaningful visit back to Lahore, Changez’s response to the hostility around him changes from passive defeat to active resistance. This new attitude is best represented in the symbolism of his beard, wherein “despite my mother’s request, and my knowledge of the difficulties it could well present me at immigration, I had not shaved my two-week-old beard. It was, perhaps, a form of protest on my part, a symbol of my identity” (130). Having always been previously clean-shaven since his Princeton days, Changez’s deliberate change in appearance, especially considering the fact that he knows the microaggressions that are bound to ensue, signifies a crucial shift in how he sees himself. His own acknowledgement of his beard as a “symbol of [his] identity” also directly marks a change in his perception of himself from New Yorker, to Pakistani. Furthermore, Changez’s reasoning for his beard provides additional insight into this change in identity: “I did not wish to blend in with the army of clean-shaven youngsters who were my coworkers, and that inside me, for multiple reasons, I was deeply angry” (130). Changez’s letting go of the need to belong in America is significant in the way he describes his coworkers; instead of seeing them as familiar fellow colleagues, Changez’s description of them as an “army of clean-shaven youngsters” exhibit a sense of distinct alienation that makes clear he does not approve of nor identify with them anymore. By referring to them as an “army,” Changez’s use of military vocabulary also hints at a sense of forced participation and lack of uniqueness that comes from being in the corporate world. Additionally, his confession to being “deeply angry” can be explained in his reflection on “how it was that America was able to wreak such havoc in the world— orchestrating an entire war in Afghanistan, say…with so few apparent consequences at home” (131). This contemplation from Changez is at the core of his “de-fundamentalism” and return to his cultural identity, as he comes to the realisation that the country he once idolised was never on his side after all. Specifically, as Mleitat, Hamamra, and Qabaha point out in their article, “Navigating Economic Inclusion and Psychological Exclusion: Immigration in Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” “Pakistan’s fragile economy is inextricably linked to America’s neo-imperialism…through military and financial aid, America manipulates and corrupts Pakistan’s political and economic institutions and brings them under the yoke of enslaving policies” (292). Understandably, Changez’s realisation that the country he works for, contributes to, and identities with in fact has been and continues to harm his native birthplace is what leads to such a substantial change in attitude, which is evident in his last business flight:
We again flew in the relative comfort of first class, but I was no longer excited by the luxuries of our cabin… I turned down our flight attendant’s many offers of champagne. For all the hours that we were airborne, I neither ate nor slept; my thoughts were caught up in the affairs of continents other than the one below us, and more than once I regretted coming at all. (140)
Once more, a direct contrast is established between his first business flight, wherein he indulged in the lavishness of status and acclamation, fully enjoying the materialism and validation of the corporate world, and this scene, wherein the glamour of New York and America has faded, and Changez is no longer is entranced by it. Instead, he has become very much aware of the political state of the world, which Samson Underwood’s fundamentalist motto had prevented him from doing: “Now I saw that in this constant striving to realise a financial structure, no thought was given to the critical personal and political issues that affect one’s emotional present” (145). Changez’s journey of continual de-fundamentalism eventually leads him to this conclusion, that the maxim he had modelled his life behind, one that emphasised material success and willful ignorance of reality, was in fact harmful to his personal wellbeing and prevented him from seeing the political actuality around him. This reflection comes to a climax when Changez “[tells] the vice president [he] refused to work any further,” (152-153) and despite being unsure of the future, was sure that “[his] days of focusing on fundamentals were done” (153-154). By quitting his role midway through a work trip knowing he was going to be fired, lose his visa, and have to leave New York, Changez completely renounces and undoes everything he had worked hard for in his life to achieve. However, his corporate downfall is his personal success, as he finally liberates himself from being blinded by Underwood Samson’s, New York’s, and America’s fundamentalism. He becomes free of his American identity and starts a new life back in Lahore, where he is able to fully embrace his cultural identity instead.
To conclude, Mohsin Hamid brings new meaning to the word fundamentalism in his novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Throughout the story, Changez evolves from a naive and excited New Yorker, to a desperate and scrutinised “American,” and eventually to a liberated and proud Pakistani. His personal development can be seen as a process of “de-fundamentalising,” wherein he progresses from a firm believer in his company’s motto on corporate success and a willful blindness to politics, to an unbeliever in this motto and quits the company, thereby completely restarting his life in Pakistan. Through the story of Changez, Hamid challenges one to rethink what the American dream and identity can offer to a foreigner, and whether that is something one should be chasing after at all.
Works Cited
Hamid, Mohsin. The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Anchor, 2008.
Mleitat, Ayman, et al. “Navigating Economic Inclusion and Psychological Exclusion: Immigration in Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist.” Arab Studies Quarterly, vol. 45, no. 4, 2023, pp. 288–301. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48750181. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Toossi, Zarei K. (2021). “Contingency of empathy and Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist.” International Journal of Arabic-English Studies, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 253–272. https://doi.org/10.33806/ijaes2000.21.2.14