Hamid As He See Himself in Changez

Karen Zheung

11/11/12

The Reluctant Fundamenlist

Topic One

Hamid As He See Himself in Changez

                When we want to know more about a person we usually look for a biography on that person. Interestingly enough there are not many biographies on Hamid and the ones that do exist are very brief and lack details. But rather than a short biography that tells us his date of birth and education Hamid’s writing reveals much more about his life and values. In The Reluctant Fundamentalist Hamid creates a character very similar to him not only to express his thoughts but to help him find peace between the tense relationship of America and Pakistan.

                According to Hamid’s biography he grew up in Lahore then attended Princeton and Harvard. Hamid spent most of his childhood in America adopting its culture before being familiar with his own Pakistan background. In the article “Why Do They Hate Us?” Hamid stated “I learned to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" years before I could sing the Pakistani national anthem, played baseball before I could play cricket and wrote in English before I could write in Urdu.“ This is similar to how Changez became accustomed to the New York life as he continued to succeed in Underwood Samson. Both the author and the protagonist share an obvious love for the American and Pakistan culture. However as the novel progresses Changez becomes aware of how he has become a janissary begins to associate with his Pakistan background more. When Changez sees one of the World Trade Center tower collapses he smiles and says that his initial reaction was pleased. “I was not at war with America. Far from it: I was the product of an American university; I was earning a lucrative American salary; I was infatuated with an American woman. So why did a part of me desire to see America harmed?” (73) Although Changez was more pleased about the 9/11 attacks Hamid clearly states in his interview that he was worried. In this sense the two are different. After the terrorist attacks Changez’s American life becomes even more difficult with Erica slipping away from him and the racism he must face. As Changez becomes more concerned about the situation Lahore he grows his bread out adding to his suspicious appearance that keeps him from completely assimilating. Hamid shared similar experiences as well with his Muslim friends being harassed in the U.S. and his unpleasant experiences traveling with a Pakistani passport. (My Reluctant Fundamentalist Essay) In The Reluctant Fundamentalist Changez clearly emulates Hamid life and struggles as he tries to find comfort despite being split between America and Pakistan. By understanding Hamid’s history the reader is able to gain greater understanding in Changez’s character. Without reading Hamid’s biography a reader may incorrectly assume that Changez’s decision to stay in Lahore is the end. Rather than reading this novel and interpreting it as Hamid’s failure to belong to a culture it should be praised for how Hamid was able to remain connect with both cultures.