Question: “To what extent is The Reluctant Fundamentalist about nostalgia?”

Mohsin Hamid’s award winning novel "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" is, to a very large extent, about nostalgia and a longing and assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers of the past as well as the dangers involved with being nostalgic. The word nostalgia was originally derived from a Greek word that translates to assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers, and now refers to a assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers or place. During the novel, both individuals and nations are represented as assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers. Changez describes nostalgia as ‘crack cocaine’ and comments on its addiction being a cause for alcoholism and suicide in his family. For America the catastrophe of September 11 that causes it to be humbled as a world power leads to its indulgence in longing for its past in order to assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers. On an allegorical level, the character of Erica longs for her long lost childhood lover Chris, which causes her initial attraction and her eventual separation from Changez. Erica’s longing for Chris is assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers for a time before 9/11 when its citizens felt safer and her relationship with Changez is symbolic of America’s change in identity and behaviour towards immigrant’s post 9/11. Changez also longs for the time when his birth nation of Pakistan was in a period of glory.

The world which Erica forms in her mind after the death of Chris becomes increasingly overriding of the world in which she resides. For Erica, the world of euphoria she experiences in her dreams and fantasies are as real as any world she has ever experienced. Erica describes Chris and the world they once had as ‘assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers’, giving the assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers of nostalgia in this context a double meaning as she literally wishes to return ‘home’. It is Erica’s inability to let go of Chris that consequently assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers her relationship with Changez. The only way Erica is able to free herself from nostalgia and allow her relationship with Changez to become intimate is when Changez undertakes a faux pas and pretends to be Chris. Whilst nostalgia can bring assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers resolution to pain, in the assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers it can have seriously negative implications on one's soul. As Erica becomes enveloped in her nostalgia, she becomes increasingly ill, mentally unstable, and ‘lacking in life’ and eventually throws herself into the Hudson River. In this context nostalgia is seen as a dangerous illness that overcomes the body’s senses and replaces logic with an assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers.

America longs for a time of assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers prior to the terrorist attacks that ‘brought America to its knees’. The threat of terrorism caused the once multicultural New Yorkers to indulge in patriotism and a littering of American flags that was present during historical events such as WWII. Changez explains that after 9/11 ‘America was increasingly giving itself over to a dangerous nostalgia... There was something undeniably retro about flags and uniforms... I had always thought of America as a nation that looked forward; for the first time I was struck by its determination to look back.’ For Americans, the destruction of the assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers induces the formation of a assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers that ignites an old flame. A flame of the past that invokes Americans to reminisce about a time when they felt safe and assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers, leaving them to feel crestfallen and suffer from nostalgia. It also causes New York to lose its strong sense of assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers and turn its back on many of its citizens due to suspicion and fear. America’s nostalgia causes it to become mistrusting and suspicious of people born on the other side of its border. Leading it to assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers its morals and beliefs and be overcome by assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers.

When Changez first visits America, he is met with a sudden feeling of assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers. He is sure that the opportunity he has been given is ‘a dream come true’ and is a seldom available opportunity. But the longer he stays in America, the more jealous he grows of their wealth.This in turn leads him to become increasingly ashamed of what Pakistan has become since its glittered historical past. Changez’ mentor and boss Jim describes the places that he and Changez come from as ‘places that were wasting away’. These events along with others lead to Changez becoming assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers towards his country of origin's fall from glory. ‘We built the royal mosque... We built the Lahore fort with its mighty walls... and we did these things when your country was still a collection of assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers colonies gnawing away at the edge of a continent.’ Changez shows a pride for Pakistan that runs deep in his veins. This is evident when he is racially abused in the car park. He could have easily let their comments go in order to avoid trouble, but instead he stood up to the racists and sternly told them to say it to his face because he has a great pride in where he comes from and thinks no one has the right to abuse him for it. It is this part of Changez’ reality, assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers, that becomes assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers to his life in the corporate world. For he realises that by working for Underwood Samson he is helping the American empire grow stronger which weakens Pakistan and inhibits its chances of ever regaining the glory that he longs for.

Whilst the novel shows a deep portrayal that looking back in history can be dangerous. It also has evidence to show that looking to far forward can also have similar assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers. During Changez’ time at Underwood Samson he is constantly struck by the company’s ability to focus on the fundamentals and invoke great change and be able ignore the implications that follow such as leaving many of a company’s employees assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers. This assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers on financial gain is symbolic of the vision possessed by assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers America and indicates that it only looks in one direction, assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers, which opposes the view that the rest of America post 9/11 has been struck down by nostalgia and looking back at the past. This constant change and evolution in the corporate world is also seen by Changez as equally dangerous to nostalgia as it too causes a blinded view of the world and an inability surrounding how to deal with underlying emotion, as is the case with Changez, who struggles with the idea that his actions have highly detrimental implications on the lives of other people.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is littered with feelings of nostalgia in both individuals and countries. Whilst nostalgia may bring short term relief to difficult situations, if one does not move on and face reality, their nostalgia may encapsulate them and cause them great harm like with Erica. Mohsin Hamid creates a situation in The Reluctant Fundamentalist that manifests itself to the idea that nostalgia is dangerous as it blinds people of what is assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers. He also creates the impression that in order to live with a clear mind, one should assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers looking into the future and reflecting on the past. For if one becomes too indulged in looking to the future or the past, they become blinded by what they see and begin to live in a world assuage its painbalanceblisscataclysmiccicatrixconnotationcorporatedangerously nostalgicdefenestratedetachedforwardhis deep connection to Pakistanhomehysteriaillusionimplicationsinhibitslong termlonging to return homemulticulturalismnarrow minded focusperceived innocenceprotectedredundantreminiscingresentfulsentimental yearning for the happiness of a former timeshort termsymbolic of America’s own longingthirteentruly realtwin towers from the one in which they reside.