Liberal Humanism in The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
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Abstract
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid sparks a debate on liberal humanism, and its repercussion during post-9/11 throws Neo-Orientalism and Islamic terrorism into question—recounted by Hamid. The novel mirrors all aspects of humanism and liberal intellection as a cultural product of humanism in the West. Hamid’s sensibilities of the fluctuant Western paradigm opposing immigrants, fundamentalism, and terrorism during post-9/11 is depicted from the protagonist’s perspective. The Reluctant Fundamentalist is invigorated in a threshold world of multiple borders—of characters and cultures—by the medium of brace contradictions. The protagonist observes the sufferings of his beloved city/woman and stages his changed position in society while the world of his dreams is crumbled, and he must select between staying in the country of his dreams or returning home country. Accordingly, this study surveys the neoliberal American society in the context of liberal humanism globally after the polarization of Islam/liberalism in the realm of Orientalism discourse due to Mohsin Hamid’s display of the United States.