Dave Han’s Reviews > The Reluctant Fundamentalist > Status Update

The ending of The Reluctant Fundamentalist left me disturbed in a way Hamid clearly intended. By not showing whether violence actually occurs, Hamid forced me to confront my own assumptions about people. I interpreted the glint of metal the American man reached for as a gun. The novel showed how easily fear and suspicion can shape how we judge others, especially after a big incident that affected the world.

I noticed that at the end of each chapter, the focus briefly shifts from Changez’s monologue to the waiter’s actions, which makes me question Hamid’s intention. Is it to build suspense? On page 160, Changez admits that his tension with those around him had grown, which shows his increasing isolation. The fact that Wainwright was the only one to wish him farewell emphasizes how disconnected he had become.

I felt empathetic toward him, especially when Jim offers kind and understanding words after Changez’s interaction with Erica, showing that not all Americans see him the same way. That moment made the conflict more complex than it looks because some view Changez negatively based on 9/11, but some still view him the same. I felt sorry for Changez as he still loves Erica, but Erica is still left behind in her past.

Changez continues to face unfair treatment and bias beyond his control. When he is insulted because he is Arabic, it shows how things beyond his control influence his life. I felt empathetic because his reaction was similar to my reaction. He says he is usually calm, but in that situation he was furious. I predict Changez will start standing up for his own identity and try to go against the system that limited him.

Changez’s success in America feels more tiresome than rewarding. Even when he’s doing everything right, he still doesn't get treated fairly. I felt empathetic toward his quiet frustration. I think this part strongly connects to Non Sibi, as Changez begins realizing he’s been living for expectations and systems that don’t truly serve him, and I think Changez starts to realize that America might not be the best fit.

I could imagine Changez's feelings during the airport scene. The scene made me frustrated because it showed how quickly people judged him by appearance alone, and I've faced similar events where people judge you based on your look. For example, there is a stereotype about people who wear glasses that you must be smart, which is not true. I respect Changez for facing unfair treatment for something that they didn't do.

I felt Changez becoming more distant from America in these pages. I felt Changez had changed a lot since he graduated from Princeton. His work at Underwood Samson continued, and he still admired Erica, but I felt a growing tension between how he saw himself and how others treated him. I also enjoyed how the author allows the readers to be focused on the conversation by not showing the dialogue of the American men.

I was really surprised by how the author portrayed the interaction between the narrator and the American man. I wondered why the author never shows the American man’s dialogue, which made me focus more on the narrator's voice and words. The formal language felt deliberate. I felt that the narrator was aware of being a Pakistani, and the perspective of Americans towards Muslims.