Applying Neo-Orientalism on The Reluctant Fundamentalist: A Post-9/11 Cultural Critique

Abstract

Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a post-9/11 novel that explores the complexities of Muslim identity, cultural alienation, and political disillusionment through the monologue of Changez, a Pakistani man recounting his experiences in America. The narrative examines themes of suspicion, belonging, loyalty, and the psychological aftermath of global terrorism, while challenging the dominant Western gaze. This study applies the lens of Neo-Orientalism—a post-9/11 extension of Edward Said’s original critique—to analyze how the novel engages with and critiques prevailing narratives that construct Muslims as exotic, threatening, or ideologically suspect. The objective of this paper is to investigate how Neo-Orientalist tropes are embedded, resisted, or subverted within the novel’s structure and character dynamics. Through a postcolonial literary analysis and discourse critique, the research explores the representation of Muslim masculinity, the ambivalent portrayal of America, and the power relations implicit in storytelling itself. Findings reveal a complex narrative that oscillates between reinforcing and undermining stereotypes: while Changez is viewed through the lens of suspicion, he also reclaims narrative control and critiques U.S. foreign policy, global capitalism, and cultural hegemony. The ambiguity of the novel’s ending further complicates fixed readings of identity and resistance. This analysis contributes to contemporary discussions on Islamophobia, cultural representation, and the marketability of Muslim narratives in Western literary and media landscapes, highlighting the enduring relevance of Neo-Orientalist critique in global literary studies.