The Reluctant Fundamentalist Bias

The Reluctant Fundamentalist challenges readers to open their minds and question why they believe the things they believe. Mohsin Hamid wanted to write a novel that would have an positive impact on society. However, in trying to show readers their bias, the book only proved the existence of their bias. The stranger was the mysterious character whom Changez told his life story. Throughout the book, the stranger made some questionable actions, but nothing to cause legitimate concern. Although many readers believe the stranger to be a dangerous and judgemental person, the reality of the situation is that all parties involved in the final scene were acting on the same suspicions, and hence were all guilty of holding prejudice. The stranger, within

Hamid’s reason for this was to show the reader how they’re quick to make assumptions about people, judging only on others opinions. The simple fact that the stranger was an outsider, led readers to assume he was acting with malicious intent. The stranger, when reaching for his inner coat pocket, never showed any hard evidence of carrying a weapon, a wallet, or a phone in his pocket. Only the fact that he was an outsider, was the reason Changez was somewhat skeptical, and since Changez is the one telling the story, readers naturally side with him. There are many items that one can store in their coat pocket, a gun being one of the only few possible dangerous items; but because the man was an outsider, Changez and the restaurant patrons attributed the strangers slightly odd demeanor to one acting in order to hurt someone: “But why are you reaching into your jacket, sir? I detect a glint of metal. Given that you and I are now bound by a certain shared intimacy, I trust it is from the holder of your business cards”(Hamid 184). Changez was likely speaking sarcastically in this scene, he felt as though the stranger was about to shoot or stab him. Because the man was an outsider, he felt he was in danger during this situation. In reality each side was acting suspiciously because they were both dealing with groups they

Changez was subject to prejudice and even discrimination in America; he was the outsider, and others weren't use to his culture and hence felt he was a danger. In addition, 9-11 had just occurred and it caused serious racial tension within the United States. The division in the US was an example of how the perception of an outsider can be skewed just because of the fact that they don't seem like the people they’re used to. This division eventually led Changez to get fired from his job, and move back to Pakistan, which led him to the conversation in The Reluctant Fundamentalist. In Pakistan, the American, other wise known as the stranger, was now the outsider. When someone stands out from a crowd, people take notice; when that someone also acts suspiciously, it leads to a complicated situation of potential cultural clashing, or in other words, people accidently acting in ways that may be concerning or offensive in a different culture: “Do not be frightened by my beard: I am a lover of America”(Hamid 1). Changez’s first assumption was that the American was scared by his appearance. This jump to conclusion immediately established the stranger as a racist; however, we only hear Changez’s description of the scene, which is not an unbiased description. Both in America and Pakistan, outsiders are treated differently. In the situation presented in the end of the novel, each