What Is Hassan In The Hundred Foot Journey

In Richard C. Morais’ novel, The Hundred-Foot Journey, Hassan Haji’s moral reconciliation and spiritual reassessment leaves a lasting impression on the readers of the author’s emphasis of living a simple, honest, and truthful life, in which Hassan ultimately experiences and finds satisfaction in. Throughout the novel, Hassan experiences several choices that results in an internal restoration and acceptance of his new identity as a successful chef. Similarly, there are instances where Hassan encounters visions that allow him to reevaluate the decisions he has made, causing him to act on these internal reflections. By doing so, Hassan rediscovers his essence, comes to terms with his new identity. In general, the lesson Hassan takes from his experiences

The attempt Hassan makes towards repairing the relationship between himself allows for the moral reconciliation of his former self and his new identity. As he embarks his culinary journey and gains a surge of success, Hassan becomes overwhelmed with the prestige and fame that he grew to obtain. He states, “I hit a creative impasse [...] I worked hard but made no headway, as the freshness and zeal with which I’d started my work at Le Chien Méchant was institutionalized through constant repetition [...] it was when I turned forty, that a dangerous restlessness set in” (178). He describes himself in a situation in which no progress is possible for his culinary creativity, admitting that he does not have the same energy as he did when he started his passion for

Several of these guiding moments occur when he is in situations or experiences that evoke memories and emotions from his past life. As he escapes the riot and waits for his sister, Hassan observes an Algerian family roast a lamb: “the smell of searing lamb’s flesh and cumin and bubbling fat came to [me] in the wind, and the simplicity of it all [...], it took my breath away” (200). Struck by the simplicity of the flavors he smells further leads Hassan to have a spiritual experience of the dead, particularly of Madame Mallory. Shortly after observing the family, Hassan says, “ it was then, [...] that I caught sight of the elderly woman on the promenade on the far bank [...], she wore a shawl and seemed to be calling to me, waving, urging me forward [...], she was the spitting image of Madame Mallory” (200). The reference to the shawl indicates an initial resemblance to Hassan’s influential mother, who had “her own secret [hunger] for scarves” (21). Later realizing that the image was Madame Mallory hints at the maternal-like guidance she has over Hassan’s culinary matters, similar to the influence his mother had on him. Furthermore, the fact that this vision occurs after being struck by the simplicity of the food expresses a sense of approval for