The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Being a watchful person is a term that is used when you are looking at something carefully or when you are being carefully observant and attentive. Also when you are feeling something, it is when you are emotionally acting upon a ‘hinch’ that your brain gives you. When a character is given the title of ‘main character’ it is because the story is mainly about that character and their lifestyle. In the book “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” Changez, the main character is often known as an outsider and feeling out of place because of not only his Pakistani background but also because of his personality and way of living. Though he is often called as an outsider, in the book, one of the characters that go by the name Jim says in the novel “You’re a watchful guy, you know where that comes from? … It comes from feeling out of place. Trust me I know.” With this quote given by Jim, it becomes evident that it is not only Changez that feels out of place but a majority of the characters like Wainwright, The American, Jim himself and even us as the audience.

While Changez works tirelessly to be accepted as an American, he is only ever recognised as an outsider. Changez’ continual determination shows us that he is never accepted by those around him. Hence he must continually prove himself in order to feel accepted even though he is an outcast. Before the events of 9/11 the narrator states that Changez “was never an American, but I was instantly a New Yorker.” Initially Changez feels comfortable in New York, a very multicultural place, yet as a result of September 11, New York loses its identity and independence and becomes a part of America again, and with it Changez loses his sense of belonging. Furthermore, through one of Changez’ epiphanies it is made clear that he is in no way similar to his American colleagues. “I felt at that moment much closer to the Filipino driver than to him.” It is through this epiphany the author demonstrates that Changez has never really been adopted as an American. As Juan Battista suggests, he was simply a ‘Janissary’. He was never able to join or have an impact in society;