This paper aims to show how a genre can be utilised in order to clarify specific struggles of a fictional character and make them universally accessible to any reader, which proves that Postcolonialism is not only a discussion about the past, but still influences people all over the world as colonialism finds its new ways to establish itself in many parts of the world as the colonial “legacies continue to inflect contemporary geo-political realities and conflicts around the world and impact upon how different people (are forced to) live today”. Hamid’s "The Reluctant Fundamentalist", one of the most well-known 21st century novels written by a Pakistani author intelligently combines the elements of the Bildungsroman and concepts of Postcolonialism. Changez is the protagonist of a modern Bildungsroman who experiences the power of a new form of colonialism and is made aware of his role as a colonised subject by his journeys throughout a crucial phase of identity formation in his life.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Postcolonialism as a Form of Literary Analysis
- The Bildungsroman as Genre
- The Functions of the Journeys in The Reluctant Fundamentalist
- Departure: Changez' Migration to America
- Growth: The Journeys to Manila, Lahore and Valparaiso
- Return to Lahore
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyse the novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, focusing on its representation of postcolonial themes within the genre of the Bildungsroman. The analysis will scrutinise the protagonist's journeys and their role in his personal and social development, highlighting the intersection of individual growth and the broader context of colonialism.
- The interplay between personal journeys and broader socio-political realities
- The impact of colonialism on individual identity formation
- The use of genre conventions to explore postcolonial themes
- The role of travel and displacement in navigating postcolonial landscapes
- The complexities of cultural identity and belonging in a globalised world
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter provides an introduction to the concept of the Bildungsroman and its relevance to understanding the protagonist's journey in The Reluctant Fundamentalist. It establishes the connection between the genre and postcolonial themes, arguing that the novel utilizes genre conventions to illuminate the struggles of a character within a postcolonial context.
The second chapter delves into the theoretical framework of Postcolonialism, tracing its development as a field of study and exploring its key concepts. The chapter highlights the work of Edward Said and the significance of his Orientalism in shaping postcolonial thought, while also discussing the evolution of postcolonial literary studies from Commonwealth literature to postcolonial literatures.
The third chapter provides a brief overview of the Bildungsroman as a literary genre, highlighting its evolution and its traditional focus on the protagonist's development and integration into society. The chapter explores the genre's limitations in representing diverse experiences and its potential for incorporating postcolonial perspectives.
The fourth chapter delves into the analysis of Changez's journeys in The Reluctant Fundamentalist. The first subchapter examines his migration to America, analysing how it fits within the Bildungsroman framework and how it shapes his understanding of his own identity and the world around him.
The second subchapter focuses on Changez's trips to Manila, Lahore, and Valparaiso, presenting these journeys as contrasting experiences that contribute to his personal growth and transformation.
The final subchapter delves into Changez's return to Lahore, exploring the significance of this homecoming and its implications for his identity and future.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary focus of this paper is on the intersection of Postcolonialism and the Bildungsroman, employing these terms to analyse the novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist. The keywords central to this study include: Bildungsroman, postcolonialism, identity, colonialism, migration, journey, cultural identity, globalisation, and the author Mohsin Hamid.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2017, Exploring Mohsin Hamid’s "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" as a Postcolonial Bildungsroman, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/497733
