The Impact of 9/11 on Changez's Life in Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Abstract

This study explores the impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the protagonist Changez in Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Using a qualitative thematic approach, the research examines how 9/11 becomes a turning point that triggers Changez’s identity crisis, cultural alienation, and eventual self-redefinition. The analysis draws upon postcolonial theory to reveal how Hamid critiques Western power structures and the persistence of colonial attitudes in the post-9/11 world. Changez’s internal conflict—between admiration for Western modernity and loyalty to his Pakistani and Muslim identity—illustrates the tension of the postcolonial subject negotiating belonging in a polarized global society. The novel also reflects the rise of Islamophobia, which reduces Muslim identity to stereotypes and fosters fear and exclusion. Through Changez’s transformation from an ambitious professional to a socially conscious critic of Western imperialism, Hamid presents a counter-narrative to Western representations of terrorism and Muslim identity. This study concludes that The Reluctant Fundamentalist captures the profound psychological, cultural, and political consequences of 9/11, revealing how global events can fracture identity and redefine one’s sense of belonging in an age of fear and misunderstanding.