In a multicultural world, identity seems to be hybrid and fluid rather than invariably rigid

and fixed entity. Cultural identitity is not a fixed essence but inevitably the subject of fluctuation

as it undergoes “constant transformation” (Hall 224). Hall defines cultural identities as subject

which positions a person to fit into a new culture or being positioned by the past cultural

narrative. The cultural identities constantly change along with the lifelong movements of

individuals. When a person migrates from one place to another, the whole new culture starts

emerging inside him. The cultural displacement identifies the impacts of new culture upon the

root culture. The influences of new culture can’t diminish one’s adherence to the native culture.

In this case, neither a person can forsake his regional roots nor can adopt a new culture wholly.

Thus, a person is entangled between two cultures and leads to the identity crisis. The

transcultural literature deals with the diasporic dilemma of immigrants and their anxieties of

identity to cope up within a new culture. The purpose of immigrants is to create transcultural

identities by assimilating with new culture and produce the transcultural literature. Apart from

assimilation, cultural hybridity is also a significant part of transculturalism which is defined as a

process by which one culture blends into another culture. Transculturalism presents immigrants

with the amalgamation of two or more cultures but the mutual acceptance, amalgamation,

assimilation and cultural hybridity doesn’t fit into the contemporary transcultural literature of

immigrants. The immigrants deal with the predicaments of identity crisis which is vivid in

Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

Transculralism is defined as “the act of involving, encompassing, or extending across the

elements of more than one culture” (Amer 2310). Basically, cultural hybridity lies at the core of

transculturalism which leads to the elements of identity crisis. Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant

Fundamentalist captures the transcultural impacts of cultural hybridity on a third world

immigrant in America which eventually causes identity crisis. Hamid sheds light on the dual

identity and identity crisis of protagonist of the novel named as Changez. The identity crisis

creates disillusionment of Changez with America. The Reluctant Fundamentalist explores the

cultural hybridity and identity crisis of third world Pakistani immigrant in the first world of

America. Changez is the fundamental character through which identity crisis is explored in The

Reluctant Fundamentalist. The neo-colonial impacts of cultural hegemony of America are found

through the lost identity of third world immigrant. Neo-colonialism underlies the notion of

superiority of Americans and the inferiority of Pakistanis. Changez became the worst victim of

inferiority complex for belonging to the third-world country. Changez is conscious of the vast

cultural disparity between his inferior indigenous country and American supreme culture. He is

ashamed of his inferior culture and aspires to be a part of superior American culture in order to

achieve a better career, financial stability and high social status. Changez is infatuated by the

American land of dream, opportunity, power and wealth but simultaneously, he is well aware of

the devastating effects of American superiority on Pakistani diaspora. The desperate influences

of American supremacy are vivid in the form of identity crisis of Changez. He is accepted

partially by America but at a very high cost of losing his native identity. The partial acceptance

can be described in a way that although Changez adopts American culture wholeheartedly but

America does not accept him wholly. Changez diminishes his regional identity entirely and

thinks of himself as an American. He dreams of being accepted by America as he states that

“One that day, I did not think of myself as a Pakistani, but as an Underwood Samson trainee”

(Hamid 57). Changez’s desperate desire to be accepted by America compels him to conceal his

Pakistani identity. He manipulates his language, behaviour and actions entirely according to

American style. Despite perpetual struggles of Changez with American culture, Changez could
not assimilate into American society and “he will always be considered a "foreigner" and an

outsider” (Ibrahim 4). American society others him and he continually face the issue of otherness

in America. America as a super power persistently reminds him of his inferior country and

favours Changez just for the loss his original identity. In fact, Changez is entangled in the chaos

of dual identities; one’s of his native land and the other is adopted one. Changez’s original

identity is disintegrated for knotting between two different cultures of America and Pakistan.

Thus, Changez encounters identity crisis because of cultural hybridity or intermingling of two

cultures. Along with the impacts of cultural hybridity, neo-colonialism also plays a significant

role for crushing the indigenous identity, creating dual identity and bringing identity crisis

through the hegemonic culture of America. Henceforth, The Reluctant Fundamentalist addresses

the very basic idea of identity crisis through the lens of cultural hybridity, dual identity and neo-

colonialism.

Hamid attempts to explore the identity struggle of Pakistani diaspora in America from the

perspectives of racism, classism and nationality. Hamid depicts the Changez’s hatred of America

for being alienated on the basis of racial, cultural and national biasness. Firstly, Changez’s

aspiration as a part of America shows his love for America but then his alienation leads to his

loathful sentiments for America. The ecstasy and shocking attitude of Changez at the destructive

moment of America represents the complex dilemma of his dual identity for belonging to

Pakistan and America respectively. Changez’s delightful reaction at the collapse of New York’s

World Trade Centre represents his despise for America. Changez’s inferiority complex is evident

in the case of giving remarks on the devastation of America. Changez is glad to know that "The

fact that someone had so visibly brought America to her knees" (Hamid 113). Changez feels

contented at the American mishap and it seems a sort of national and racial revenge from
America. Hamid illustrates that racial discrimination alienated non-white immigrant and

ultimately breeds hatred against America. Changez is not only alienated on the basis of his skin

colour but also encounters religious discrimination after 9/11 particularly. He is accused of being

a terrorist for belonging to Muslim religion. The crucial event of 9/11 reveals Changez as a

reluctant American on the grounds of ethnic or religious background. After the significant event

of 9/11, America resists the multicultural nationalities and diverse identities within its

boundaries. Therefore, Changez endures identity crisis significantly after the occurrence of 9/11.

Being non-white, belonging to Pakistan and having different religion defines the racial, nation

and religious biasness of America towards Changez. The elements of race, culture, religion and

nationality triggers the paradigm of identity crisis and hostility. The identity crisis is caused in a

perspective that the non-white inferior Pakistani immigrant is abandoned by the supreme

America.

Changez could not reconcile his indigenous identity with the adopted one which causes

identity crisis. He is unable to find his stable identity and lost between the two identities. He is

not only alienated in American culture but in Pakistani culture too which is manifested through

his estrangement towards his own country. He could not feel himself at home in his own culture

and country.

Hamid presents his protagonist as the victim of hybrid identity who is lost in the chaos of

possessing dual identities. The opening line of novel unfolds the ambivalent identity of Changez

as he confesses himself as "Do not be frightened by my beard: I am a lover of America"(Hamid

11). This statement by Changez emphasizes his ambivalent sentiments with America and the

effects of native identity on his apparent personality. Changez’s beard indicates the signs of

religious fundamentalist personality belonging to Pakistan but simultaneously he loves America

disregarding his appearance. Neither, Changez can assimilate with American culture nor can fit

into Pakistani society entirely which leads him towards the formation of a new identity as

‘reluctant fundamentalist’. His double identity transforms him into person who is reluctant to

adopt new identity and abandon his native one. Changez embodies the elements of dual identities

and suffers identity crisis as an immigrant.

Bhabha defines new identity created by hybridity as “neither the one nor the other”

(Bhabha 25). The identities of two cultures intermingle with one another to create a new identity

and the newly created identity does not belong to anyone of previous cultures purely. The

character of Changez possesses neither pure Pakistani identity nor purely American. Hamid

describes the effects of hybridity on Changez’s identity in a perspective of double identities. The

cultural hybridity represents the amalgamation of blended identities. The transcultural

movements define the dilemma of changing identities particularly belonging to the subjects of

postcolonialism and third world countries.

References

Amer, Enas Subhi. “Defying Post Colonialism: the Quest for Cultural Adaptation and

Transcultural Identity with References to Some Postcolonial Novels”. International

Journal of humanities and cultural studies, volume 3, Issue 1, ISSN 2356-5926,

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327690788_Defying_Post_Colonialism_the_Q

uest_for_Cultural_Adaptation_and_Transcultural_Identity_with_References_to_Some_P

ostcolonial_Novels.
Ibrahim, Mai. “Identity Crisis in The Reluctant Fundamentalist: Integration and Alienation”.

https://www.academia.edu/33520151/Identity_Crisis_in_The_Reluctant_Fundamentalist_

Integration_and_Alienation.

Hall, Stuart. “Cultural Identity and Diaspora”. Identity: Community, Culture, Difference, by

Jonathan Rutherford. London: Lawrence and Wishart, (1990). Print