Intellectual duelling as a means of self-comprehension in the reluctant fundamentalist

Abstract

The paper analyzes the implementation of the “dramatic monologue” technique in The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid. The novel assumes the character of discussion between the protagonist and an American silent listener. This unilateral conversation suggests the presence of a companion, and thus encourages the reader to adopt the partner’s role in this discussion. In the context of rapid “dramatic monologue” the racialization of the protagonist’s national identity takes place; the author reflects on the psychological and social consequences of the September 11 tragedy. The format of dramatic monologue effectively discloses the inner world of the narrator, the gradual changes in his outlook, self-representation and self-positioning.