Liberal Humanism in The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

Abstract

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid sparks a debate on liberal humanism, and its repercussion during post-9/11 throws Neo-Orientalism and Islamic terrorism into question—recounted by Hamid. The novel mirrors all aspects of humanism and liberal intellection as a cultural product of humanism in the West. Hamid’s sensibilities of the fluctuant Western paradigm opposing immigrants, fundamentalism, and terrorism during post-9/11 is depicted from the protagonist’s perspective. The Reluctant Fundamentalist is invigorated in a threshold world of multiple borders—of characters and cultures—by the medium of brace contradictions. The protagonist observes the sufferings of his beloved city/woman and stages his changed position in society while the world of his dreams is crumbled, and he must select between staying in the country of his dreams or returning home country. Accordingly, this study surveys the neoliberal American society in the context of liberal humanism globally after the polarization of Islam/liberalism in the realm of Orientalism discourse due to Mohsin Hamid’s display of the United States.

Keywords

• Liberal Humanism
• post-9/11
• Mohsin Hamid
• U.S.A.
• The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical Statement

It is declared that scientific and ethical principles have been followed while carrying out and writing this study and that all the sources used have been properly cited.

Mohsin Hamid’in Gönülsüz Köktendinci romanında liberal hümanizm

Abstract

Gönülsüz Köktendinci romanı, Mohsin Hamid’in aktarımıyla liberal hümanizm üzerine bir tartışma başlatarak ve 11 Eylül 2001 saldırıları sonrası kültürel yankılarını Neo-Oryantalizm ve İslam teorisi üzerinden sorgular. Roman, hümanizmin gelişmelerin Batı’daki kültürel bir sonucu olarak ele alarak, liberal düşüncenin bütün yönlerini yansıtmaktadır. Hamid’in 11 Eylül saldırıları sonrası göçmenlere, köktendinciliğe ve terörizme karşı dalgalanan Batı paradigmasına ilişkin kaybolan duyarlılığı, eserindeki başkahramanın bakış açısından tasvir ediyor. Gönülsüz Köktendinci roman karakterlerin ve onların kültürlerini sınırlarının ötesinde bir eşik dünyada ve çifte zıtlıklar aracılığıyla canlandırır. Ana Kahraman sevdiği şehrin ve ayrıca âşık olduğu kadının çektiği acıları gözlemler ve hayalindeki dünya yıkılırken toplumun değişen konumunu sahneler; böylece, hayallerindeki ülkede yaşamaya devam etmek veya memleketine dönmek arasında seçim yapmak zorunda kalır. Gönülsüz Köktendinci karakterlerin ve kültürlerin sınırlarının ötesinde bir eşik dünyayı çifte zıtlıklar aracılığıyla canlandırır. Bu bağlamda çalışma şarkiyatçılık söylemine dayanarak, İslam/liberalizm kutuplaşmasının ötesinde, küresel ölçekte liberal hümanizme dayalı neoliberal Amerikan toplumunu Mohsin Hamid’in tasvir ettiği ögelere göre ele almaktadır.

Keywords

• Liberal Hümanizm
• 11 Eylül saldırıları sonrası
• Mohsin Hamid
• Amerika
• Gönülsüz Köktendinci

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical Statement

It is declared that scientific and ethical principles have been followed while carrying out and writing this study and that all the sources used have been properly cited.

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