Postmodern Fiction
• Name :- M.Kumail
• Class :- BS 7h
• Section :- B
• Shift :- Morning
• Roll No :- PF-19283
• Date :- 24/10/2022
• Submitted to :- Ma’am Saima Ayaz
Task :- “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” as a
Postmodern Fiction.
Postmodernism came about after World War II as a reaction to Modernism around
the 1960s. It challenged many elements and notions of Modernism and its high regard for
science and rationalism. Postmodernism instead focused more on 'relativism' and
subjective truths rather than objective truths. The other features it focused more on were
breaking Metanarratives and appreciating micronarratives and counter-narratives to
already existing narratives about marginalised communities, subjects and Post-colonial
nations. Theorists also put forward the idea of 'Hyper-Reality', saying there was too much
information available for the consumer to choose from, but no filter whatsoever to see
what was right and wrong. The media controls everything from how we view the world to
how we dress, act and live. Postmodernism also embraces inclusivity of all races,
genders, religion and cultures. There is no distinction between high and low art. In this
era, there was an even further loss of spirituality and religion also accompanied with high
suspicion of reason which gave way to the "Theatre of Absurd." There are numerous
other features of this era too, which will be discussed later.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Pakistani writer, Mohsin Hamid, is a perfect
example of a Postmodern fiction. It traces the story of a Pakistani boy named 'Changez'
who immigrates to the US in order to fulfil his 'American dream' and regain the lost
prestige of his family while witnessing the 9/11 attacks and subsequently falling prey to
racism and Islamophobia. In this assignment we will explore what features of this novel
makes it fall into the category of Postmodern fiction, by relating relevant features of the
era to instances in the novel and the text.
One of the most prevalent feature of the novel is it being considered Postcolonial
• Name :- M.Kumail
• Class :- BS 7h
• Section :- B
• Shift :- Morning
• Roll No :- PF-19283
• Date :- 24/10/2022
• Submitted to :- Ma’am Saima Ayaz
Task :- “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” as a
Postmodern Fiction.
Postmodernism came about after World War II as a reaction to Modernism around
the 1960s. It challenged many elements and notions of Modernism and its high regard for
science and rationalism. Postmodernism instead focused more on 'relativism' and
subjective truths rather than objective truths. The other features it focused more on were
breaking Metanarratives and appreciating micronarratives and counter-narratives to
already existing narratives about marginalised communities, subjects and Post-colonial
nations. Theorists also put forward the idea of 'Hyper-Reality', saying there was too much
information available for the consumer to choose from, but no filter whatsoever to see
what was right and wrong. The media controls everything from how we view the world to
how we dress, act and live. Postmodernism also embraces inclusivity of all races,
genders, religion and cultures. There is no distinction between high and low art. In this
era, there was an even further loss of spirituality and religion also accompanied with high
suspicion of reason which gave way to the "Theatre of Absurd." There are numerous
other features of this era too, which will be discussed later.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Pakistani writer, Mohsin Hamid, is a perfect
example of a Postmodern fiction. It traces the story of a Pakistani boy named 'Changez'
who immigrates to the US in order to fulfil his 'American dream' and regain the lost
prestige of his family while witnessing the 9/11 attacks and subsequently falling prey to
racism and Islamophobia. In this assignment we will explore what features of this novel
makes it fall into the category of Postmodern fiction, by relating relevant features of the
era to instances in the novel and the text.
One of the most prevalent feature of the novel is it being considered Postcolonial
