Fundamentalism is a strict adherence to a set of ideas or beliefs that are conservative in nature. It is a derogatory term generally associated with religious fanaticism. Usually, this is what comes to mind when we think of a fundamentalist. However, in Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist, featuring the protagonist Changez, a Pakistani from Princeton who is a high-ranking employee at a prestigious New York appraisal company, is revealed not to be an Islamic fundamentalist, but a fundamentalist reluctant to American capitalism. Hamid challenges readers to re-evaluate their preconceptions and prejudices about people different from them in post-9/11 America using motifs, aphorisms, and suspense, to create an amalgam of culture enterprise and violence in the form of an allegorical story. . This story proves relevant not only in historical contexts relating to the United States and its involvement in past wars, but also in contemporary contexts, such as in current wars. Simply put, history repeats itself. The story unfolds over the course of a day, as Changez approaches an American in the Old Anarkali neighborhood of Lahore, Pakistan. He invites the American to have tea with him, which eventually leads to dinner and continues late into the evening as he recounts the events in his life that led to their fateful meeting. The story is told in the second person, meaning that the American's voice is never heard, but his reactions are implied and guided by Changez. In this way, the audience plays an interactive role in the story, allowing the reader to identify with both sides and make a judgment about the outcome of the story. The author constantly plays with the idea...... middle of paper ...... by hand. But why are you putting your hand in your jacket, sir? I detect a metallic reflection. Since you and I are now bound by a certain shared intimacy, I hope he is the holder of your business cards” (Hamid 184). And with that, the author leaves us with a cliffhanger, it's up to us to determine the ending as we see fit. see good.Hamid made it clear that ideas and truths are all relative, that people should actively seek answers, instead of believing everything they are told. His characters allowed us to exercise our intuitions in search of hidden truths, and above all to reconnect with elusive common sense. The aphorism, focused on fundamentals, is further accentuated by the suspenseful ending and challenges us to reflect on the wisdom of the story, when we wonder whether or not the fully bearded Changez has become another type of fundamentalist..