The Role of Food in Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist explores Changez's life in the United States as a young Pakistani. Throughout the novel, the author moves between two distinctive cultural settings: the United States and a teahouse in Lahore, Pakistan. Additionally, the author also explores the value of food and drink in certain cultural settings. Hamid uses culinary imagery to convey cultural values throughout the novel. Throughout the novel, Hamid shows the different cultures' views on alcohol and the occasions in which it is consumed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Although Changez may seem like a character with strong religious morals, this is not the case. When speaking with Erica, he mentioned that “buying alcohol was illegal for Muslims and so he had asked a Christian smuggler” (27) to deliver alcohol to his home. Changez's relationship with alcohol does not end there as he "[drank] a third of a bottle of whiskey before [he] could fall asleep" (100) after watching television and drinking. feeling depressed. Additionally, this was not a usual or regular occurrence for Changez, as he learned that the Americans were invading Afghanistan, which made him furious. Drinking in Pakistani culture is used in a covert way, but in Changez's case, it is used as a method to relieve stress or fall asleep. The author highlights the fact that Changez's morals and loyalty are not honest as a Muslim man, which could also influence how his character is perceived. Unlike the Pakistani population, Americans consume alcohol as a form of celebration or during a special event. When Changez went to dinner with Erica and her parents, the father's first suggestion was to ask if Changez was drinking because "he raised a bottle of red wine" (53). On the other hand, Erica's mother replied: “He is twenty-two years old (…) in a tone that suggests, so of course he drinks” (53). Since Erica's father believed that no Pakistani drank, both parents' responses were stereotypical assumptions about Changez and his culture. We think that at twenty-two, it is obvious that he will drink since he is over the legal age in the United States. The other relative said that because he once worked for him with a Pakistani man who didn't drink, not all Pakistani men drink. Although Erica’s parents may not have known that “many Pakistanis drink; the illegality of alcohol in [Pakistan] has much the same effect as marijuana in [America]” (53). Hamid suggests that not knowing the cultural context could lead to assumptions and misunderstandings, which is what happened in this case with Changez and Erica's father. This leads to how the author uses alcohol to represent different cultural values throughout the story: Changez, a depiction of Pakistani men, does not have its morals directly tied to alcohol as do Americans, who drink to have fun. occasions in the novel, uses food imagery to evoke the different ways in which food is valued and shared in both settings. Pakistani culture is shown to have authentic food and people are also proud of it. Changez explained to the American the important role food plays in his hometown, and in Pakistan more generally. Changez mentioned that "[the American] must not go through such an authentic introduction to Lahori cuisine" since it was a "feast..

Essay / The Role of Food in Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist explores Changez's life in the United States as a young Pakistani. Throughout the novel, the author moves between two distinctive cultural settings: the United States and a teahouse in Lahore, Pakistan. Additionally, the author also explores the value of food and drink in certain cultural settings. Hamid uses culinary imagery to convey cultural values throughout the novel. Throughout the novel, Hamid shows the different cultures' views on alcohol and the occasions in which it is consumed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Although Changez may seem like a character with strong religious morals, this is not the case. When speaking with Erica, he mentioned that “buying alcohol was illegal for Muslims and so he had asked a Christian smuggler” (27) to deliver alcohol to his home. Changez's relationship with alcohol does not end there as he "[drank] a third of a bottle of whiskey before [he] could fall asleep" (100) after watching television and drinking. feeling depressed. Additionally, this was not a usual or regular occurrence for Changez, as he learned that the Americans were invading Afghanistan, which made him furious. Drinking in Pakistani culture is used in a covert way, but in Changez's case, it is used as a method to relieve stress or fall asleep. The author highlights the fact that Changez's morals and loyalty are not honest as a Muslim man, which could also influence how his character is perceived. Unlike the Pakistani population, Americans consume alcohol as a form of celebration or during a special event. When Changez went to dinner with Erica and her parents, the father's first suggestion was to ask if Changez was drinking because "he raised a bottle of red wine" (53). On the other hand, Erica's mother replied: “He is twenty-two years old (…) in a tone that suggests, so of course he drinks” (53). Since Erica's father believed that no Pakistani drank, both parents' responses were stereotypical assumptions about Changez and his culture. We think that at twenty-two, it is obvious that he will drink since he is over the legal age in the United States. The other relative said that because he once worked for him with a Pakistani man who didn't drink, not all Pakistani men drink. Although Erica’s parents may not have known that “many Pakistanis drink; the illegality of alcohol in [Pakistan] has much the same effect as marijuana in [America]” (53). Hamid suggests that not knowing the cultural context could lead to assumptions and misunderstandings, which is what happened in this case with Changez and Erica's father. This leads to how the author uses alcohol to represent different cultural values throughout the story: Changez, a depiction of Pakistani men, does not have its morals directly tied to alcohol as do Americans, who drink to have fun. occasions in the novel, uses food imagery to evoke the different ways in which food is valued and shared in both settings. Pakistani culture is shown to have authentic food and people are also proud of it. Changez explained to the American the important role food plays in his hometown, and in Pakistan more generally. Changez mentioned that "[the American] must not go through such an authentic introduction to Lahori cuisine" since it was a "feast..

Navigation

« Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

Get In Touch