Contesting Hegemonic Order: Navigating Cultural Hegemony and Identity Crises in Mohsin Hamid's Moth Smoke and The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Abstract

Aim of the Study: This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to analyze the cultural hegemony and politics of identity in Mohsin Hamid's novels, Moth Smoke and The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Specifically focusing on the male characters Daru and Changez, the research draws from postcolonial scholarship, particularly Gramsci's theories, to examine their ambiguous pursuit of identity heavily influenced by cultural hegemony.

Methodology: This research utilizes a qualitative methodology that combines textual analysis and 5-minute interviews with 50 undergraduate students from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. The CDA approach is employed to analyze the language used by the characters in the novels and the broader discourses surrounding identity and cultural assimilation. Through these interviews, valuable insights are gathered to further understand the implications of the identified themes within the Pakistani context.

Findings: The analysis of Mohsin Hamid's works reveals the power dynamics, ideological struggles, and discursive strategies at play in the construction and maintenance of cultural hegemony. By challenging the hegemony of dominant cultural norms and encouraging readers to shape their own identity, Hamid's works facilitate a decolonizing process.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is an effective approach for examining the cultural hegemony and politics of identity in Mohsin Hamid's novels. The analysis of the male characters, Daru and Changez, sheds light on the complex nature of identity formation in the face of cultural hegemony. Overall, Mohsin Hamid's works offer a means of understanding the challenges and consequences of identity crises in postcolonial societies.