Written by: Ayesha Amir
Posted on: October 16, 2024 | 
Mohsin Hamid
Mohsin Hamid is a well-known Pakistani author of some of the most acclaimed novels of the contemporary times, such as The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Exit West and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia. He is known for his distinctive writing style on themes that do not shy away from shedding light on the pressing socio-political issues that our society is faced with. He curates his characters with a detailed precision that captures the reality of individual lives.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
It is hence no surprise that his short stories, written between 2006 and 2022, also showcase his sharp commentary on identity, politics and the human experience, that often reflect the same themes that are talked about in his novels. Hamid’s short stories are crafted with a compelling conciseness that drives the wedge of interest right through the reader’s mind, while still building an expansive world within the story setting. What this means is that Hamid’s stories are simultaneously both macro and micro in their setting of characters, time and space.
Mohsin Hamid with his father in Lahore in 1974.
Hamid’s 2022 short story, The Face in the Mirror, adapted from The Last White Man, showcases concerns of identity, race and individual transformation. In this story, the protagonist wakes up one morning to find that his skin color has changed, which then forces him to confront society’s deep-seated prejudices against brown skin. Hamid sets a very Kafkaesque premise, the story being reminiscent of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. But it is a daring story where Hamid brings race, identity and the fear attached to it into the scene. It hence captures the alienation and fear of the unknown through the lens of a changing world where violence prevails (which, is another constant found in all of Hamid’s stories) to deal with the tangles of race and privilege.
Mohsin Hamid at Princeton in 1991.
Similarly, Of Windows and Doors (2016), in an excerpt from his novel Exit West, is a story about displacement and migration in a war-torn setting. It is a deeply emotional reflection on borders – both physical and metaphorical. Through the lens of magical realism, Windows and Doors become metaphors for escape and survival, providing an imaginative commentary on the refugee crisis that the world is faced with.
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Hamid’s short stories are also concerned with political landscapes, particularly how globalization and warfare shape contemporary life. In his short story Alien Invasion in the G.L.A.C. (2013), Hamid takes a more satirical approach. It is written in the first-person narrative, and set in a near-future world that is coming to terms with the absurdities of economic collapse and alien invasion. The story revolves around global political dysfunction, which is quite a dark theme to tackle, yet Hamid’s narrative voice here is not as forthright and brutal as we see it in his other short stories. The story remains fast paced as the protagonist finds himself in a chase, the suspense and the gripping nature of the world of the story, gives it a dystopian vibe.
Other than Hamid’s political and societal critiques present within his stories, love and family is also a theme, often as a recurring motif, in some of his short stories, such as The Third-Born (2012), excerpt from How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia. Other than the micro dealing of a family’s life, the main reason why this short story is the most impactful to the reader is because it is written in the second person narrative. The character, who is the third born son in an impoverished family, is attributed to the readers, where they are forced to imagine themselves as the young boy, putting themselves in his shoes. This story is a deeply personal one where the everyday dynamics of the family are explored. The Third-Born also employs a more wayward imagery and use of language than most of Hamid’s other short stories, but the impact this has is that it lends the story a more visceral feeling. Similarly, A Beheading (2010), published in Granta, is a story set in a dystopian version of Pakistan, where state violence and political repression are rampant. The story’s stark portrayal of the protagonist’s beheading for dissent serves as a brutal commentary on censorship and authoritarianism. Hamid’s writing craft heightens the tension and horror of the narrative, making the story a powerful portrayal of political oppression.
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid
Mohsin Hamid’s short stories reflect his deep engagement with themes of identity, politics, social issues and dystopian realities. Through the use of dystopian imagery, Hamid’s stories depict the contemporary societal concerns. While his short stories are excerpts from his larger works like novels, they stand out as literary works in their own right. Through his unique narrative styles which use first, second, and third person perspectives interchangeably, Hamid continues to demonstrate deeply moving and sometimes disturbing story settings. Each of his stories is rich with insight, forcing the reader to confront complex questions about the world and their place in it.
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