Brief biography of mohsin hamid was born in Pakistan, but he spent much of his
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| Related Characters Saeed, Nadia Related Themes: Page Number 204 Explanation and Analysis This passage appears shortly before Nadia and Saeed decide to finally go their separate ways. In this paragraph, Hamid outlines the emotions keeping the couple from leaving one another, emphasizing the effect of fear on their decision to stay together. Whereas in the beginning of their relationship they helped one another mitigate their respective “fears”—supporting each other through the violence and unrest roiling their city—now their relationship itself has become the object of their fear Indeed, they worry about what will happen to each other in the aftermath of their breakup. After all, they’ve built an entire life together and have helped one another through so many difficult experiences—experiences that no doubt have shaped who they are and how they view the world. This is why their bond has come to resemble that of siblings.” Similar to how a brother and sister witness each other grow up and harbor an intrinsic love for one another, Saeed and Nadia can appreciate the ways in which they’ve matured. By allowing readers to bear witness to the slow cooling of this bond, Hamid ultimately demonstrates that not all love is meant to remain romantic, suggesting that sometimes love outlasts “passion.” Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com ©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 19 The color-coded icons under each analysis entry make it easy to track where the themes occur most prominently throughout the work. Each icon corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart. CHAPTER Ina city swollen by refugees but still mostly at peace Saeed and Nadia meet for the first time while taking a course on “corporate identity and product branding At first, they don’t notice each other, except that Saeed notes that Nadia wears long black robes that cover nearly her entire body. Because the citizens of this city aren’t forced at this point to dress or behave according to religious principals, Nadia’s decision to wear such clothing actually signifies something about her personality, Hamid notes. Exit West begins in a time of tension, a friction that is palpable from the opening sentence. Hamid’s assertion that the city is still “mostly” at peace underhandedly emphasizes that the society isn’t completely at peace, ultimately framing unity and accord as fragile. Furthermore, by calling attention to Nadia’s decision to dress in long religious robes, Hamid prepares readers to consider the effect religion has on the ways in which people view one another. Hamid admits that it might seem odd that in cities teetering at the edge of the abyss young people still go to class but this, he suggests, is the way lifeworks one moment we are pottering about our errands as usual and the next we are dying Sitting in class one day, Saeed notices a beauty mark on Nadia’s neck that sometimes dances with the pulse of her heart, and this encourages him to speak to her. Listen he says one day after class, would you like to have a coffee at which point he stops to consider her religiously conservative clothing before adding, “in the cafeteria Observing him, she responds, You don’t say your evening prayers?” Saeed and Nadia’s first interaction is fraught with cultural implications surrounding the way Nadia presents herself in public. Even before Nadia mentions prayer, Saeed is already hyperaware of her religious robes. This is why he pauses in the middle of asking her to coffee, hastily adding in the cafeteria so as not to offend the conservative values he assumes she has due to the way she dresses. Seeing this hesitation and skittishness, Nadia capitalizes on Saeed’s insecurity, taking the opportunity to chastise him for not saying his Download 0.56 Mb. Share with your friends:
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