Based on the effects and aftermath of the World Trade Center bombings, Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) uses a gripping monologue to tell the thought-provoking story of the journey of a young Pakistani towards self-discovery and addresses the ramifications of the controversial nature of nostalgia inflicted on characters and nations. The novel explores the notion of nostalgia in various ways. Through Erica's characterization, Hamid expresses the self-destructive nature of nostalgia. Hamid further uses Erica as an allegory for America; both entangled in a web to recreate the past due to the unpleasant dilemma of the present, and further present a comparison between the two contradictory adoptions of nostalgia in the lives of Changez and Jim. Through individual approaches to nostalgia, Hamid successfully conveys to the reader the dangers of clinging to the past and its traditions as well as the inevitable change that must be accepted. We are first introduced to the dangers of nostalgia through Erica, Changez's love interest. and a symbolic representation of America. Erica is portrayed from the start as a rather emotionally unstable character who disintegrates spiritually and grieves after the death of her former soulmate Chris. Although she appears assertive on the surface, she slowly deteriorates from within, as Changez describes: "I met her eyes and for the first time I perceived that there was something broken behind them , like a small crack in a diamond” (Hamid: 2007). , p. As the relationship between the two characters strengthens, Erica is drawn into a notion of guilt, encrypting her to believe that by moving on with her life, she is betraying Chris' memory. Chris's memory in the middle of a paper......n the capture of the past. Through the contrasting perceptions of the victims, Hamid successfully depicts how neither the country nor the characters can withstand the changes occurring in the dynamic cycle of life. At one end of the spectrum are America and Erica, described as candidates for extreme nostalgia; embarking on recreating memories of the past due to the unpleasant situation of the present. At the opposite end is Jim, who possesses the ability to accept and adapt to change favorably, using his past as a catalyst for future success. Changez, instead, seemingly falls somewhere in between – aware of the addictive nature of nostalgia but unable to retain its appeal and abandon past traditions. By combining all the mentioned aspects, Hamid managed to skillfully create a story that describes the dangers of submersion in the past and its traditions..