Unraveling Changez: A Transitivity Analysis of Character Development in The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Abstract

This research paper applies systemic functional linguistics (SFL) to analyze the transitivity patterns of Changez’s character in Mohsin Hamid’s novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist. The study aims to examine how Changez’s transitivity patterns evolve and shift over the course of the narrative, particularly in relation to his changing ideological stance and identity. Using Halliday’s SFL framework, the analysis reveals that Changez’s transitivity patterns reflect his evolving agency, worldview, and social positioning. The findings also suggest that Changez’s linguistic choices are not merely reflective but constitutive of his evolving subjectivity and ideology. The study contributes to the existing body of literature on SFL, critical discourse analysis, and postcolonial studies by showcasing the usefulness of transitivity analysis in uncovering the complex interplay between language, ideology, and identity in literary texts.