The Underlying Causes of False Images of Hyper-reality and Consumerism as Presented in the Characters of the Novel “The Last White Man” by Mohsin Hamid

https://doi.org/10.55966/assaj.2025.4.1.0114

Abstract

The research analyzes the underlying causes of false images of Hyper-reality and consumerism in The Last White Man (2021).In the modern age, people of different backgrounds and communities have different set beliefs in which they depend upon. The Last White Man is not about community but people, the characteristic that has been portrayed by Mohsin Hamid is immensely detailed where the set of their beliefs are reflected throughout the text. The selected novel depicts the idea of transformation in which the main character of the novel transforms into a black skinned man. The set of belief and the people according to the world presented in the novel are off the view that black skinned color is not same as us. The other characters and the main character have been portrayed as white before they change their skin color. The belief that is set within their mind frame instigates them to decline the transformation. The characters, in the selected novel, reflect the idea of hyperreality proposed by Jean Baudrillard in 1981 in which he says that “reality does not exist, it has been replaced by signs and symbols that makes it difficult to differentiate with reality” (Baudrillard, 1981). The research proposes a deep insight into the characters, imagery, signs and symbols of the selected text written by Hamid. The study explored the elements of fake signs and symbols within the reality as proposed by Jean Baudrillard in his theory. 

Keywords: Hyperreality, Consumerism, Capitalism, Transformation, Signs, Symbols, Reality, Baudrillard, Black, White