Phases of Human Experience: An Application of Northrop Frye’s Theory of Myths/Genre to Mohsin Hamid’s How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia

Abstract

Mohsin Hamid in his novel How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia tells the story of an impoverished rural boy from his early childhood till his death. The protagonist aimed at, succeeded in accumulating money, and by the end lost it. As a human being, he passed through various phases of life. The present study focuses on the evolution of the protagonist’s life as a member of a developing Asian society. Applying Northrop Frye’s (1957) theory of myths/genre, the study finds that the protagonist’s life goes through a specific cycle of seasons: the season of winter (the genre of irony/satire), season of summer (the genre of romance), season of spring (genre of comedy), and season of autumn (genre of tragedy) in this particular order. The season of summer occupies the largest space in the novel. The study helps in developing an understanding of the structural aspects of the novel.