ABSTRACTION AND UNIVERSALITY: NARRATIVE STRATEGIES IN MOHSIN HAMID’S THE LAST WHITE MAN

Abstract

This research explores the structuralist narratological elements in Mohsin Hamid’s intriguing novel, The Last White Man. Drawing on the theories of structuralism, this research aims to examine the complex narrative structures, patterns, and underlying systems of organisation that underpin the novel. Structuralism, as a critical theory, focuses on the underlying structures and rules governing meaning, and this study draws on these principles to analyse how the narrative is organised and how it conveys its themes. This research focuses on significant narrative components such as character, plot, and discourse to explore how they operate as a whole. It considers how characters are not only individual elements but also part of a larger systemic structure of meaning.  By employing structuralist principles, this study seeks to enhance our appreciation of the value and significance of The Last White Man. It highlights the ways in which Hamid's narrative strategies - including abstraction, universality and a lack of specificity - contribute to the novel's effectiveness and expand its interpretive potential. This work not only offers a detailed analysis of the novel's structure but also provides critical insight into the use of narrative design in contemporary literature.