So far, reading Exit West by Mohsin Hamid has kept me engaged and truly interested in the story of Nadia and Saeed. In each chapter, there has been something new! Seeing how Nadia and Saeed have gotten to know each other despite their hardships has been pleasant and definitely lightens up the read in the first few chapters, where the two are still living through the war in their hometown.
My personal interpretation of the book may be a bit of a hot take— and especially since I don’t know where the book is going, so take it with a grain of salt.
The book shines a light on something many people struggle to understand: society struggles to accept an independent woman.
Throughout the book, Saeed has struggled to accept Nadia’s unconventional lifestyle, especially in the later chapters when he compares her to the other people they end up living around. It may be a subconscious thing for him, but wondering why she doesn’t abide to social norms like the other women in whichever country they may be in is something that reflects a deeper societal resistance to female autonomy. In Saeed’s eyes, Nadia’s independence appears as an alienating force.
It is known that Nadia and Saeed’s relationship becomes strained and weary, and I believe this is why. Their love, which blossomed during a war, is slowly being torn apart not by the outside world but by Saeed’s need for convention and Nadia’s desire for freedom.
In my opinion, Nadia’s independence and desire for exploration is admirable, especially after all of the conflict she has faced in her hometown. Her love for Saeed is real, but is not her identity.
Saeed is entitled to his opinions and so is Nadia. Ideally they would have talked about their wants considering they’re about to start a whole new life in a whole new country…but 🤷♀️
Their conflicting wants serve as a reminder that you are allowed to feel your feelings no matter the situation. Personal desires and internal struggles continue even when you’re fighting for survival. Hamid works to show us that displacement is not just about losing your home, but is about displacement within your identity and personal connections.