Part 1 (for reference)

"He knew it was possible, because he had seen it, for men and women who had begun to die to come back. What could extinguish the prospects of life for so many people, their aspirations, and their hopes, if a magic existed that allowed them to return?" (Hamid, p. 44)

In this quote, Hamid uses the concept of magical realism to explore the idea of resurrection and the desire for a second chance at life. Saeed's thoughts reflect a universal human desire to overcome the limitations of mortality and the fear of death. By using the idea of resurrection, Hamid highlights the themes of hope and resilience, which are particularly relevant to the experiences of migrants and refugees who often face extreme adversity and uncertainty in their lives. This quote also foreshadows the magical doors that allow the characters to escape their war-torn country, emphasizing the importance of imagination and creativity in the face of adversity.

"Hamid has written a novel that fuses the real and the surreal, the past and the future, the personal and the political, and somehow manages to make it all relevant" (NPR).

This quote from NPR emphasizes the way in which Exit West successfully blends multiple themes and narrative elements into a cohesive and relevant story. By weaving together elements of magical realism, politics, personal relationships, and history, Hamid creates a rich and complex narrative that speaks to a range of human experiences. The quote also highlights the way in which Hamid's approach to storytelling is able to capture the essence of the migrant experience without relying on cliches or simplistic representations. Rather than portraying migrants as passive victims, Hamid emphasizes their agency, creativity, and resilience, which allows readers to empathize with their struggles and see them as fully realized individuals. Overall, this quote reflects the novel's ability to transcend boundaries and speak to universal human experiences, making it a relevant and impactful work of literature.

In conclusion, Exit West by Mohsin Hamid is a novel that explores a range of themes related to migration, identity, and resilience. Through its use of magical realism and intricate narrative structure, the novel offers a nuanced and complex portrayal of the migrant experience that highlights the agency and creativity of migrants in the face of adversity. The primary source quote reflects the novel's focus on hope and resilience, while the secondary source quote emphasizes the way in which Hamid is able to fuse multiple narrative elements into a cohesive and relevant story. Together, these quotes illustrate the power and impact of Exit West, and its ability to shed light on important issues facing migrants and refugees around the world.

Part 2)

Each posting should consist of at least 1 primary source (Exit West) quote and 1 secondary source quote about Exit West or Hamid or one of the over-arching themes of the novel (Migration, Identity, Race, Social Class, Magical Realism, etc.) followed by at 1 explanatory paragraph for the primary and 1 analytical paragraph for the secondary quote.