45 pages 1 hour read

Mohsin Hamid

The Last White Man: A Novel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Essay Topics

1.

The term “the last white man” is both the title of the novel and the name given by the narrator to Anders’s father, who is the last man in the country to have remained pale. Discuss the symbolic meaning of “the last white man” as a title of the novel and the character, then offer an alternate title related to Anders.

2.

What is the role of mortality and death in the novel? Both Oona and Anders experience the death of close family members, and other characters die either at the hands of violent mobs or through substance use disorder. What does it mean that Anders and Oona enjoy spending time at graveyards among the dead?

3.

Examine moments when Anders speaks about or interacts with people of color through this lens of white fragility. How does white fragility show in his interactions before and after his change?