Racism
The novel exposes an ugly truth that Americans have struggled to hide over the course of history. As a society in the 21st century, we feel that racism and prejudice is largely a thing of the past, and that we have moved past that ugliness. However,
Zeitoun delves into the extent of the persecution experienced by Muslims in America following the 9/11 attacks. Despite Zeitoun's selfless efforts to save fellow members of his community in the flooding, he was incarcerated without proper exercise of his Constitutional Rights. In the massive confusion following Hurricane Katrina, soldiers made runs through the city to arrest looters and murderers who had survived. Spotting a clearly Muslim man, the soldiers assumed that he must have contributed to the violence in the city, and held him in containment for an extended period of time. As readers, we know that he was anything but a criminal, but the mindset of Americans following 2001 was predominantly anti-Muslim. This type of prejudice has also been seen throughout American history, including communists in the Cold War era, Jews during World War 2, and African-Americans since the founding of the nation itself.
The Pursuit of Happiness
The novel also explores the freedoms that open up to people in America with strong core values and a solid work ethic. Zeitoun is largely estranged by those around him due to his religion and ethnicity, but through his hard work, he has gained respect, a steady income, and strong friendships. An overwhelming majority of immigrants in America struggle to find work, especially a group as persecuted by the American public as Muslims.
Zeitoun proves to readers, especially through the use of contrast against the hordes of looters that took the city, that anybody can be a successful, good person, regardless of how they were born.
The Collapse of Civilization
In modern American Civilization, it is hard to imagine how something like a hurricane can transform ordinary people into pillagers and murderers within a matter of days. Hurricane Katrina occurred less than ten years ago, and this novel gives a first-hand account of the human atrocities wrought by people who had been working-class American citizens merely days before. As difficult as it is to accept the fact, human nature is based around survival, and when something catastrophic jeopardizes that survival, even a society as "advanced" as that of the United States will crumble under the immense chaos.
