In the present text I’m going to analyze the first chapter of “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” in order to discover its function.

The first chapter is a brief summary of Changez’s life before New York and Underwood Samson work and it is used by the novelist to set the atmosphere of the novel.

Since the beginning the story is told from Changez’s point of view: the novelist uses a monologue to narrate his story. The other speaker is silent and his thought are disclosed by Changez’s reactions.

The main role of the first chapter is introducing the characters and the setting: Changez approaches a stranger to give him his assistance since he is a speaker of his language and a native of the city, Lahore. The protagonist will lately invite the man to have a cup of tea and he will start to tell him his story. Changez identifies the stranger as an American by his bearing and according to him the man seems to be on a mission and quite uncomfortable with his remarks.
Changez’s observations introduces the theme of prejudices and stereotypes: he classifies the stranger by judging him by his appearance. Moreover he worries to inform the man that despite the beard he is a a lover of America.
The choice of the word “mission” is important since it lets the reader supposes that the stranger is more than a tourist.

It ends inviting curiosity about the future of the protagonist and the role of the American.