Moshin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Summary and function of each chapter

1. The main character Changez is having a conversation with an American sitting in a cafe in Lahore. He is a Pakistani and he is telling the American about his American life as a student in Princeton and as a worker for the Underwood Samson, a valuation company. This chapter has an introductory function creating the pretext for the narration: the conversation between the two characters makes possible to know about Changez's life. Moreover the first chapter is useful to comprehend the textual type of the book: since it is only Changez who speaks to an unidentified character the book is a dramatic monologue.
2. While observing some good-looking girls in the café Changez recalls his love affair with Erica, an American girl he was in love with. This chapter has the function to introduce the female character “Erica”.
3. In chapter 3 Changez make a comparison between Lahore and New York's buildings and urban structure. New York similarity with Lahore makes the protagonist feel confident in the American city. Changez puts in comparison not only the two cities but the two lifestyles as well. This is a pretext to think about the similarities and the discrepancies between American and Middle east's culture.
4. Changez tells more about his job at the prestigious “Underwood Samson” underlying the unpleasant sensation he felt as a Pakistani among the Americans. Changez enlightens such unpleasant feeling in chapter 4 where he deals with the resentment Erica's father felt for Pakistani and Middle East's people in general. The chapter allows the reader to understand the relationship between Changez and the American culture.
5. In chapter 5 Changez watches the Twin Towers being destroyed and smiles. The resentment towards the America's culture and thirst of power increases. Changez now feels very uncomfortable being in New York.
6. In chapter 6 Changez looks at consequences of the attack and sees both his relationship with America and Erica fall apart: Erica is not in love with him and uses him as a painkiller for the bound she still feels with his dead ex-boyfriend.
7. In chapter 7 Changez forces himself to stay focused on his work trying to ignore the events happening around him: American's resentment against Pakistani has increased and Lahore is being bombed since the attack at the World Trade Center took place. Changez feels closer to the Muslim nations accused of the attack and more distant from America. The relationship with Erica worries Changez as well: finally succeeding in having sex with her he has to pretend to be his dead boyfriend to make her feel confident.
8. The love affair with Erica is at its deadline: Erica is being swallowed by the past and she can only think of her dead beloved boyfriend. She seems ill and Changez feels the relationship between them is already broken.
9. Changez realizes he is changing; reevaluating his love for his homeland he understands he its beauty and decides not to shave anymore in order to show his identity as a Pakistani. This chapter has the function to definitely express Changez's feelings about America.
10. Changez is corroded by the coexistence of his love for Erica and his hatred for America but still accepts an important job in Chile. He is not able to focus on his job and he frequently thinks of Erica. The chapter enlightens the deep interior struggle Changez feels.
11. Getting more and more critical about America Changez leaves his job in chile and looks for Erica at the clinic she is recovering in: he cannot find her. Erica's clothes are found near a river, suggesting she committed suicide. This chapter is the climax of Changez struggle: he abandoned his job and he loses the girl he loves. His relationship with Erica is a metaphor for his feelings for America: the initial love falls apart in pairs with the increase of awareness of his Pakistani origins and of his ethical beliefs.
12. The last chapter deals with Changez return in Pakistan as a lecturer and as a model for the young Pakistani involved in political and social events. Changez is now known as an opposer of America: receiving several warnings he start to get worried for his own life. The American men reaches his jacket an Changez sees a metal object, provably the gun he is going to be murdered with. The function of this final chapter is to underline the repressive attitude against political and social progress in Middle East.