CHAPTER 1:

SUMMARY: Changez talks to an unknown interlocutor, and notices he is American from his bearing.

FUNCTION: to introduce the story and the Changez’s  ability to understand the Other.

CHAPTER 2:

SUMMARY: The conversation continues and Changez refers to American interlocutor about the girl he loved. Her name was Erica and he met her in Greece, on university holidays.

FUNCTION: to  introduce Changez’s love story with Erica.

CHAPTER 3:

SUMMARY:  Coming to New York was a bit like coming home for Changez,

FUNCTION: to underline that America is the mingling of different peoples

CHAPTER 4:

SUMMARY:  Changez talks about Erica’s and narrates that her father annoys Changez with stereotypical views on Pakistan.

FUNCTION: to emphasize the prejudices against Muslims by the American people.

CHAPTER 5:

SUMMARY: Changez continues his narration; he went to Phillipines for job, and remained surprised and upset to find out that even an outpost of America’s empire is richer than Pakistan. In addition to that, while he was in Phillipines, World Trade Centre collapsed.

FUNCTION: to underline how a single episode, like the Twin Tower collapse,  can change people opinion about a country.

CHAPTER 6:

SUMMARY:  Post 11^th September and New York in mourning.

FUNCTION: to remark chapter V’s function.

CHAPTER 7:

SUMMARY: Changez describes 9/11’s effects: Pakistani cab drivers being assaulted, mosques being raided and muslims disappearing. Changez continued to focus on his job.

FUNCTION: to underline the way American people treats Muslims after the Twin Tower episode.

CHAPTER 8:

SUMMARY:  Changez continues his monologue/narration: he visited Erica, who she is in worse shape and her mother told him that her daughter didn’t need a boyfriend.  He wasn’t able to help her and he was also  worried and angered by American people’s behaviors.

FUNCTION: to highlight how the behavior of an entire nation can change the attitude of the main character.

CHAPTER 9:

SUMMARY: Changez felt distraught: things were not too good in Pakistan-India threatening warfare, and Changez felt powerless, angry at the weakness of his country, and he felt like he was abandoning them when he returns to America.

FUNCTION: to underline the deep differences between American and Muslim’s culture.

CHAPTER 10:

SUMMARY: Changez went to Chile for job, but he couldn’tconcentrate on the job, he is worried about Pakistan. His superior cautions him but Changez can’t focus and in the end he gives up and is sent back to New York.

FUNCTION: to explicit the prejudices that make him not able to focus on his work.

CHAPTER 11:

SUMMARY:  He got the sack from his job, travelled back to his apartment with box of belongings on the subway. He was confused and troubled and a bit lost with complexity of his conflicting emotions.

FUNCTION: to demonstrate that, after the Twin Tower episode, Changez is not able to focus on his work if he remains in America.

CHAPTER 12:

SUMMARY:  Changez leaves America and returns to Pakistan to work as a university lecturer.

FUNCTION:  to describe Changes’s return to Pakistan.