The Reluctant Fundamentalist

It is a narrative text, an indirect monologue. The name of the novelist is Mohsin Hamid and the book was written in 2007. The language is not informal and the narration takes place during the course of one long evening in a Lahore café.

The conversation is between two people but only the protagonist speaks. It follows that the protagonist is also the narrator, his name is Changez. He is talking to an American man but we never know who the other man is. The reader never hears his voice despite occasional interruptions. Therefore by addressing the nameless American with the second person pronoun “you”, the novel gives the impression of speaking directly to the reader.

Another use of monologue is that it silences American’s point of view and therefore Hamid can present his Pakistani/Muslim point of view.

Indeed the point of view is restricted, the reader has access to the story only through the point of view of the narrator.

By using monologue, Hamid tries to involve the reader into the text, the use of the monologue makes the reader an active part of the issue.

The novel is organized into 12 chapters and every chapter has a function.

The turning point of the novel is when, on 11th September 2001, the World Trade Centre collapses and Changez begins to feel uncomfortable and discriminated in America.

Chapter 1:
The book begins with the meeting of Changez with an American man.
He invites him to drink a cup of tea in a Lahore cafè and it begins their conversation and Changez describes his life during the years he lived in America. 

Chapter 2:
Changez tells about his meeting with Erica in Greece, he soon falls for Erica, but has to content himself at first with being simply friends because Erica is still mourning her first boyfriend, who died from cancer a year earlier. 

Chapter 3: 
Changez tells about his job at Underwood Samson: he loves his job, like another world-so powerful, so rich, so privileged; he makes friends with Wainwright-another outsider and he begins to have an American lifestyle for rich people.

Chapter 4:
Changez explores Manhattan with Erica, he meets Erica’s family live in impressive penthouse apartment and Erica’s father annoys Changez with stereotypical views on Pakistan. At the end of the chapter they have a picnic lunch in Central Park.

Chapter 5:
Changez goes to Phillipines for valuation job of music company, he is surprised to find even an outpost of America’s empire is richer than Pakistan, this makes him think of his family.
At the end of the travel, on 11th September 2001, the World Trade Centre collapses, Changez sees this on tv and ‘smiles’.


Chapter 6:
When he flies back to New York he finds life there markedly different, beginning when he is strip-searched at the airport and treated as a foreigner, despite having lived there for years. This is the turning point of the novel, from when Changez begins to feel uncomfortable in America and starts his revolt against his company and its capitalist values.


Chapter 7:
Changez realise that Pakistan is his nation so he is questioning his loyalties. 
Erica harder to get in contact with and when he finally sees her she is a nervous creature, who is struggling with her ghosts.

Chapter 8:
Changez visits Erica and she is in worse shape and her mother tells him ’she doesn’t need a boyfriend’. She lies on her bed and she can’t write, he can’t help her as she recedes into her Chris world.


Chapter 9:
Changez recognises that he has changed and gradually understands the different beauty of his family house and homeland.
He decides to not shave his beard, he tries to get in touch with Erica, but she is at a clinic; Changez is angry and preoccupied about everything.


Chapter 10:
Changez makes a trip to Chile and he meets Juan Bautista the chief of the publishing company they are valuing; he has an immediate impact on Changez.
He cannot concentrate on the job, worried about Pakistan. His superior cautions him but Changez does not work in an efficient way and he is sent back to New York.


Chapter 11:
On the plane back he thinks about America’s foreign policy and interventions in other country’s, he is now more critical of US activities and at his return he goes to Jim and he dismiss himself. Confused and troubled he visits Erica at clinic but she has disappeared, left a pile of clothes above the river, then he goes to see her mother and she gives him the manuscript. 


Chapter 12:
Changez leaves America, returns to Pakistan and works as a university lecturer. He seems to be increasingly opposed to American actions and he is surrounded by energetic young students who are interested in Pakistan’s future. He gets involved in demonstrations and meetings, receives official warnings, interviewed by international media.