The RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST

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.

In additional it makes some reflections about stereotypes an different cultures.

CHAPTER 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”. But analyzing it more in deep the intelligent reader finds out that the chapter shows the differences between Islamic and American costumes, makes a comparison between Changez and Erica – therefore between their different cultures –, compares the different way to present oneself between a male and a female, puts in evidence the differences between social classes. Furthermore it underlines that the Pakistani protagonist is attracted by the same things of the American interlocutor – such as every human being -, and shows also the different costumes in Lahore between old and new generation.

CHAPTER 3

In chapter 3 Changez makes 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. He feels at home for many reasons: he hears Urdu speaking in taxis, the smell of his home country's food in a restaurant, he recognizes a song to which he had danced at his cousin's wedding. All these help him to adapt to the new culture and so cultural shock is gradually reduced by cultural identity.

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. Hamid puts in evidence the American culture and technology, show economic power and meritocracy, the  American mentality (they are proud of their work), and makes a comparison between America and Pakistan – open mind versus a strict mentality – underlining that Pakistani are strictly connected with their history and traditions.

CHAPTER 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. During the exchanging dialogue between Changez and Erica’s father comes forth the patronizing attitude of Americans, since Erica’s father doesn’t let the protagonist any space to answer back to his attack, silenced him. The chapter allows the reader to understand the relationship between Changez and the American culture.

CHAPTER 5

In chapter 5 Changez goes to Philippines (Manila) for valuation job of music company; he finds himself surprised and upset to find even an outpost of America’s empire is richer than Pakistan. He feels resentful toward his homeland. Anyway he is changing his identity to get more respect (“I attempted to act and speak, as much as my dignity would permit, more like an American. … I wanted my share of that respect as well”).

The last day in Manila Changez watches on TV the World Trade Centre collapses and smiles, obviously not for people’s grief and death, but for the greatness of America brought to its knees. This is the first symptom of an unstoppable transformation inside him. The resentment towards the America's culture and thirst of power increases. Changez now feels very uncomfortable being in New York.

CHAPTER 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.

CHAPTER 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 Pakistanis 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.

CHAPTER 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.

He is also worried and angered by American people’s offensive behaviors.

CHAPTER 9

In this chapter Changez faces a man who refers to him with a racist sentence expressing hatred for Muslims.

Changez realizes he is changing; reevaluating his love for his homeland he understands its beauty and he decides not to shave anymore in order to show his identity as a Pakistani.

He also tries once more to get in touch with Erica, but she places him in the past.

This chapter has the function to definitely express Changez's feelings about America.

CHAPTER 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 follow Jim's advice to "focus on the fundamentals”, and he frequently thinks of Erica.

CHAPTER 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.

CHAPTER 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 final chapter underlines the repressive attitude against political and social progress in Middle East, and it shows how judgment forces someone to assume a new political ideology and new social and cultural development.