CAPITOLO 5

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‘Observe, sir: bats have begun to appear in the air above this square. Creepy, you say?”I marvel at their ability to navigate the cityscape;no matter how close they come to these buildings,they are never involved in a collision. Butterflies,on the other hand,tend to splatter on the windshields of passing automobiles,and I have once seen a firefly bumping repeatedly against the window of a house,unable to comprehend the glass that barred its way.

‘’Guardi, signore: sono comparsi dei pipistrelli nell’aria sopra questa piazza. Le danno i brividi, dice?’’Mi stupisce la loro capacità (dei pipistrelli ) di destreggiarsi nel paesaggio urbano; per quanto passino vicino a questi edifici riescono sempre a evitare una collisione. Le farfalle, invece, tendono a spiaccicarsi sui parabrezza delle auto in transito, e una volta ho visto una lucciola che continuava a sbattere contro la finestra di una casa, non riusciva a capacitarsi della presenza del vetro che le sbarrava la strada.

The translation appears to be highly faithful to the original. “Bumping” gives the idea of something, which collides with something better than “sbattere”.

Reason for choice: Contradictions of the average American.Changez makes a comparison between two animals referring to his capacity to avoid buildings or collide things.

Analysis: The co-protagonist of the novel is afraid of bats, highlighting the fragility inherent in American society, capable of getting scared arrival of a thing so suddenly. A probable reference to the WTC’s attack. In my opinion this is an important quotation because the idea of a firefly which collides with something recalls the idea of the airplane which collides with the Twin Towers

Possible conclusion: The reader wants to remind the attack.

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I tried not to dwell on the comparison;it was one thing to accept that New York was more wealthy than Lahore , but quite another to swallow the fact that Manila was as well.

Cercavo di lasciar perdere i confronti; una cosa era accettare che New York fosse più ricca di Lahore, un'altra digerire il fatto che lo fosse anche Manila.

• The Italian version turns the adjective active in liabilities.

Reason for choice: When he arrives in Manila He, symbolically returns home without going in Lahore, and therefore he expect to see the same poverty of his country of birth.

Analysis: This quotation underlines Changez's ashamed to come from a poor place.

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Possible conclusion: Maybe the narrator wants to highlight Changez's shame to be poor.

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‘So I learned to tell executives my father’s age, “I need it now’

‘‘Così imparai a dire «Mi serve adesso» a un dirigente dell’età di mio padre’’

In the Italian version, the comma is eclipsed, allowing a faster reading of the extract but by losing relevance to the quotation of the speech.

Reason for choice: existential contrast in the protagonist

Analysis: Changez notices a contrast inherent itself. On the one side, he continues to have strict moral values​​, on the other is forced to obscure them to allow to be truly inserted into American society.

Possible conclusion: Changez notices a contrast inherent itself. In my opinion Changez tries to act as American as well because the fact of being a Pakistani makes him ashamed.

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‘[...]and thought, you are so foreign’

“[...] e pensai: come sei straniero”

The introduction of the colon in the Italian version tends to give greater importance to the definition of foreigner.

Reason for choice: "Tilting" of the situation. In my opinion, this quotation is important because it highlight the first moment in which Changez reconciles himself to his pakistaness.

Analysis: Changez at this time, "immersed" in the most absolute luxury, seems to forget that he was a foreigner, not the person who defines it, which is not foreign (as in your country).

Possible conclusion: Changez seems to forget that he was a foreigner. The narrator wants to start with the decline of Changez's Americanisation.

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‘And then I smiled’

‘’E allora sorrisi’’

The phrase, translated in Italian, does not lose its drama and its form of judgment.

Reason for choice: Improbability of Changez’s reaction

Analysis: The reaction of Changez intended to disrupt, as well as the other party, even (and especially) the player, showing the continuing inner contradiction of the personality of Changez, divided between homeland and adopted country.

Possible conclusion: Changez shows the continuing inner contradiction of his personality.

CAPITOLO 6

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‘We are America’

“Noi siamo l’America”

The sententiousness of the sentence, along with his power, is maintained.

Reason for choice: American arrogance

Analysis: The United States, after the attack on the Twin Towers, and discover an outmoded nationalism, while showing their fragility.

Possible conclusion: With this sentence, the author wants to emphasize the characters dramatic - and dangerous - of American nationalism. In my opinion, Changez is quite angered by the reaction of the US state.

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Other forms of reprimand were noisier.

Altre forme di rimprovero erano più chiassose.

in the Italian version it's used the word"rimprovero", on the contrary in the English one it is used a stronger word"reprimand"

Reason for choice: American nationalism

Analysis: The protagonist laments the fact that the Americans, in a time of difficulty, "dust off" their nationalism, reaching even to extreme forms.

Possible conclusion: Americans are so nationalists. The narrator wants to underline that the protagonist feels guilty for his reaction to the tragedy but at the same time, he starts to be away from America with the mind and heart.

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His demeanor leads me to rule out the possibility that you are a tourist.

Il suo contegno mi porta ad escludere l'eventualità che lei sia un turista.

The structure of the original version goes straight to the point. Instead the translated version is more complex.

Reason for choice: Changez experience and intuition

Analysis: Changez has now learned about the American. You know, also, what it means to travel for work, and is able to recognize someone who does it.

Possible conclusion: The co-protagonist is not a tourist.

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Go to the Hamptons.

Andarcene agli Hamptons.

While in the English version the Hamptons are expressed as an anthropic place, in the Italian one seems to recall a natural place.

Reason for choice:   Introduction of Erica’s family’s income.

Analysis: With the use of the term Hamptons, Changez makes us understand the economic status of the family of Erica, a likely reference to the widespread wealth in America, with respect to Pakistan. Only material wealth, though.

Possible conclusion:this question shows the condition of (Am)erica and many Americans

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I felt I was entering in New York the very same social class that my family was falling out of in Lahore.

Sentivo che stavo entrando a far parte a New york di quella stessa classe sociale da cui la mia famiglia a Lahore era stata esclusa.

The structure of sentence is maintained. The verb “falling” suggests something which is in decline more than “era stata esclusa”.

Reason for choice: While he lives his new life as a rich person, his family is in decline in Lahore.

Analysis: he compares his entry in NY to the falling out of Lahore.

Possible conclusion: Maybe the narrator wants to highlight the difference economies between America and Pakistan.

CAPITOLO 8

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[…] In the newspaper headlines containing words like duty and honor.

Nei titoli di giornale che contenevano parole come dovere e onore.

In both the version there are references to the past with concepts like duty and honor

Reason for choice: "Something undeniably retro"

Analysis: Changez notes that while Americans consider Pakistan a backward country, are themselves coming back. Two countries, therefore, not very different.

Possible conclusion:the American feels itself superior and uses archaic words to express that.

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‘Fucking arab’

“Arabo del cazzo”

The depreciative word is different from Italian to English but it's well summarized the concept of discrimination.

Reason for choice: Different = enemy

Analysis: With what the writer wants us to notice the decreasing intelligence of the average American in front of the other, which now appears as an enemy.

Possible conclusion: The intelligent reader may think that Americans are ignorant.

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 In the last days you seems different to you

Negli ultimi tempi non sei più tu.

The structure of both the sentences shows how Changez wants to be completely a Pakistan.

Reason for choice: Changez’s Pakistani side.

Analysis: Changez is becoming indeed, returning, Pakistani.

Possible conclusion:Changez decides to come back to his origins; it shows how everyone is strongly devoted to his mother country.

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He needs a friend

Ha bisogno di un amico

The verb "needs" sounds like an invocation an help request.

Reason for choice:It perfectly shows Changez's condition

Analysis: Changez, seeing Erica as the transposition of America, cannot be regarded as a boyfriend, or be fully integrated, but just a friend, then detached.

Possible conclusion:this sentence clearly shows the need of integration of  Changez in a different nation

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Two analysts came with me were dismissed.

Due degli analisti entrati con me furono licenziati.

The English version seems more efficient and direct compared to the Italian translation

Reason for choice: The financial fundamentalism strikes again.

Analysis: The financial fundamentalism, despite the difficulties of the USA after 9/11, do not stop the thirst of gain, so much so that two young people are being laid off.

Possible conclusion:question makes us reflect on how strong and hard the financial fundamentalism in the USA

CAPITOLO 7

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Of course I wanted to believe;

Di sicuro volevo crederci;

The emphasis of the subject in the English version allows us to understand better the inner struggle to Changez.

Reason for choice: Changez want to believe in America.

Analysis: Changez want to continue to believe in the American dream, but realizes it can no longer do.

Possible conclusion: Henceforth his job performance will continue to decline.

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Economy is an animal.

L’economia è un animale.

The structure of the sentences is similar and convey a strong effect in both cases.

Reason for choice:to show the role of economy in the American view

Analysis: Con questa frase Jim, il capo di Changez, dimostra come esistano anche i fondamentalisti finanziari, non solo quelli islamici.

Possible conclusion:the protagonist uses a strong metaphor to convey the idea of what economy is.  

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The seats next to our always remained empty.

I posti accanto ai nostri rimanevano sempre vuoti.

The English version is very strong and shows perfectly Changez's condition

Reason for choice: Popular distrust toward high finance.

Analysis: Note, in this excerpt, as Changez is aware of the fact of being part of a very powerful, yet marginalized. The exclusion, therefore, is not provoked (in this case) ethnicity, but by the economy.

Possible conclusion: This sentence makes us reflect on financial effects.

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Focus on the fundamentals.

Concentrati sui fondamenti.

The word "focus" makes the reader how in the USA the economic fundamentalism is at the centre in USA

Reason for choice: Recall to fundamentalism

Analysis: This sentence leads to the essential concept of the book: the economic fundamentalism in the USA.

Possible conclusion: Economic fundamentalism is the faith of USA

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I apologize.

Me ne scuso.

The Italian version is reflective, on the contrary the English one is more direct

Reason for choice: Changez resentment towards his behaviour.

Analysis: This behaviour is in sharp contrast with what happened in the Philippines, a sign that Changez has now abandoned the only final way of behaving "American."

Possible conclusion: Changez has now abandoned the American way.