The Reluctant Fundamentalist

CHAPTER 2

1) What is the main function of the chapter?

The main function of the second chapter is to introduce one of the most important characters: Erica.

Changez meets her on holiday in Greece in a high class club. The novelist introduces Erica commenting on a group of girls in Lahore, while Changez and his interlocutor are meeting in a Cafè.

2) Single out the novel structural elements the novelist mainly relays on in the second chapter.

The novelist mainly relies on characterisation: Erica helps to give a deeper understanding of Changez' personality. Erica also represents America: the name "Erica" reminds the word America. On the same level the name "Changez" sounds like "change" and the name "Chris" recalls Christianity.

The forst time Changez sees Erica, he describes her like a divine creature her hair was piled up like a tiara. Changez immediately finds her "regal".

The novelist'shandling of characterization reveals important aspects of the story-line.

In the second chapter the novelist develops some of the themes of the first chapter.

Several contrasts  can be recognized in the second chapter:

- different genders

- different cultures

- upper class and lower class

- different religions

- different love relationships