Function of the first chapter of “The Reluctant Fundamentalist”

First of all, the function of the first chapter is to set the narrative structure and to offer the reader a key to read the novel. Indeed the reader immediately understands that the only one who speaks is the protagonist, who is  having a conversation with an interlocutor. Thus, the reader recognizes the dramatic monologue, and realizes that he/she won’t have any different point of view, actually he/she is forced to choose if Changez is honest or not.  Secondly, the writer, through the first chapter, wanted to introduce the protagonist’s personality, his story and finally the settings. Indeed the novel opens with the speaking voice asking the interlocutor: “Excuse me, sir, but may I be of assistance?”.  Focusing on this question and on the formal language used by the speaker,  the reader understands that the protagonist is taking some distances from the interlocutor, quickly identified as an American. Moving on, the reader finds out more about Changez and about his approach to USA: he defines himself as a lover of America, trying to reassure the Stranger who probably feels uncomfortable due to Changez’s appearance. This feeling highlights the theme of racism and prejudice, for instance  the American seems to be worried by the waiter and suspicious when the tea arrived.