America seduces Changez by making him believe it possesses both fascinating and fake virtues.

FIRST CHAPTER'S AMERICAN VIRTUES:

• America conveys its power through culture. It is not a case that attending Princeton university is the dream of all foreign students. It is a beautiful campus where the most competent professors work. The university selects the most brilliant students who are up to the standards for skills. Changez describes it as a pragmatic but effective system based on meritocracy, where human beings are expected to contribute to the American society.
• Changez assumes America has imposed standards’ in order to find skills which could bring about the improvement of the society.
• American people are focused on the gain. People are expected to work for the development of the nation and the merit of their actions is rewarded by economic wealth and high salaries. Princeton’s students are projected in the world of work since university. More in details, Underwood Samson’s offer to Chagez is for him his occasion to regain his past status.
• The competitors at the workplace have only one chance to get the position. The American obsession of not wasting time is linked to the gain, their aim. It has forced Changez to improve, so he admired the American system.
• All Princeton students have graduated summa com laude.
• The rupee has declined steadily against the dollar. It conveys the idea of America’s economic development.
• Changez has been accepted by America for his hunger for success. It makes him feel unstoppable and proud.
• Changez is impressed by Jim’s determination of not asking a second opinion. His attitude stands for American people’s self-confidence.

SECOND CHAPTER'S AMERICAN VIRTUES:       

• The name of Erica is particularly relevant: an etymological resource will soon make the reader understood she identifies with America. For this reason, both her qualities and America’s ones impress and attract the protagonist. Erica is a brilliant and magnetic girl, who has been compared by Changez to a lioness: strong, sleek, and invariably surrounded by her pride. Her bearing is regal and refined, as she is a queen, portraying her self-confidence.
• The sign-bonus from Underwood Samson allows Changez to travel to Greece and meet Erica. It gives the appearance of America’s generosity.
• Erica is able to adapt herself to each situation. For instance, she is the only Princeton female student who feels at ease wearing a bikini in Greece, as other tourists. Her foresight impresses Changez.
• Changez is fascinated by his American interlocutor’s wisdom. He optes to write a text message instead of answering to his phone call. He understands that few words are more than sufficient, according to Changez’s opinion.