In the present text I am going to make a deep analysis of The Reluctant Fundamentalist’s chapter one in order to discover the message conveyed by novelist Mohsin Hamid, as well as the novel’s pattern. 

The first sentence,  “Excuse me, sir, but may I be of assistance?”, points immediately out the highly formal tone used by the narrator, who is actually the protagonist himself, Changez (the name is not revealed yet). 

Proceeding with the lecture, it is clear that the American interlocutor is not feeling at ease: “Do not be frightened by my beard: I am a lover of America ” is an attempt to reassure the host, but the reader is not given any other reason of why the narrator’s beard should be a problem.

From the very beginning the reader cannot but notice the polite and sharp attitude of the protagonist, who shows to be an acute observer. Indeed he analysed the body language of the foreigner, stating “you seemed to be on a mission”; the last word could represent a sign of who the American man actually is, and why he is sitting at a tea bar in Lahore (as reported later) with the Pakistani speaker.

“I am both a native of this city and a speaker of your language” deals with the protagonist’s experience of living between two countries with different cultural models: once arrived at Princeton university, he struggled to integrate in the occidental society, but he eventually lost his faith in the American dream, facing the post 9/11 scenario.

Changez affirms to know his host’s nationality, using several argumentations to support his thesis: it is another sign of his cleverness and logical mindset.

A passage that may invite the reader to reflect is “...the district of Old Anarkali – named, as you may be aware, after a courtesan immured for loving a prince”, since it does not simply give information about the place. Indeed, after reading the novel and understanding the controversial relationship between Changez and America, the reader can assume he is the courtesan who felt in love with USA, struggling with feelings that lead him to suffering.  

When asking the interlocutor why he would not remove his jacket, the protagonist utters “So formal!”, in contradiction with his attitude, which is formal as well.

Successively he starts to tell about his story in America, from Princeton to Underwood Samson. Princeton, with his massive old buildings, was the incarnation of Changez’s dreams becoming true. He had the sensation of living in a movie, quoting him, and it appears clear that he felt nothing but admiration for everything regarding the campus; more specifically, the campus, with his high-profile professors and students, was a symbol of the idealised American system. The narrator himself stated: “I see the power of that system, pragmatic and effective, like so much else in America”.

In his class there were only two Pakistani guys, but “the non-Americans” used to put bigger effort in their studies than the others, also because they were chosen among a huge number of international students. The selection process is reported to be quite complex, but eventually the chosen ones receive complete financial aid, and enter the “ranks of meritocracy”: the novelist clearly conveys one of the main topics, which regards the America’s rewarding attitude towards people who actually deserve it. Anyway, they were supposed to contribute with their talents, in order to repay the country’s generosity, and they were happy to do so, “at least at first”: the last quote introduces the future development concerning the protagonist’s devotion to the United States.

Changez seemed to be full of potential thanks to the education Princeton gave him, and felt confident to get any job he wanted, except Underwood Samson & Company. The firm represents another difficult selection process, where eventually only the deserving would be employed: it is another symbol of the American meritocracy.

While talking about the firm, the narrator interrupts his speech to reassure again his host, worried by the waiter: “You seem worried. Do not be”. Successively there is a sentence that invites curiosity in the reader,

“there is no need to reach under your jacket, I assume to grasp your wallet”: what is actually trying to catch the interlocutor under his jacket? Could it be a gun?

After ordering tea (although is not specified which of the many proposed), the protagonist returns to his experience at Underwood Samson firm, introducing the character of Jim. His appearance resembles the one of a seasoned army officer, and he asked Changez “sell yourself”: the use of the word “sell” makes a possible reference to the capitalistic system which characterises USA, where people seem to be products to exploit. It is highlighted by Jim’s judgmental gaze as well.

Jim asked the man about his nationality, with no concern in questioning him about his economical situation. Jim could be identified as the American dream: it does not matter where someone comes from, everyone has the chance to make progress. The following description of Changez’s family underlines the distance with Pakistan, where status has more relevance than everything.

Such ambivalence is shown with the statement “one has two choices: pretend all is well or work hard to restore things to what they were. I chose both”. With such choice, Changez ended living between two different countries.

The story was interrupted by another attempt to reassure the American interlocutor, worried his tea could be poisoned, but the protagonist showed it was not by switching their cups. Again, he appears to be very polite, since he warned him to drink the hot beverage carefully.

Changez returned to the Underwood Samson’s interview, talking about how he definitely got the job: he assumed a professional and analytical attitude in order to value a fictitious company.

“We don’t waste time” Jim said: this is typical of the American-capitalistic mindset, which strongly believes in change and progress (“Underwood Samson had the potential to transform my life”).

Once he got the job, the protagonist felt incredibly proud, and thanked God yelling with joy. Princeton represented his big opportunity, but as he said, it could not make him forget things as how much he enjoys tea in his birth city. What Mohsin Hamid wanted to express is once again the betweennes Changez experienced as a Pakistani man in America.