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The Reluctant Fundamentalist

The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Chapter 9. Learning Goal. Understand how Changez’s time in America influences his perception Vocab: Ministrations – support Ascetic – self-denying Idiosyncratic – eccentric characteristic. Conflicted Identity.

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The Reluctant Fundamentalist

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  1. The Reluctant Fundamentalist Chapter 9

  2. Learning Goal • Understand how Changez’s time in America influences his perception Vocab: • Ministrations – support • Ascetic – self-denying • Idiosyncratic – eccentric characteristic

  3. Conflicted Identity • What does Changez say about his home city? (140-141) • “I was struck by how shabby our house appeared… it smacked of lowliness.” • Why does he do this? • “the Americaness of my own gaze” (p140) • What is his reaction? • “I had changed… this realization angered me… I resolved to exorcize the unwelcome sensibility by which I had become possessed.” • “I was disturbed about what this implied about myself: that I was a man lacking in substance and hence easily influenced…” (p142)

  4. Political Fundamentalism • Pakistan is under the threat of war • He tells the American that it will “perhaps be odd for you… to imagine residing within commuting distance of … a full scale invasion” and notes that they have “not fought a war on its own soil”. • He paints America as bullies, with Pakistan as a “vulnerable” victim and India as a bigger, stronger adversary. • He notes that “in our case the fittest and brightest were leaving” instead of the weakest, further portraying America as having a destabilizing influence on Pakistan. • How does Changez feel about it? (145-146) • “I felt powerless; I was angry at our weakness…” (p145) • “this made me a kind of coward in my own eyes, a traitor.” (p145) • “I was filled with contempt for myself” (p146)

  5. But this does not resolve anything… • What is he reluctant to reveal to his family? (p143) • “I censored any mention of Erica… and indeed of anything that I thought might disturb them.” He is unable to be himself in Pakistan. • How does his visit to see Erica go? (p150-155) • What happens to him when he returns to New York? • He is subject to abuse. • It appears as though he will lose his job, but Jim instead sends him on a solo job to Chilie. This is a sign he still sees value in Changez though he does move him temporarily to another continent.

  6. Question • Why does Changez keep his fully grown beard? • Think about the symbolism… • What theme does this connect to? • What does it foreshadow?

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