Andy Cho > Recent Status Updates

Changez is not a "janissary" anymore, finding his true identity as a Pakistani. As Changez and the American are walking through Lahore, Changez is calm unlike the American who is panicking as he constantly looks over his shoulder. His comfort in Lahore and its surroundings indicates that he has stopped trying to fit into a country that saw him as a potential terrorist, and not the person he was.

Changez continues to struggle to focus on his work due to global conflicts involving Pakistan. He still does not know the reason why Erica can not get over Chris. The political and emotional pressure leads to him falling behind on work. Changez, a once-thriving college student who chased after his American dreams, does not only lose faith in his professional ambitions but also starts to lose himself as a person.

Changez realizes the harsh reality of how Americans view him after being confronted in the parking lot. His beard, in the eyes of Americans, becomes a symbol of religion. He thinks about whether he can be innocent for succeeding in a country that promotes inequality towards his country and religion. His discomfort in working for Underwood Samson continues growing due to his concern for the situation of the world.

Changez faces many obstacles in this chapter such as attack on Muslims and his relationship with Erica. Erica and Changez are affected by the tension between countries and religions since 9/11. They are shaken by America being more anti-Muslim. Changez was late to work for the first time and saw Erica "disappearing." All of these events demonstrate changes in Changez's American dreams, represented by his name.

I am ambivalent about the relationship between Erica and Changez. Since 9/11, Erica is struggling as she can't stop thinking about Chris, and Changez attempts to comfort her. Although they make significant progress by spending more time with each other and having sexual interactions, Erica is hesitant. Erica's story rejects Changez and it will definitely affect their relationship and Changez's future.

It is obvious that Changez has to deal with assumptions from others based on his appearance. At the airport after 9/11, Changez is forced to go through a secondary inspection, like he was a criminal. He is suspicious from the eyes of Americans as this major event leads to the start of major religious conflicts. These conflicts are still happening as the American talking to Changez seems to be making speculations too.

The relationship between Erica and Changez develops with a sense of connection. When Erica invites Changez to her apartment, he is comforted to see a permanent home since he had been moving a lot in the past years. However, Erica's father starts to mention problems in Pakistan. Changez later admits that he was annoyed, which Erica acknowledges, showing empathy and creating a deeper sense of belonging.

Changez discovers his identity on his first day working for Underwood Samson. Looking at the view from the skyscraper, he starts to think that America is the most advanced city. That reminds him of home, Pakistan, a country that was facing national insecurities. Changez doesn't feel Pakistani as he was thriving unlike his country. He is confident that he will succeed like Jim, who has been in a similar situation.

Being part of a family with high status, Changez is a Princeton graduate who is confident in his abilities. With only two Pakistani students in his class, he believes that non-Americans are more talented. However, he learns that being on track to graduate summa cum laude is normal among Princeton students. This creates doubt in Changez's identity and reminds him that he does not always stand out in the crowd.

Frank's suicide was unexpected and David's reaction to this incident was interesting. David was ambivalent as he mentions that the pressure on David, Wes, and Gail of another attack on their house was gone while mentioning that his family will mourn Frank's death. David mentions that he felt something very close to love, seeing Uncle Frank die, who was once a war-hero and an uncle who every child would want.

As Frank is locked up in the basement, anxiety starts to build up in the household. Gail expresses her feelings that she doesn't care about anything except for the family's safety. David is surprised when Gail fires a shotgun at the four men and when Wes talks about sexaul assault in front of him. Through all this chaos, I can start seeing the family growing weaker with the unseen tension between Wes and Julian.

Tension was rising between Wes and Julian during their argument. The author constantly mentions the idea of Julian favoring Frank over Wes. Julian seems to have little faith in Wes as he doubts Wes's investigation and his efforts as the county sheriff. Wes lets out his frustration by telling Julian all of the crimes Frank committed. I predict that as the story progresses, Julian will gradually lose faith in Frank.

David has been acting abnormal since Marie's death as he believed in one of his grandmother's superstitions, which his parents advised him not to. Marie's death was so abrupt and unexpected as she started to feel better. Frank is a top suspect not only because of David's observations, but also due to possible causes of Marie's death that he talked about. These medical reasonings may be a plan to cover up his crime.

The scene of Frank and Wes talking on the riverbank was intriguing. David describes the similarities he noticed between the two brothers as "strange." Obviously, many comparisons were made between the two brothers like a competition. I can infer that David doesn't want his father to relate to a pervert who molests Indian women. The anxiety of David is also shown when he pulls out a handgun as Frank approaches Wes.

The author continues mentioning about Julian's greed for power and authority in the county. One of Julian's specialties are turning casual talks into opportunities to talk about his browbeating opinions. The author's word choice of "browbeating" demonstrates the dominance that he possesses. Additionally, Julian complains about having just one grandchild, meaning that he wants more grandchildren to maintain authority.

Our visualization of Uncle Frank drastically changes throughout the chapter. I learned to not judge someone by their reputation and accomplishments, but to know someone's true identity and personalities. I feel that although Wes is in a state of disbelief, part of him wants the information that Marie told Gail to be true. Wes wants to be the favored son since not being the "war hero" has been significant in his life.

The comparison between Uncle Frank and Wes is significant. This again creates an awkward relationship and this is proven on page 26. When the grandfather says "my son" during his announcement, both brothers knew who he was referring to. Being a "war hero" who served on the battlefield as a doctor, people considered Frank as the more accomplished brother. This might instill a feeling of betrayal in Wes.

The author creates minor tension by making Wes a county sheriff. Since Wes graduated from law school, it can be assumed that he would practice law. There is an awkward tension between Wes, Gail, and the grandfather since they all disagree on what Wes's occupation should be. Gail believes that practicing law would allow him to recognize his true self while the grandfather wants power by making Wes the county sheriff.