Eric Choi’s Reviews > The Reluctant Fundamentalist > Status Update

It was shocking when Erica disappeared, cannot get let go Chris from her mind. From Changez's perspective, it is like Changez cannot view America as America before 9/11, because of the stereotype of Americans towards him. If I were in Changez's situation, it would be extremely confused when all of my friends and people treat me as an cruel and menacing foreigner.

In the plane to Santiago, Chile, Changez was no longer excited with luxuries in the first class. Then they went to the city called Valparaiso, which was declining port city when I searched up. It seems very similar with the situation of Changez's family, like although Valparaiso is a second biggest city but has very melancholy atmosphere. I think it also shows the contrast between New York, old money and new money.

Changez faces a very contrasting situation at the end of the chapter. Although he is ranked as number one and awarded with a bonus, Pakistan is in a vulnerable situation. It feels personal to me because when I was in America, martial law was declared in Korea. I was anxious, people were chaotic in front of the National Assembly. Because Changez was in a worse situation, it is hard to imagine how much he struggled.

I was thinking about Underwood Samson's guiding principle, "Focus on the fundamentals," and it kind of alludes to the brutal capitalism in the United States, putting creativity as secondary and money as a priority. Then, Changez heard about the bombing of Afghanistan, and all these complex reasons would start to make him lose affection for living in America, with dreams starting to fade.

I realized name "Chris" alludes christian/christianity because Chris was an obstacle that separated Changez and Erica apart. Same, Christianity's (white people's) prejudice also viewed Changez as a suspicious person after 9/11. If I were in the same situation as Changez, I would lose affection towards America, like how Changez lost affection towards Erica because of Chris.

I feel like Changez’s end of relationship with Erica especially stands out to me. After leaving Central Park, hopes were gone for Changez and Erica's relationship, and then the lights being gone in the cafe sort of symbolize the relationship of Changez and Erica. Furthermore, I think it was also a cultural difference between Changez and the United States.

It was interesting to mention New York's skyline and compare it with Pakistan's skyline because I think it showed that the exterior of the United States seems like a perfect place, unlike Pakistan. But it seems like the exterior creates a distance between Changez and America due to an appearance and different culture. It may be a reason why the relationship between Changez and Erica waned.

During the beginning of the story, I felt like Changez's story didn’t feel like someone else’s. When I first came to the United States, I also saw a few people who had prejudices about me, although I knew they weren't intending to be rude to me. Furthermore, I feel like Changez's love towards Erica is a type of metaphor throughout this story because I think it also kind of a Changez's optimism in America.