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The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Chapter 8 summary. The Reluctant Fundamentalist. By Carlos Martinez & Greeko Sklavenitis. What Happens?. Changez visits Erica as he is invited. He realises that her condition has worsened and she isn’t who she once was Underwood Samson continues to work at full pace despite 9/11

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The Reluctant Fundamentalist

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  1. Chapter 8 summary The Reluctant Fundamentalist By Carlos Martinez & Greeko Sklavenitis

  2. What Happens? • Changez visits Erica as he is invited. He realises that her condition has worsened and she isn’t who she once was • Underwood Samson continues to work at full pace despite 9/11 • Changez is nearly attacked at his car by ‘Arab Haters’ • ‘Final winter spent in America’

  3. Fundamentalism The fundamentalism within the chapter is that Erica would not accept the fact that Chris wasn’t around to comfort her. Changez states “I did not know whether I believed in the truth of their love it was after all, a religion that would not accept me as a convert.” Changez is clearly talking about Erica’s love for Chris

  4. Nostalgia Changez visits Erica, her condition has worsened and her mother tells him “she doesn’t need a boyfriend”. She lies on her bed, dazed and sleepy, can’t write. Changez can’t help her as she recedes into the world of Chris. Erica is “disappearing into a powerful nostalgia, one from which only she could choose whether or not to return”. (p. 129)

  5. Identity At the conclusion of this chapter, Changez reassures the American “that there is nothing to fear” (p.139). He says this in reference to the food they have ordered, and tastes it first, to further reassure the American.

  6. Appearances How has Erica changed? Erica has changed dramatically. Her appearance has worsened and so has her personality. Erica is unable to control her emotions. She asks Changez to come over to her place, “But come over to my place,” she said. “I don’t fell up to going out.”

  7. Part b) What clues are there in this chapter that Changez will not last at Underwood Samson and company or even in America

  8. Fundamentalism Underwood Samson (U.S.) did not encourage nostalgia: ‘at work we went about the task of shaping the future with little regard for the past’ (p. 132) At this point, Changez believes that he was ‘never better at the pursuit of fundamentals’. (p. 132), pursuing all that was ‘quantifiable and knowable’ in the post-9/11 uncertainty. He was ‘analysing data as though my life depended on it’ (p.132)

  9. Nostalgia Changez worried and angered by America’s ‘dangerous nostalgia’ and her ‘determination to look back’

  10. Identity How has Changez identity changed during his time at Underwood Samson? Changez identity has changed dramatically. He immerses himself in his work to forget about past memories, however he lacks the enthusiasm he once had whilst working at his job. This may be due to the downfall of Erica or possible events after 9/11.

  11. Appearances How has Changez changed during his time at Underwood Samson? Changez realises that things have changed soon after 9/11. On page 134 he was called a “Fucking Arab” however he isn’t an Arab.

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