The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Good things about multiculturalism:

• Learn about lots of different cultures and experience new things such as food, music and art
• Diversity
• More open-minded/accepting
• Less ignorant and more understanding
• New perspectives and ideas
• Religious pluralism
• Gets rid of stereotypes
• Positive effect on the economy
• Unity

Bad things about multiculturalism

• People believe stereotypes and therefore treat people negatively
• Religions may clash
• Negative attitudes (taking jobs etc.)

The immigrant experience:

• When Changez meets the stranger, he is stereotyped immediately (page 1)
• Islamic people with beards = assumptions
• Attraction or fear - reactions to difference
• Beard = symbolic of his pride
• Changez is told to shave after 9/11, however he wants to be less American
• Meeting Erica's family - he wears traditional clothing, Erica wears a Minnie Mouse t shirt - highlighting the difference between America and Pakistan
• Stereotype that he doesn't drink - Erica's father wants a similarity
• Drinking is considered a sin/illegal however everyone still does it (opposite of fundamentalist)
• Conflicting emotions, he is unsure of his identity (he smiles at 9/11)
• On his first business trip, Changez acts American
• In the car park, he has a confrontation with an American - this is the first time he sees violence as a solution
• He is stopped by the police - humiliating and his underwear emphasises his vulnerability
• Narrative framing device - chooses 1st person and direct address
• The character takes on the role of the reader
• The stranger is suspicious of Changez
• Both characters may think the other one is trying to kill them
• Changez = fundamentalist?