The Reluctant Fundamentalist Flashcards
‘I began to ___ and _____, as much as my ______ would permit, more like an ______’
‘I began to act and speak, as much as my dignity would permit, more like an American’
- Compromising cultural identity in order to win acceptance
- Disassociated sense of identity
‘My ____________ was invisible, _______ by my ____’
‘My Pakistaniness was invisible, cloaked by my suit’
- Roots being disguised by American culture
- Representative of Americanisation + their influence on other cultures
- Role at Underwood Samson dominating his identity
‘And then I ______’
‘And then I smiled’
- Changez rouses from his American dream
- Forced to confront his identity and deep rooted resentments
- 9/11 catalyst for his hatred against America
- Witnesses attack from tv screen = reflects distance from home country/roots + distance he will feel when he returns
‘A form of ______ on my part, a ______ of ______’
‘A form of protest on my part, a symbol of identity’
- Changez’s growing need to assert his own identity
- Does not care about unease his beard will provoke
- Accepting his true identity, presenting himself as a Pakistani
‘They joined the _____ for American _______ ; I joined the one for _______’
‘They joined the queue for American citizens ; I joined the one for foreigners’
- Reminder that he will never be treated equally as an American
- Changez conscious of guest status in America
- Physical seperation between ‘They’ and ‘I’ = difference between Changez and his colleagues
‘I was _________ to verbal _____ by complete ________’
‘I was subjected to verbal abuse by complete strangers’
- Choice to embrace cultural identity results in discrimination
- Alienated/ostracized by society
- Expectations + ‘veneer’ of America shattered
‘This is a _____ come ____’
‘Princeton _______ in me the _______ that my life was a ____’
‘This is a dream come true’
‘Princeton inspired in me the feeling that my life was a film’
- Changez appreciates opportunities presented by America and Princeton
- Highly romanticised depiction of university reflects high expectations
- Desire for American dream made possible through Princeton
- Cinematic description seems like a fantasy
‘I was _______ into an _______ world’
‘To which I would _________ have had no ______’
‘I was ushered into an insiders world’
‘To which I would otherwise have had no access’
- Changez uses relationship with Erica to penetrate American society
- Erica gives Changez a sense of belonging + she is the reflection of American culture
- She offers him the American dream and countless opportunities
‘Moving to New York felt - so __________ -like coming _____’
‘Moving to New York felt - so unexpectedly - like coming home’
- NY instills a sense of belonging in Changez
- Offers a homely comfort
- Multicultural NY accepting of other cultures/ethnicities
‘I lacked a stable ____. I was not ______ where I ________’
‘I lacked a stable core. I was not certain where belonged’
- Changez’s confusion in terms of his identity
- identity crisis/lack of belonging
‘I flew to New York ___________ in my own ____’
‘I flew to New York uncomfortable in my own face’
- Changez sense of belonging transformed overnight
- Changez on receiving end of racism and prejudice
- Islamophobia inevitable repercussion of 9/11
- Highlights the fragile pillars that society is built upon
‘Her body had ________ me’
‘Her body had rejected me’
- Allegorical relationship between America and Erica intensified after their attempt to make love
- Changez rejected by both Ericas body and America itself
- In order to be compatible with Erica Changez suppresses/surrenders own Identity ‘Pretend I am him’
‘I made it my _______ on campus to advocate a ___________ from your country’
‘Ex-janissary’
‘I made it my mission on campus to advocate a disengagement from your country’
- ‘Mission’ implies Changez has become sort of a double agent
- Changez attempts to tackle American imperialism
- ‘Your’ = possessive determiner, Changez distancing himself from America as a whole
