Tuesday, March 10, 2009

"True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us." Socrates

Hamid describes everything in perfect detail in the book, and he adds analysis onto everything. At the beginning and end of each chapter, Changez has a dialogue with the American. Although we only see Changez’s side of the conversation, we still get a very good sense of what this American is like. Changez will repeat a question that the American has just asked him, and then uses that as an opportunity to give insight on Pakistani culture. He talks a lot about Lahore and really emphasizes that the people there aren’t out to get Americans and cause trouble. I definitely think a lot of Americans (if not most) look down to Middle Eastern people and are often wary of them just because of their race. Changez throws very subtle (or not so subtle) hints about the misconceptions that are made about his race and homeland. When Changez is talking to the American at the restaurant, he mentions things about the Pakistani waiter that allows the reader to see what is happening. The American is obviously uneasy about how the waiter is acting, and Changez understands and tries to explain that the waiter is just being attentive. The way Changez explains everything in detail really shows how wise he is at such a young age.

11 comments:

  1. Julie, I completely agree with you. Point of view is a very important thing in any book, and Hamid's unique style tells the story with an impeccable amount of attention for detail, enabling the reader to feel as though they are a part of the book. Changez seems to know exactly what the American is feeling, and Hamid does an amazing job of conveying emotion without being obnoxiously descriptive.

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  2. It is quite amazing how detailed Hamid can get without boring the reader to death. There are plenty of books that just go way too into detail, and loose the reader. This never happens in The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Also, I agree when you talk about Changez being able to read the American's mind. He is able to hone in on what the American is saying, and build off of it.

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  3. Exactly! I love how observant Changez is both in the 'present day' situation in Lahore and in the times in America. He notices things that I'm pretty sure I never would, like how the American is hesitant with the waiter as you mention, or how uncomfortable the American felt. In a weird way, I think that by judging people by their actions, Changez avoids judging them in a bad way. Maybe if we were all as observant as him, there would be less assumptions made, and people would be able to understand others better.

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  4. I completely agree with you Maya. If everybody was as observant as Changez, people would understand why someone acts the way they do. So many events happen in the world because of misunderstandings. Racism could be viewed as just one big misunderstanding. Changez doesn't seem racist one little bit, and I think that is because of his critical thinking. Before he acts on something, he thinks about what will happen. When he wonders why someone acted a certain way, he thinks it through and usually finds the correct answer. He is able to achieve a great peace of mind because of that, and I think that is an attribute that people should strive for.

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  5. I love your example of racism! I think that's one of the biggest problems that people go through. They just don't want to or can't understand where someone else is coming from. We all should try harder think beyond what's just on the surface. There could be something we don't know.

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  6. This is a really good idea we're discussing here. I know its cliche but if everyone looked at the world from other peoples shoes then I think the world would be a better place. Changez can teach us so much by the way he lives his life. Obviously he's not perfect, but as you guys are saying, his world view is something we should all strive to have. He tries so hard to understand people, specifically the mysterious American, so as not to judge them and try to see their point of view and the reason for their actions. It just further enforces the idea that problems can't be solved unless we solve the root cause of the problem, which is misunderstandings.

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  7. You make a good point Maya. As simple as it sounds, if everyone could take a walk in someone else's shoes the world could be a better place. I agree that Changez tries really hard not to judge people when he first meets them, but give them a chance to make their impression. He really gives the people that he meets the benefit of the doubt. Very rarely (if ever) in the book does Changez ever just flat out say he doesn't like someone. He really evaluates the person before he makes his judgment call.

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  8. Props to Changez, for not being as self centered as Americans! I feel like it's okay not to like people, but only with reason. Just like Julie said I love that he doesn't just judge by first appearances.

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  9. I think what you guys are discussing is very interesting and very true! Changez is a unique character that people should look up too! Like Julie said, Changez's ability to observe his surroundings and also grasp people's emotions really helps him understand people and the world around him more clearly. What I also think helps Changez understand people and their emotions, is his ability to learn from his personal experiences. People like Changez take difficult situations and use them to better themselves. That skill is a very good one to acquire because, like we see from Changez, it helps you overcome obstacles in life and come out a better person than when you went in.

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  10. I agree with Margaret when she says that Changez doesn't judge people through first appearances. But I have noticed that he does make guess. For example, when he is describing the American, he guesses that the man works for the army due to his body, and a bulge (possibly a gun) in his coat pocket.

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  11. Kyra, I liked what you said about Changez learning from his personal experiences. Although at times he seems immature or naive about the way of the world, such as some of the things he says to the American, he is still able to communicate and empathize with his stranger/friend.

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