The Reluctant Fundamentalist Literary Elements

Fiction, monologue

The events in the story take place in Lahore, Pakistan; Princeton, New York; and Valparaiso, Chile.

First-person narration

In the story prevails an optimistic tone. The narrator tell the story of his life, highlighting his success and the evolution of his character.

The protagonist of the story Chagnez.

The major conflict occurs in the contradiction between Chagnez's successful life in America and his life in Pakistan, his native country.

The climax happens when Chagnez is fired after the accident with Erica and moves back to Lahore.

N/A

In the story the image of America as a democratic and friendly country is understated.

The story alludes to historical events which influenced America (September, 11, 2001) and Pakistan (its bombarding in 2001).

See the Imagery section

The paradox of the story is that one cannot have everything and that is why one has to choose between money and duty.

The story has parallels with social stereotypes, prejudices, political issues, and intercultural conflicts.

The author uses metonymy and synecdoche to reinforce the importance of the utterance or for ironic shade: “a range of complexions,” “boundaries of continents and civilizations.”

The author uses personification in his description of nature to create the atmosphere of the place: “abandoned amusement park,” “the shuttered opera house,” “vacant hotel.”