Status Updates From The Reluctant Fundamentalist

In the final parts of the book, Changez walks with the American to his hotel after their long conversation together. The book ends off with Changez seeing a glint of silver being taken out of his pocket. This could be many different things as Changez never says what it is exactly. It is interesting that the book ended off this way as it could have resembled the end of his life.

As the author hinted Erica's suicide at the end of the book, It represented that if America continues to be stuck in the past, it will only end up in a bad result. Moreover, in the last few sentences, the American placed his hand into his pocket while the waiter came over. This creates suspense, but I think that after listening to Changez's story, the American stranger might want to share something of his own.

I found this section of the book enlightening as Changez struggles with the aftermath and change within his life. After all, he is Changez. He struggles with finding a true identity and who he was but after thinking it through, he realizes that his life in America was never meant to be, and that while his time in America was blissful, all good things have to come to an end. Depressingly, he soon returns to pakistan.

Following the tragic events, Changez is increasingly alienated and finds it difficult to find what to do next. Through these events, the author highlights the pursuits of life and all the struggles flashing through his life. I enjoy seeing all of the emotion being shown finally and even seeing who Changez is without his composure. Despite the way of talking, he is rattled and I can't stop but feel pity for him.

Changez’s growing distance from America becomes unmistakable after he’s fired from Underwood Samson, revealing his acceptance was tied only to performance. He carried himself in a way reflection of his Pakistani identity, having harsher parts of himself to fit in. Erica’s disappearance and subtle discrimination deepen this divide, pushing him to revive the self, and had a question of the future he dreamed of in US.

In my opinion, Changez is going to get fired. Even if he was very talented and thought of as the best-paid intern. However, ever since the war with India started, and Erica has been in the rehab center, Changez hasn't been the same. He can't focus and is thinking about anything but work. In my understanding, if you want to be successful in New york you have to be ruthless and have work on your mind 24/7

The tensions between India and America was visible. War was about to happen. It was interesting how Changez chose to influence this big event in a subtle way. He chose to become an educator and educate future generations. He spread awareness to his students about what was happening in the world . This was interesting because this empathized how knowledge is the most powerful weapon.

Changez is not a "janissary" anymore, finding his true identity as a Pakistani. As Changez and the American are walking through Lahore, Changez is calm unlike the American who is panicking as he constantly looks over his shoulder. His comfort in Lahore and its surroundings indicates that he has stopped trying to fit into a country that saw him as a potential terrorist, and not the person he was.

The ending of the book was honestly disappointing for me. It didn't have the happy ending and satisfying one that I typically look for in books. It was really confusing at the end when American Changez was talking and reacted like that. Did he reach for his gun? I hate when books end in cliffhangers because it doesn't get me excited to read more; it just makes me confused.

I found the ending of the story very unsettling because i was left unsure of what happens next. The conversation with Changez and the stranger had so much tension and I felt nervous for Changez in that moment. The conclusion made me upset because Changez spent so much time explaining how not judging others is very important but it seemed that he was still fearful in the situation at the end.

I thought the ending while confusing, was very thought provoking. The reader is forced to make assumptions about who they think is the bad guy. They have to decide if Changez is the villain of this story or if he is just an innocent guy who hasen’t done anything wrong. The reader also has to come to their own conclusion on what happens to Erica.

I think the whole situation and Jim's advice feels ironic in Chile. Even as Changez feels isolated and judged for who he is from himself and the others around him, he’s told to block out his emotions and focus on performance. I think this shows how Underwood Samson values efficiency over empathy, treating workers as tools rather than people. Chenez doesn't like this and this is why he gets driven away.

I thought that the ending to this story was uncomfortable because I didn't get to know what happens next. Changez and the stranger both were in a tense situation with each other and I felt like Changez during that part of the book The ending was also sad to me because even after Changez talked a lot about how we should not judge people, the fear that he has controled the situation.

The last few pages of this book has brought me to realize things i had previously overlooked. Such as how much more death the United States did compared to the deaths of 9/11. This book also made me acknowledge how much pain and discrimination innocent people had to go through. From a foreigner's perspective i was able to show understanding to not being able to fit in which helped to see what the author intended to.

By the end of the novel, I felt really sad. Changez fully embraces his identity and no longer tries to fit into American expectations. His experiences, especially after 9/11, push him to question power, loyalty, and success. Changez chose to go back to Pakistan and criticized America’s power.”

One of Changez’s students is arrested for a political protest in Lahore. Changez is no longer just a spectator, he is a leader who actively takes part in the rebellion. By supporting his student, Changez proves he has fully left his American identity behind. He is no longer afraid of suppression, he is vocal and convincing as he has the power to move other's mind, into a negative view of the United States.

I dont know if it was the right choice for Changez to go back to Pakistan. He thought Erica was kind of caught up with herself. I think this is not right, though, because he could help with what Erica is facing. Of course, Erica is not going to mentally be the same if the love of her life passed away. If I were in Erica's shoes, I would be the same way.

At the end of the book, many things happen, including what happens to Erica. Hamid makes it seem like Erica dies, but I don’t think it is that clear. Back in Lahore, Changez and the American man walk to the hotel and a group of people passes them. Changez says they are not dangerous, but the American man is still nervous and careful. Even at the hotel, he does not relax.

Changez feels guilty because his job supports a system that puts profit over workers’ lives. He realizes his work can lead to people losing their jobs. This makes him question the values of American business culture. Because of this, he feels less connected to America. He starts thinking more about Pakistan and where he truly belongs.

Changez’s inner conflict grows stronger as he becomes more uncomfortable living in America. He continues working for Underwood Samson, but he starts questioning the company’s values and the way it focuses only on money and power. His relationship with Erica also becomes more painful because she keeps slipping into her sadness and memories of Chris How do Changz get emotion after he know he could not with Erica.