Homework – 7th February

Conflict between Changez and the American:

I believe the conflict between these two characters focuses mainly on the fact that both of them are quite suspicious and may be withholding some information. We see throughout the book that the American is described as some sort of soldier or spy, also in chapter 10 where Changez talks about him having a “lump” under his suit. Changez, on the other hand, begins to show his true colors when he smiles during the 9/11 attack.

Conflict between Changez, the US, and Underwood Samson:

Changez’s relationship with America seems to change as we move along the chapters. To this point, he begins to embrace his Pakistani side more than his American side. In chapter 10 for example, instead of working with his project in Chile, he spends most of his time looking at news about the situation in Pakistan. He also feels like an outsider after the 9/11 attack due to all the stereotypes and racism. Because of all the pressure and conflicts going on, he is almost getting targeted in a way by his colleagues. In chapter 10, his colleague says to him “What’s the problem? You’re not getting anything done. I know you’re supposed to be good, but from my perspective, you aren’t delivering squat.” I believe Changez is quite exhausted from working at Underwood Samson as he is finally starting to pay attention to his feelings and not just his training.

Conflict between Changez and himself: 

Changez has, in a way, two identities; his American identity, and his Pakistani identity. In a way, his beard makes him stay true to his Pakistani side, however, Erica is making him continue to be a part of America. Like I mentioned before, he was taught from the beginning to avoid his emotions. During his training, people told him to stay true to his fundamentals. Now, we get to see Changez finally crack.

Quotes:

“Have you hear of the Janissaries? “No,” I said. “They were Christian boys,” he explained, “captured by the Ottomans and trained to be soldiers in a Muslim army, at that time the greatest army in the world. they were ferocious and utterly loyal: they had fought to erase their own civilizations, so they had nothing else to turn to.” 

In this quote, Changez is being compared to the Janissaries. Changez is Muslim, captured in a way by America and trained to work in Underwood Samson. This could also be a way of foreshadowing the last chapters of the novel, letting us know that Changez might change his view of America and Pakistan completely.

“There really could be no doubt: I was a modern-day janissary, a servant of the American empire at a time when it was invading a country with a kinship to mine and was perhaps even colluding to ensure that my own country faced the threat of war.”

This quote really shows how Changez is beginning to pay attention to his emotions, not just his training experience in the USA. He almost makes it seem like he had been brainwashed by America, and unable to see what was going on in Pakistan.