The book definitely talks about fundamentalism. Jim stresses that idea at Underwood Samson. That is probably the most obvious example. I think the man writer that Changez worked and had lunch with in Chile was also a fundamentalist of sorts. He believed in doing right by others. He told Changez' something like "your father must be disappointed of your line of work." Changez' father, in the film, also seemed to disapprove of his source of income. Both men believed in more Eastern fundamentals; that family and honor is important.
I was disappointed in the movie representation of the Reluctant Fundamentalist. It was so different from the book and much too glitzy. I feel that a lot of the charm that the book had did not translate to the film. The structure was completely different, and the characters personalities were very not the same either. I thought the relationship of Changez and Erica did not follow the one in the book at all. In the book she is much more docile and seemed much sweater to me. "Book Erica" never would have acted the way "film Erica" did. Also, the structure of the film did not flow as well as the book. In the book, Changez' story is explained over the entire course of the book but the film focuses more on the current conflict between him and Bobby, the man interviewing him.
To address Changez' question about the Pakistani dream I really don't know if there is one or not. I'm not Pakistani so I really have no idea what someone at my age would wish to be there. I think it does not matter where you come from though because everyone's dream is at least a little different. There are also qualities of the American dream that probably every person hopes to have, like a family, a good job, and property of their own.
Loni,
ReplyDeleteI share your analysis of Erica's character in both the film and the book. I have a theory that I'll share in class during discussion about the significance of her character... I like that you picked up on Juan-Bautista's criticism of Changez's work and how it mimicked Changez's father's sensibility in the film. Whether it's an Eastern sensibility, or one that is simply anti-colonial, anti-capitalist is arguable, but the main point you make is that Changez refused to sell out. You also say that everyone has a similar dream (to live comfortably in peace). I think Changez realizes that if he continues to work for Underwood Samson that he will be disempowering many peoples' dreams... And this is what he learns when Jim tells him to inform Juan-Bautista that his life as a publisher was over. Changez reflects: "I was predisposed to feel compassion for those, like Juan-Bautista, whose lives the empire thought nothing of overturning for its own gain."
Spring
I agree with you that the book was much better than the movie. I read the whole thing but could only watch like half the movie. At first I thought that Changez didn't sell out but now I think it wasn't really about selling out. I think it just shows how different cultures place value on different things in their society. If I go to Pakistan, and live a life of religious fundamentals over there would I be selling out to America? I don't think I would be, I think its just a case of finding comfort in the fundamentals that you most feel defines who you are. If who you are entails the fundamentals of getting a high paying job and living a stereotypical American life, then you are not a sell out if you truly feel that that way of life goes with the fundamentals that you find comfort in.
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