The Reluctant Fundamentalist Essay Example

Similarly, Erica experiences a dramatic change before and after 9/11. Before the attacks, she functioned normally as an upper class girl, but afterwards she becomes damaged and like "a child who could only fall asleep with the lights on." Changez explains that she only feels truly safe when there are other people around to help her navigate her thoughts and emotions.

Following the events of "9/11," Erica's demeanor in the novel shifts significantly. It appears that the aftermath of the attacks has triggered within her a deep yearning for her former love, Chris, who had passed away while vying for Erica's affection against Changez. This longing for the past leads to introspective behavior that becomes so excessive that even Changez, who was previously smitten with Erica, finds her appearance unappealing.

Erica experienced a fatal outcome due to the alterations in her environment. All indications suggest that she was the one who caused her demise. In contrast to the other two characters, Jim did not show any response to the impact of "9/11" on his life. He demonstrated acceptance of change by reminding himself and others that time moves forward and change is inevitable with his statement, "Things always change."

According to the text, Jim's stance may originate from his position at Underwood Samson, a valuation firm that prioritizes "sticking to the fundamentals." By adhering to the fundamentals, Jim sidesteps any emotional response to events such as "9/11" and everything else. He is famously referred to as "the shark" due to his similarity to an animal that displays no sympathy in its pursuit of its objective, revealing Jim's real character. Ultimately, each character in "The Reluctant

Fundamentalist" responds to change in their unique way.

Each character in the story has a unique reaction to change, just as people in the real world do. Changez reveals his true self openly, while Erica withdraws so much that she no longer wants to live. Jim is portrayed as cold and unempathetic like a "shark", and even after experiencing a significant change like the events of 9/11, he remains committed to his principles. Therefore, we observe that each character responds in their own way.