The Reluctant Fundamentalist: Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

The Stranger has noticed the scar on Changez’s arm, Changez says. The scar, which is darker but also smoother than his skin, looks something like a rope burn. Changez says that the Stranger must be wondering what kind of training camp could have given him this mark, but he reassures the Stranger that the scar actually comes from a childhood accident. During Pakistan’s frequent blackouts, Changez’s family would light its home with candles; once, Changez grabbed a candle and spilled molten wax on his arm.

As the sun sets, the merchants selling their products in the outdoor market turn on colorful electric lights, prompting Changez to remember the colors of the Empire State Building at night. While he works for Underwood Samson, he explores the city at night with Erica as his guide.

Changez’s first New York encounter with Erica takes place at her apartment on the posh Upper East Side. Unsure of what to wear, Changez opts for white Pakistani robes and a pair of jeans, reasoning that foreigners aren’t strictly scrutinized for breaking the rules of etiquette in America. Even in Pakistani clothing, he feels comfortable on the subway to Erica’s house — the only attention of any kind that he receives is eye contact from a flirtatious gay man.

Erica welcomes Changez to her family’s apartment, located on the top floor of the building. Changez notices that she looks fit and beautiful. She compliments Changez on his clothes, though she’s only wearing a casual T-shirt, and shows him her enormous room, in which, he guesses, she’s lived her entire life. Changez feels at home in this new place, partly because he’s had to change locations so often in the last four years, and the sight of a long-term home is comforting. He also notes that Erica’s home is the socioeconomic equal of the one in which he grew up.

Erica shows Changez an envelope containing a manuscript that she plans to send to an agent tomorrow. She admits that it has been finished since before they traveled to Greece, and compares herself to an oyster: she’s dealt with the painful grain of sand inside her by transforming it into a pearl, but now, she’s reluctant to let it leave. Changez is flattered that Erica is telling him such personal information, but also notices for the first that Erica seems somehow “broken,” and wonders what the grain of sand she refers to was. Even so, he doesn’t pry, recognizing that Erica will tell him this information when she’s ready.

Changez notices a sketch hanging on the wall in Erica’s room; Erica explains that Chris, inspired by the Tintin comics, drew it when he was a child. Changez is reminded of Pakistani miniature paintings.

Erica shows Changez the rest of her apartment, including a terrace with a beautiful view of the city, and introduces him to her parents. Regarding Changez, Erica’s mother tells her “Very nice.” Changez can tell immediately that her father is an important businessman. He asks Changez if he drinks, and remembers that a Pakistani man who once worked for him never drank; Changez assures him that he does.

Back in Lahore, Changez explains to the Stranger that the attitude toward alcohol in Pakistan is roughly similar to the attitude toward marijuana in the United States: it’s illegal, but still popular and available. In Pakistani culture, drunkenness is an important social state. It may be a sin to drink alcohol, but then again, Changez observes, so is coveting thy neighbor’s wife. The Stranger smiles.

For the most part, Changez’s meal with Erica’s family goes well. One awkward moment comes when Erica’s father asks Changez about Pakistan, and says that the elite have raped their own home and that Pakistan has a problem with fundamentalism. Though irritated by Erica’s father’s condescending and quintessentially American tone, Changez forces himself to respond politely, assuring him that his family lives there, and that the situation isn’t as bad as it seems.

After dinner, Erica and Changez travel downtown to Chelsea to attend a party at an art gallery. Even though their cab driver is Pakistani, and Changez would ordinarily talk to him, he doesn’t do so. Erica tells Changez that she hopes he isn’t upset about her father. Changez denies being upset at all, but Erica laughs, and says that he’s a bad liar, and touchy about his homeland. Changez admits to being annoyed, and apologizes to Erica, but Erica tells him that she likes that he cares about something.

At the gallery, Changez experiences the trendy, minimalist styles of New York City. Mingling with artists in “outrageous” clothing, he feels relieved that he’s wearing Pakistani robes. Erica is surrounded by friends, and Changez is reminded of her magnetic personality. At the end of the night, she kisses Changez on the cheek and thanks him. Changez is puzzled, both because he thinks that he should thank her, and because he feels as if he’s spent an intimate evening with her, even though they barely spoke.

Changez accompanies Erica to parties, restaurants, and galleries, but always with other friends. He notices that she seems most thoughtful when she is surrounded by others, and compares her to a child who can only sleep with the lights on. While they don’t talk to each other very often, Changez thinks that he is developing a personal relationship with Erica. At the end of every night, she kisses him on the cheek — each time, Changez thinks, she holds the kiss for a fraction of a second longer.

The weekend before Changez leaves for the Philippines to assist Underwood Samson with the music business, Erica invites him on a picnic; he’s pleased to find that they’re alone. Erica tells him that she and Chris used to go on picnics, but after he died, she stopped picnicking, communicating, or eating, and had to go to the hospital. Her parents encouraged her to forget about Chris and take medication, and since the summer took up most of her hospital time, she was able to return to Princeton in the fall and complete her senior year. Changez is sorry for Erica, and feels as if she is a part of his family. Amazed that someone so physically strong and healthy can be so deeply unhappy, he puts his arm around her, a gesture he thinks about often during his weeks to come in the Philippines.

While Changez is telling the Stranger about Erica, the lights suddenly go out in the café. The Stranger jumps to his feet, but Changez insists that he calm himself; blackouts are common in Pakistan. Changez says that he can clearly see the Stranger reaching into his jacket, and tells him that there’s no need to be afraid of pickpockets stealing his wallet. When the Stranger remains standing, Changez stands as well.

The lights return as suddenly as they disappeared. Changez scolds the Stranger for jumping up so quickly, as if he were a mouse about to eaten by a hawk. He offers the Stranger a Jack Daniels to sooth his nerves, but then, after observing that the Stranger is smiling, he reveals that in fact the only American drinks in the café are sodas. Changez summons the waiter.