What does the affair symbolise? Can you give examples from the book to show your point?
The theme of love is quite special in the story. It doesn’t play the most important role although it helps to investigate the protagonist’s individuality deeper. Changez, the main character, goes on vacation with his Princeton friends to Greece, where he meets Erica, “an aspiring author.” He falls in love with her, but there is an issue – Erica is still in love with her childhood boyfriend Chris, who died from lung cancer. She can't forget about him and it stops her from having sex with Changez. When he convinces Erica to imagine him as Chris, they do have sex. However, it spoils their relationship as well. Erica becomes mentally ill and she begins treatment in a mental institution, from which she escapes soon. We don’t know exactly whether Erica really loves Chagnez and his real feelings are also unclear, because the narrator doesn’t emphasize this. However, it may be called love in some way.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Hi Jill,
Thank you for your answer. It is a good summarise of the relationship between Changez and Erica but I mean more like analyzing the character Erica and what the author was trying to convey to us with this character. Why is she in the book? What is the connection between Erica and America and Changez?
It was just for the sake of adding a litlle bit amusement in the story and nothing more than that.
reluctant fundamentalist
