The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri Essay

The major reason that causes Gogol to rethink his relationships and his identity is the meaning of his name. When he was younger, he wanted to be called Nick and went by this name after high school. As he used the name, Nick, he severed ties with his traditions which showed from when he did not visit his parents and completely forgot his life before becoming Nick. Flashbacks were utilized several times in this film to portray Gogol growing up and the train crash which inspired Ashoke to name his son Gogol. In the scene where Ashoke drives with Gogol, he finally discloses how Gogol’s name really came to be. We see a flashback to the train collision when Ashoke was found

Gogol is able to temporarily separate himself by accepting a job in New York City as an architect and by moving in with his American girlfriend named Maxime. Because of Maxime and her family, Gogol is able to experience a form of intimacy and acceptance that he has never before experienced (Lahiri 132). However, as much as Gogol tries to detach himself from his Indian roots and expectations, he soon realizes that he is unable to completely dismiss his past. Gogol ends up marrying an old Bengali friend of his mother’s named Moushumi and starts to accept some aspects of his culture (Lahiri 219). However, Gogol still struggles with finding balance between what elements of his being he should refuse or accept. After his father dies and his marriage falls through with Moushumi, Gogol realizes that can never fully accept or fully deny his true identity. As seen in the last few pages of the novel, Gogol sits down to finally read the book that he was named after (Lahiri 291). This symbolizes Gogol’s attempts to accept all aspects of his identity; American, Russian, and Indian included. Through this act, Gogol is able to grasp the idea that he can find satisfaction in knowing that his identity is not have to be one element, but instead is multivariable and a reflection of the journey he endured to find his true

The author Jhumpa Lahiri shows how much Gogol has developed and matured throughout the course of the novel. From the the beginning of The Namesake to the end, Gogol is shown developing intellectually. Gogol intellectually improves himself by allowing himself to be more acquainted with his name and identity which gogol prefers to be referred to as. In the third chapter of The Namesake, Gogol takes on one of his first challenges when Gogol is introduced to his first year school. Gogol is perturbed when he finds out that Ashok and Ashima were allowing the other children to call Gogol by his “good name,” Nikhil instead of Original name Gogol. Although, Gogol had never had someone refer to him by anything other than Gogol throughout his entire life, Gogol is perplexed as to why he is being referred to by two names. The Principal of the school refers to him as “Nikhil” in a conversation, Gogol chooses not to respond. As Gogol is in the office with Mrs.Lapidus Ashok says “Go on Gogol”. In doing so Ashoke bagans to worry that by doing so Mrs.lapidus would began to catch on, however,

Born in 1968 to Ashoke, an engineering student, and Ashima, a young bride new to America and its cultural differences compared to hers. Gogol has an internal conflict with his identity, his name, his culture, and his life as he struggles to understand what he wants. Gogol crosses into an identity crisis; he reinvents himself by legally changing his name to Nikhil, and becomes a new person once he goes out to a party. Though, this is where the events begin, and fate takes its toll on Nikhil. This change begins to affect him positively, as he gains a great deal of confidence and suddenly finds himself well with women.

In the beginning of the novel, Gogol’s struggle with his identity begins with his name. The first issue was when he was first born. His mother, Ashima, and his father, Ashoke, had planned on waiting for a letter containing the chosen names for their child from Ashima’s grandmother in India, to arrive. But the hospital would not let them be discharged until the baby had a name. Soon enough Ashoke had come up with a name. When Lahiri writes, “But for the first time he thinks of that moment not with terror, but with gratitude” (Lahiri 28), it is evident that after the train accident Ashoke does not remember the

He is bewildered as to why his father named him Gogol as it not Bengali nor a normal American name which leads him to struggle to understand himself and his identity. In Bengali families, "individual names are sacred, inviolable. They are not meant to be inherited or shared" (28). However, Gogol grows up living in America, where children are often ashamed of their differences from others. As a teenager, Gogol desires to blend in and to live unnoticed. This presents a struggle between two cultures. Ashima and Ashoke want to raise Gogol and his younger sister with Bengali culture and values. On the other hand Gogol grew wanting to belong by relating mostly to peers and the surrounding culture in America. It is only much later in their lives that they begin to truly value their Bengali heritage and that Gogol finds the importance in his name. During high school Gogol struggles to accept his name as he sees it has no real significance not him. When Gogol heads for college he rejects his identity completely and legally changes his name to Nikhil which allows him to somewhat feel a sense of belonging as this name relates to his Bengali roots, even though he had been ashamed of those exact roots in schooling. Gogol dreads having to go visit home and return to a life where he is "Gogol". To him, Gogol is not only his name; it bears all his discomfort and struggles to fit into two different cultures as he grew up. His life at college makes it easy for Gogol to live as

Scene: Gogol Ganguli rejects his parents’ choosing of his name when he was first born. Before going to college, Gogol formally changes his name to “Nikhil” so that everyone would recognize him as

Difficult choices come and go from our life. Like trying to understand who you are as a person and where you come from. In the book The Namesake, a boy named Gogol grows up in a cultural Bengali family while living in a different country with different customs. Gogol is special because he is trying to balance the two cultures. Gogol tries to understand and learn his family's culture but tends to pick and choose things from each culture to fit his lifestyle. His response to his cultural collision is very unique. From this cultural collision Gogol question himself and his life decisions.

In this collection of quotes from page 96 Gogol says Nikhil for the first time while talking to his new friend Kim. After he says it for the first time he goes back thinking about what he had just said and how he said it. He mentions how he was cautious saying it, with hesitation and uncertainty. His own voice sounds unfamiliar, stressed and artificial. One can notice he was overwhelmingly nervous and anxious as if he was forcing himself to say it. He pronounces the two words unknowingly to himself as a question; wondering if this is the right path for him. Without knowing this moment will change him forever regardless of Kim's response. This college student is setting his life path for him. One with a path of adventure with the name Nikhil,

On Gogol’s first day of school, he gets his first taste of the cultural tension that his name and “good name” generate in

After his divorce, which is a second difficult experience in his life, Gogol spends time with his family, specifically at a party his mother is hosting before she leaves for India, which again influences him to accept his Bengali culture. At this party, Gogol explores his old house and finds the copy of The Overcoat that his father once gave to him, which makes him realize that “without people in the world to call him Gogol, no matter how long he himself lives, Gogol Ganguli will, once and for all, vanish from the lips of loved ones, and so, cease to exist” (Lahiri 433). In college and when he was Maxine, going by Nikhil gives Gogol a newfound perspective in his life, one where being shameful of his name does not really exist. However, after going through both his father’s death and his divorce, Gogol feels upset when thinking about how he changed his name, which “provides no solace at all” (433). With most of his family and Moushumi gone, few people are left to call him Gogol, reminding him who he once was. Gogol’s sadness shows how he has become comfortable with his birth name, which he originally hated. Through his reading of The Overcoat and his reflection on the possible nonexistence of his life as Gogol, Gogol accepts both his name and his culture, which ultimately shows how he becomes comfortable with

"He is afraid to be Nikhil, someone he doesn 't know. Who doesn 't know him” (57). As a child, he associates a new name with a new identity.

Firstly, the protagonist, Gogol is faced with the challenge of finding his identity, a major theme present

The important themes of name and identity are very evident in Chapter 3. The chapter contains when Gogol firsts starts kindergarten. Ashima and Ashoke wanted him to go by "Gogol" at home but "Nikhil" at school. However this then leads to confusing him and he has no interest in another name. He considers that depending on where he is he may need to be two different people then leading to him having two different names. "He is afraid to be Nikhil, someone he doesn't know. Who doesn't know him." (Lahiri ). During his adolescent years Gogol connects a new identity with having a new name. His unusual name does not bother him until he turns eleven and he attends a class trip to a cemetery which is when he uncovers that his name is special. Some of the other gravestones have names he has never heard before so he makes rubbings of them because he

He loses his virginity by using the name Nikhil, and that name has lead him to meet and have relationships with multiple women (Ruth, Maxine, Bridget and Moushumi). Even after making all determinations to erase his past, his failure to declare his identity is seen in his relationship with women. He lawfully changes his name to Nikhil before he leaves for college. The name Nikhil goes on to represent his individuality and separation from his parents. It also signifies him accepting American culture and distancing away from Indian culture. The twist comes into play when people starting calling him Nikhil and he gets startled. He likes the name Nikhil better, but he does not feel like Nikhil. On the inside, he feels like Gogol, no matter how much he dislikes the name. This adds to the controversy of his identity: is he Gogol or Nikhil. On the other hand, he is a mix of both: Gogol by day and Nikhil by night.