The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri features a story of a Bengali family who settled in the US. The novel focuses on the problems of preserving and pursuing one’s national identity and self-awareness, as exemplified by different generations of immigrants. In particular, the characters of Ashami and her son Gogol are the most vivid representations of these issues. They demonstrate the oppositely directed attitudes, thus creating a thematic epicenter and a driving force for the novel’s plot.
Ashami is deeply devoted to her national traditions, and she persistently follows them in her life. At the maternity home, the young mother cannot imagine naming her newborn son against the Bengali law: “But sir… we can’t possibly name him ourselves” (Lahiri 27). Throughout the story, Ashami struggles to keep the Bengali cultural practices. She acquires numerous friends among other Bengali Americans in her community and organizes “parties for dozens of people” (Lahiri 276). In such a manner, the characters aspire to retain their national identity.
In contrast to Ashami’s adherence to their national customs, Gogol aspires to detach himself from his Bengali background for most of the novel. In particular, he resists his given name, even though “within Bengali families, individual names are sacred, inviolable” (Lahiri 28). At university, Gogol dates American girls and visits his family on rare occasions. His American girlfriend, Maxine, knows nothing of Bengali culture. Gogol is excited about the U.S. lifestyle and spends most of his time at Maxine’s place. As one can observe, the protagonist represents the second generation of immigrants whose links to national traditions are not as strong as in their parents.
Moreover, Ashami is strongly committed to the Bengali family traditions. For instance, her marriage to Ashoke is arranged by her parents in compliance with Indian customs. While her husband is busy at university in Cambridge, she spends most of her time “rereading her parents’ letters” (Lahiri 33). Therefore, their family trips to India always involve visiting numerous “cousins and aunts and uncles” (Lahiri 83). For Ashami, this is primarily a long-expected opportunity to be back again to where she truly belongs.
By contrast, Gogol does not display such commitment to family values. Even as young as at the age of five, he rebels against his parents’ decision to name him Nikhil. As a teenager, Gogol stubbornly confronts his father, which is something quite unusual for the Bengali customs. He becomes indignant at his parents’ decision to name him after the Russian writer. Unlike his mother, Gogol is uncomfortable when he visits India. For instance, “his American-accented English is a source of endless amusement to his relatives” (Lahiri 118). Thus, their family trips to India wrench him out of his usual context and do not provide his inclusion in the Bengali culture.
Due to a close link to her Bengali background, Ashami acutely feels her alienation in a foreign country. When Gogol is born, she desperately wants to return to India: “I am saying I do not want to raise Gogol alone in this country. It is not right. I want to go back” (Lahiri 33). Ashami realizes and admits to herself that “being a foreigner… is a sort of lifelong pregnancy – a perpetual wait, a constant burden, a continuous feeling out of sorts” (Lahiri 49). Hence, the author emphasizes the character’s culture shock and yearning to come back to her origins. Indeed, a foreign country is always highly demanding, troublesome, and complicated, unlike the usual and comfortable setting of one’s native land.
However, as an American-born Bengali, Gogol does not have an emotional connection to his national background, in contrast to his mother. Accordingly, the protagonist does not suffer from the feeling of alienation in the US. In fact, there is a difference in perceiving their historical homeland on the cognitive level. Hence, for Ashami, India is her “desh,” which means “country,” whereas “Gogol never thinks of India as desh. He thinks of it as Americanas do, as India” (Lahiri 118).
Furthermore, Ashami is eager to reconcile her original identity with the new U.S. background. For instance, in the first chapter, she tries to cook an Indian meal using a mixture of ingredients available in the US. Gradually, she becomes accustomed to her life in the US and even manages to make several friends with American women working with her at the library. Eventually, when her husband dies, and children become adults, Ashami decides “to spend six months of her life in India, six months in the States” (Lahiri 275). As the story unfolds, Ashami manages to transcend the boundaries between her past and present lives. The character’s desire and the ability to combine the Bengali and American features in her life ensure her self-realization and harmonious dwelling in both contexts.
Likewise, Gogol eventually manages to reconcile with his background. In particular, he starts to appreciate the significance of the Bengali customs after his father’s death, with the mourning rituals being an integral part of his coping with the loss. As a result, Gogol breaks up with Maxine, who does not understand these traditions. Instead, the Ganguli family has a deep emotional connection again. Furthermore, Gogol finally understands the profound meaning of his name and how valuable it is for his family. As a result, the protagonist achieves the long-sought internal balance and self-comprehension.
Thus, Ashami and Gogol experienced similar problems: they are focused on the pursuit of their identities and aspire to gain self-awareness. However, in the course of the narrative, the characters face different challenges and deal with them in their own manner. Eventually, both Ashami and Gogol manage to embrace both cultures within their worldviews, thus achieving the harmonious self-fulfillment of their identities.
Work Cited
Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. Mariner Books, 2004.