Introduction
The Namesake is a debut novel by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. Originally, a part of the novel was published in a magazine and only later extended to a full-length novel. It investigates the themes of multiculturalism, self-discovery, and isolation common in the lives of immigrants and their children. In her novel, Lahiri explores the nuances of certain changes and transitions the main characters face. The story portrays a young couple from Calcutta struggling to adapt to the realities of American society in the 70s.
The novel introduces readers to Ashima and her husband Ashoke, who move to Massachusetts for Ashoke to complete his graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The story’s primary protagonist is their son Gogol, his unusual name being a symbol discussed later in the novel. Throughout the book, the readers observe how Gogol grows from being a sensitive and inquisitive little boy to experiencing struggles of self-identification and personal relationships as a man. Thus, a parallel is constructed between Gogol and his mother, Ashima. While these two may be considered opposites, they end up sharing a special bond as a result of facing identical challenges dealing with alienation as well as conforming to certain societal expectations.
Cultural Identity and the Idea of Fitting In
The story’s main focus is the characters’ cultural identity, and while Ashima tries her best to hold on to her past life, her son finds it crucial to disconnect from his family’s past. Gogol’s parents give him an unusual name that his father considers a symbol of hope and joy due to a personal tragedy connected to a collection of short stories by Nikolai Gogol. At first, the boy cherishes his name and demands to be called Gogol at school. There is a notable shift in how Gogol defines himself because, before going to college, he decides to change his name, tired of its weirdness, and his inability to fit in.
Ashima, on the other hand, feels truly herself only when she reconnects with her Bengali past. Even her kids, Gogol and Sonia, notice that their parents “slip into bolder, less complicated versions of themselves, their voices louder, their smiles wider” as they meet their Bengali family (Lahiri 81). Both Gogol and Ashima struggle with the feeling of alienation in a foreign environment, but Gogol focuses on building his future with Americans, and his mother prioritizes the past shared with Bengalis.
Family Values and a Sense of Belonging
One of the main themes throughout the novel is family. It becomes a constant that Gogol and Ashima can rely on. After the move, Ashima feels lost without her family by her side, even “the baby’s birth, like most everything in America, feels somehow haphazard, only half true” (Lahiri 25). As time passes, she creates her household consisting of her husband, children, and many friends. As for Gogol, he realizes that family is an integral part of who he is. His father’s death, in particular, has a profound effect on his identity as he finally accepts his heritage and decides to read the book his father gave him. Ashima and her son search for a sense of belonging, but they learn that the only place they truly belong is wherever their family is.
Conclusion
Ashima and Gogol’s stories overlap as both of them try to discover how exactly their past affects their present and the possible future. They are subject to different circumstances, but the context of their search for their place in the world is ultimately the same. Gogol and his mother evolve and grow throughout the story overcoming expectations and stereotypes, establishing meaningful relationships as well as identifying their values. The paths of both characters are unique, but they come to the same destination. Ashima and Gogol manage to accept their circumstances and find a perfect balance between conflicting parts of their personalities.
Work Cited
Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004.