In Chapter Three of Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath, Gladwell claims that it is more exceptional to be a big fish in a small pond than to be a small fish in the ocean, and demonstrates this concept by explaining how a group of artists defy the rules of society, the struggles of the university decision-making process for an above-average student and the how a country identifies themselves impacts the citizens self-esteem. One hundred and fifty years ago, when France was at the center of the art culture, a group of painters decided not to pursue “the traditional” route of art, by not “submitting their art” to the very elite Salon, but founded “their own exhibit", and as a result, they were “a much bigger success” (64). The Impressionists defied the officially defined boundaries…
A name in its simplest form addresses a person, place, thing, or idea, yet with every name comes a flood of associated names and ideas. For Dana and her mother the use of choice words with the least amount of negative connotation seems to be of the utmost importance. She states “It matters what you call things” (5), but the name by which one identify with, or that one uses to address an activity or idea, matters for the most part only to the said person. Those viewing one's life, as the reader does with Dana, form their own ideas and interpretations of that person and his or her activities. Therefore a name matters because it expresses how one feels about their…
Those that live in America and those that live in India have different lifestyles and traditions, but when you have to balance both, it’s difficult to figure out who you truly are. Gogol grows up throughout the book with a Hindu-Indian family while living in America. He confronts the challenge of assimilating while trying to pursue two cultures. As he gets older, he then tries to find his identity by changing his name from Gogol to Nikhil and starts different relationships. But Gogol then realized that what has held him and his family together has been the Indian culture, which has influenced him from the moment he was born and named. In the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, Gogol was influenced greatly by the Indian culture because it motivated…
Malcolm Gladwell recounts the biblical story of David and Goliath in order to provide a solid foundation for the rest of the novel. The seedling of an underdog being able to defeat a goliath is planted into the reader’s head, and the seedling continues to develop as Gladwell adds more stories. Also, it begins to convince the reader to think outside of the box, “It never occurred to him (Goliath) that the battle would be fought on anything other than those terms, and he prepared accordingly” (7), because David used a tactic that Goliath was not prepared for, he triumphed. This theme continues throughout the stories as people use unconventional strategies to achieve what they desire. For example, Gary Cohn obtains a stockbroker job by jumping into a cab and lying. Another theme is coming out on top, despite shortcomings that the champion might have.…
Throughout “The Namesake”, Gogol has experienced many occasions where his understanding of his identity has either hindered him. Growing up with an abnormal name, he never thinks much of it until his class excursion to an ancient cemetery brings light unto his peculiar difference. In that moment talking to his teacher, telling him “Now those are some names you don’t see very often these days… like yours”, it allows his to have a further insight towards his own identity. With the recurring motif of the importance of names, Gogol had then begun to question his unusual name, and how it often discriminated himself from the others. This significant moment in time helped him gain a further understanding of identity, as until then “it had not occurred to Gogol that names die over time, that they perish just as people do”. This ultimately lead to him changing his name so that he would no longer feel the isolation he was accustomed to.…
Despite the fact that one’s name is selected by somebody else and inevitably predetermines their fate , while they are living their life they can shape their name to try and conform their own values while also leaving it as a legacy once they are gone. Throughout Song of Solomon, the names of the characters help to disclose an immense amount about their personalities, as well, as how their monetary status creates their motivation, effects their decisions, and helps to form their legacy. Throughout the novel, many of the character’s names are chosen by someone else but still empower them to make the name, their own which helps to liberate them to indulge in a more prosperous life, rather than a life strictly focused on gaining a…
Nikhil believes he knows all there is to name assuming that his father is going to tac about the author again but he his naive. After all these years he finally understands why he is called Gogol. Ashoka’s trauma is great but he tells Gogol, “You remind me of everything that followed” (Ch5 P124)> Gogol is the light that brings away the darkness from the past. It explains why Ashoke did not mind Gogol changing his name, for what made Gogol happy was enough for Gogol was mislead his entire life. Because he liked the knowledge he could not understand his namesake. This explains why he disliked his name so much. Because he could not make any correlation, his name to him had no sentimental value. From this information Gogol is finally able to connect all the missing dots. In the end Gogol believes, “There is no such thing as a perfect name. I think that humans beings should be allowed to name themselves when they turn eighteen.” (Ch10 p. 245) Gogol believes pronouns are appropriate until one is mature enough to name themselves. He believes this because it was he who kept questions and was lost. People find their own meaning to their lives but Gogol was lost from being unsure until all the knowledge he had made sense. Life is about self discovery and not a journey made by someone else. Gogol lived his lief and while cleaning out his room,…
Nikolai Gogol, the author he was named after, was Russian. An Indian having a Russian name would have been unheard of in Calcutta where his parents are from. In America it isn't like that at all. All kinds of people have all kinds of different names and more often than not parents pick out their children's name simply because they like it, and not because it has any significance whatsoever. That is not to say that all names have no importance in America. People are often named after relatives or favorite actors or even favorite authors like Gogol. This was just a more American thing to do than an Indian thing and it makes Gogol more American from that point…
Neil found a false sense of belonging with his name change. Good on him for doing it, as this stopped majority of people making fun of his name and as he said, “I could feel their approval at the effort I was making to fit in.” To be honest, I believe most people that would of been in this situation may have done the same thing, as us Aussie’s can be really harsh to people with different names or colour of skin.…
David and Goliath originated from the bible. It was originally written to show that God is always by your side, even when you're going through a hard time. David was chosen by God to help save the people of Israel. A war between the Israelites and the Philistines were happening at the time. Many giants fought for the Philistines, one giant named Goliath challenged the Israelites every morning. One day David heard Goliath’s challenge and took him up on it. David took only a sword and a slingshot with him to fight Goliath, but David was confident because he has God on his side. David took his slingshot and hit Goliath right in the head, knocking him down. David then took his sword and slayed the giant, when the Philistines saw how David…
For this writing assignment, you will examine the history and meaning behind your name. Your paper should discuss the background behind your name, and it should also discuss what you hope your “name” will mean after you die. In other words, what do you hope people (family, friends, co-workers, the world, etc.) will say when someone mentions your name?…
People wont always appreciate your sacrifices. People won't look at them with positivity and at times you might get knocked down. Sacrifices also come with difficulty. With hard times and people might take a while to understand. Some might not even understand at all. Especially when it’s the ones you love the most. Your family, your friends, the ones who you love dearly. And it’s gets hard. When people don't appreciate you. And the sacrifices you make. Its even harder to push through when the sacrifices you make, are not only for yourself, but for the ones you love. Gogol was always some what embarrassed of his name, of his background and his custom that he inherited from his parents. He wanted to be a typical American like all his friends…
Names are very important things to people “bestowal of name and identity is a kind of symbolic contract between the society and the individual” (Deluzain, “Behind the Name”). When he changes her name to Bertha, she seems very disturbed and unhappy ““I hope you will sleep well, Bertha”- it…
In my community, the parents have the opportunity to chose the child’s name before or after he or she is born. In The Giver, names are given at the Ceremony of Ones by the Nurturers. The Ceremony of Ones is when 1 year old babies are given their names and are given to their family units by the Nurturers. The Ceremonies are when all of the children under 12 are given new responsibilities. There is an example in the book of when Fiona, Jonas’ friend, doesn't like her brothers name and says, “He’s cute, but I don’t like his name very much.” This quote from the book means that she didn’t like her brother’s name given by the Nurturers at The Ceremony of…
ine makes Gogol immensely happy, he begins to alienate his own family in preference of Maxine’s. He no longer listens to his mother’s messages on his answering machine and neglects calling his father. Soon even visiting his family for a few hours becomes an impossible chore, and he goes as far as to say “he is conscious of the fact that his immersion in Maxine’s family is a betrayal of his own” (Lahiri 141). Gogol completely abandons his family for Maxine’s, deeply hurting his parents. Because of this betrayal, Gogol even…