Jhumpa Lahiri The Namesake Themes

Home is where the heart is; somewhere you live no matter where you physically are. In Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake, several characters are living in one place while simultaneously living somewhere else. Lahiri uses this tug-of-war technique to strengthen her belief that immigrants living in America struggle to wholly accept one society. Lahiri focuses on Ashima and Gogol’s difficulties coming to terms with which place they choose to accept as home. Additionally, both characters express undeniable affection for their family which has a massive impact on their home and lifestyles, for family is the most powerful connection two people can have to one another and can drastically affects one’s beliefs.
Ashima Ganguli has grown up in an upper class family in
This is where all of his friends are, where he is educated and the culture he has adopted whole heartedly. Yet, both of his parents immigrate from India and attempt to embed Gogol Ganguli with traditional Indian culture. Gogol rejects these attempts, pushing him farther into the American Lifestyle. While Ashima’s family ties bonds her to multiple cultures, Gogol’s family and their forceful approach to raising Gogol makes him repel Indian culture. Gogol has an affinity for non-Indian women, yet ultimately settles with a woman named Moushumi. This second generation Indian immigrant is very similar to Gogol. She too rebuffed her stern parents attempts to figuratively shove Indian culture down her throat. Metaphorically speaking, she repeatedly spit her parent’s curry out and rebelled in any way she could. Both Gogol and Moushumi further illustrate Lahiri’s notion that second generation immigrants find it easier to accept their country of residence as home opposed to their family’s country of