name symbolizes the double identity of Gogol. In Lahiri’s novel‚ the main character fights an identity crisis because of his highly unusual name. Gogol struggles between two cultures to try and figure out his own identity and where he belongs. He attempts to create separation between himself and his parents’ worlds‚ but never feels authentic as Nikhil. When Gogol starts kindergarten‚ his parents want him to go by “Nikhil” at school and “Gogol” at home. Gogol is bothered by this because he feels
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status as a “Bildungsroman”. Sympathy and affection is created for Gogol‚ making the tone of this final passage pensive and sentimental. It delivers the climax where Gogol is finally able to find balance in issues that had been bothering him throughout the novel. One of the key concerns dealt with in this passage is the importance of a name.This is the first time following the death of Ashoke that Lahiri zooms into the thoughts of Gogol. The passage opens with a third person limited perspective “The
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"It hadn’t been Gogol who had kissed Kim... Gogol had nothing to do with it." Here you can see how the name Nikhil had been used to become something he usually is not‚ this reflects in a positive way because it benefited him by gaining more confidence to get what he wanted. Another example of a challenge that was faced by identity was when Gogol went to court. Gogol is at court changing his name and part of the application states ‘Explain a reason for the change in name’ in which Gogol could not specify
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Most people struggle‚ some does not. The question of identity is especially difficult for immigrants and their coming generations since they have different cultures and different views. In the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri‚ the main character Gogol struggles with his cultural identity due to the ideological difference between him and his parents on the concept of name. According to Bengali naming traditions‚ everyone has two names‚ a pet name and a good name. The good name is for the public
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Gogol’s Identity Throughout Namesake‚ Gogol Ganguli struggles with his identity being both Indian and American. Although he tended to stray far away from anything Bengali‚ his deeply rooted culture never faded away. After his father’s death‚ Gogol gradually returned to his Indian traditions. He takes care of his mother and sister‚ abandons the life he could have with Maxine‚ then marries a Bengali woman. In his attempt to stay clear from anything Bengali‚ Gogol revels in the fact that he could escape
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There are many factors that affected people to be what they are now. In The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri‚ Gogol‚ the main character‚ developed from a child attached to his family to a teenager that often rejects his parents and their Bengali culture. As a young boy‚ he was very close to his parents‚ especially his mother‚ and would listen to them‚ but as he grew up‚ it eventually changed. He wasn’t as close to his parents as he was when he was at a young age. He rejected his family and his culture because
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Summary A year after Ashoke’s death‚ Gogol is studying for his registration exam that will allow him to be a licensed architect practicing in New York. He has broken up with Maxine a few months after Ashoke’s death‚ and now she is engaged to someone else. Sonia is still living in the house on Pemberton Road with their mother‚ who spends her nights awake and lonely‚ watching TV in bed. One night‚ Gogol agrees to go out with the other students in the class he is taking to prepare for his registration
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novel Namesake‚ in this novel the author introduces the protagonist Gogol. Gogol thru the novel can be described as confused because Gogol is Indian‚ but since he was raised in America he follows the American culture and not the indian culture anymore. Therefore‚ Lahiri conveys the complexity of identity by using setting in this case the setting is America also‚ Lahiri is using tone to convey the complexity of identity on how Gogol feels and Lahiri uses style to convey the complexity of identity to
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Ashima’s grandmother‚ but the letter from Calcutta never comes. The name Gogol is important as he starts kindergarten. His parents intend for him to go by "Nikhil" at school and "Gogol" at home‚ but Gogol is confused and does not want a new name‚ "He is afraid to be Nikhil‚ someone he doesn’t know. Who doesn’t know him" (Lahiri‚ J. p. 59). As a child‚ he associates a new name with a new identity. As a little boy‚ Gogol likes his name and when his parents try to give him a "good name" Nikhil‚ when
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the author explores how cultural collision can affect a specific character: Gogol. Lahiri demonstrates the theme of finding one’s identity by displaying the protagonist Gogol’s cultural collisions in each stage of his life. In each period of his life‚ Gogol faces many collisions between the Bengali and American culture; the manner in which he reacts to each experience is a way of searching for his identity. In his earlier years‚ Gogol seemed satisfied with his life as he is influenced by the Bengali culture
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