have been utilised throughout the novel to illustrate the factors that influence a person’s sense of belonging and in some cases a person’s sense of isolation. The reference to the short story The Overcoat written by Ashoke’s favourite author Nikolai Gogol has been used as both a motif and a form of intertextuality throughout the novel. The Overcoat is first mentioned in chapter one when Ashoke recalls his near death experience in a train accident. It is believed that
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Ashoke. As for Gogol‚ the tragic event brought back the love for the family. For instance‚ when Maxine proposed that Gogol leaves as soon as possible‚ Gogol responds‚ “I don’t want to get away‚” (Lahiri 182). Had Ashoke not died‚ Gogol would still be ignoring the family and continuing blissfully with Maxine. The situation made Gogol realize why the family is important‚ and that family won’t be there forever. One day Gogol’s family will dwindle‚ and Ashoke’s death brought back the love Gogol had neglected
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and a dak nam‚ a nickname used for family and close friends (26). Although Gogol Nikhil Ganguli is a Bengali‚ he isn’t your average typical one; the whole pet name (Gogol) vs. his good name (Nikhil) sets forth a battle within his mind causing himself to alienate him from those who care about him the most. In The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri‚ the theme of identity crisis gets played a lot throughout the novel. When Gogol first starts school‚ his father tries to persuade him to go by his good name
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culture. The mother and father‚ Ashima and Ashoke‚ are the parents of a newborn baby boy‚ who struggle to name their child after a failed telegram attempt to the Ashima’s grandmother who had the honor of naming him. The parents decide on the name of Gogol‚ based on Ashoke’s literary idol. Throughout Gogol’s life he betrays all the conflicts of honoring his Indian heritage and tradition in the United States‚ and these conflicts will haunt him on his winding path of his childhood and life. Jhumpa Lahiri
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symbolizes the American tradition of dating whomever someone has interest: Gogol did not know much Ruth‚ but in the heat of the moment started to date her. Gogol‚ being Indian-American‚ denotes the culture clash. As Gogol is socializing with other families he realizes what he is unable to do around his own family: “At times‚ as the laughter at Gerald and Lydia’s table swells‚ and another bottle of wine is opened‚ and Gogol raises his glass to be filled yet again‚ he is conscious of the fact that
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here‚ in this house and in this town‚ that he will continue to dwell in her mind.” (The Namesake‚ 278-279). Towards the end of the story Lahiri portrays the imbalance feeling of Gogol. Now he feels comforted by the mystery behind choosing that name for him. At 32‚ he feels proud for his name and its meaning‚ Nikhil Gogol Ganguly accepted his name and destiny. Now he feels burden of his hating himself for hating his name. He deeply ponders over his name‚ his identity‚ his namesake and realizes that
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‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging.‘ Discuss this with detailed reference to your prescribed text and one other text of your own choosing. An individual’s connection to their family‚ a culture or place can develop a greater understanding of themselves or can act as a barrier to truly belonging. In the novel‚ The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri and Whale Rider‚ a film directed by Niki Caro‚ the barriers to belonging are
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Namesake" The struggle to find self identity within the upbringing of two different and contradictory cultural groups is the main theme for Alice Pung’s memoir Unpolished Gem and Mira Nair’s film The Namesake. The main characters for each‚ Alice Pung and Gogol Ganguli respectively grow up the children of immigrants from developing to western countries who are torn between respecting‚ participating and identifying with traditions from their parents countries or fully immersing themselves in the identity of
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importance of such events is not in the situations themselves‚ but in how the person reacts to being in the situation. Such themes are present in literature from all around the globe‚ as evinced by Ken Liu’s “The Paper Menagerie‚” Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Gogol‚” Guy de Maupassant’s “Two Friends‚” and Jorge Luis Borges’ “Rosendo’s Tale.” External societal pressures cause internal conflict in characters by thrusting them into unfavorable situations‚ and these situations force characters to decide whether their
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reasons. The Romantic Movement allowed artists the opportunity to portray real events in history through the use of fantasy and the supernatural. As an extension of the Romantic view‚ Gothicism often played a significant role in this representation. In Nikolai Gogol’s “The Terrible Vengeance”‚ the inclusion of Gothic elements can be seen from the bizarre descriptions of the scenery to the mystical nature of the story. However‚ the most remarkable of these Gothic elements is Gogol’s utilization of time and
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