University Essay: The Namesake's Exploration of Identity and Belonging

This essay analyzes Jhumpa Lahiri's novel, 'The Namesake,' exploring the central themes of identity and belonging. The essay delves into the experiences of the Ganguli family, immigrants from India to America, and their son Gogol's struggle to reconcile his heritage with his American upbringing. It examines how names, culture, and societal expectations shape individual identity, highlighting the conflicts and challenges faced by immigrants as they navigate cultural differences and the search for self. The essay discusses the roles of Ashima and Ashoke, their aspirations for their family, and the impact of cultural dynamics on their lives, emphasizing the importance of family, heritage, and belonging in defining one's sense of self. The essay also explores the impact of gender roles and societal expectations on the characters' lives, reflecting the complexities of identity formation in a changing society.

HOW DOES THE NAMESAKE
EXPLORE THE IDEA OF
IDENTITY AND BELONGING

Table of Contents
Essay of Topic- The Namesake explore the idea of identity and belonging...................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

Essay of Topic- The Namesake explore the idea of identity and belonging
The “Namesake” is a Novel whose author is Jhumpa Lahiri, this book has defined the
story of culture, race, heritage and varied components that mold the attitude of individuals and
directs the lives in ever changing society (The Namesake: A Struggle for Identity, 2007).
Therefore, the things that represented in this novel is as identity that purely illustrated by
analysing the value of one name as the definition of paternal line of descent, inheritance and
gender as means by which identity in life is bring down. This is the novels that reflected the lives
of two individuals as Ashima and Ashoke Ganguli and how they leave their life behind in India
in which they had grown. Also, the love to live their dream to stay in America to have the best
life for themselves and their children. Gogole who is their only son and the bearer of their family
name and has struggled endlessly to find his identity at the time of endeavouring to mold his
expectation of family with the further belief he feels in the American society.
Henceforth, this has been stated that there can be great sense of the identity in one's name
and there also one of the great importance within the care of the good family name. So, Ashima
and Ashoke's wanted to give their son a name that will add meaning and intent to the life. In this
Novel one incident has mentioned of the Nikolai Gogol in which he found abruptly broken at
time when Ashoke's car details and the pages of the novels all are thrust upon the cold. Due to
this incident, it has been found out that knowledge is the source of his name that aids to specify
the ways that life begins to take. By this incident, it has been reflected that the Gogol's life is also
filled with dead ends, let down and confusion as he struggles to find out who are us and where
the curse of his namesake will lead him to the next. This novel has clearly stated that name
drives the lives of the individuals in the positive direction and even in the tough time this
provides the strength and purpose to preserve. Thus, it can be clearly stated that culture dictates
majorly the name, titles and age as means with help of which one established his or her identity
in terms to the social status.
Additionally, Namesake that not only add meaning and direction to their lives but these
also gives the sense of culture identity and belonging. Thus, the name as Gogol is represents the
heritage of Bengali (The Namesake: A Struggle for Identity, 2007). Henceforth, Nikolai Gogol
rejects his name due to reason that this connects him towards the nonsensical traditions that in
the past he was forced to honour and also hindered him from living the free life as his name was
connected to his father. Hence, Nikolai is discredited of his name as he is very shamed of history

which is apparently more fantastic than the American society. Therefore, the culture and
upbringing these are the two common components that aids to establish the identity of one
individuals and this is the most dominant these within the novel. Differences within the culture
give rise to the individuality that protagonist encounter.
In this novel, the life of the Ashima is revolves around her children. Sometimes, she feels
alone during encountering the major stages of their lives. Thus, her main aim was to take care for
her family as this is the thing that she observed from from other women in family. While Ashima
was in the pain during her first delivery to child she was thinking about the ability to make life
rather like her mother and grandmother has done. She also gives her job upon marrying but the
women of American culture access more to the educational opportunities and perform the roles
effectively and efficiently. In the Indian culture, the father is more responsible to for family
financial growth while mother plays the main role in the integral issue of the family.
Henceforth, the novel as Namesake has defined the family dynamics that is very similar
to the Normal American society. Societal mindset that gender ground one's identity is very
strongly supported. Thus, it can be stated that never ending search for the identity of an
individual ls has been an issues that is continually increasing in today's society. Majorly this is
for those who have recently migrated to another country.

REFERENCE
Online
The Namesake: A Struggle for Identity . 2007. [Online]. Available through:
<https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgireferer=https://www.google.com/
&httpsredir=1&article=1001&context=mako>
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