The Namesake Free Essays

Cultural traditions, migration, family and identity are issues which emerge throughout the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. How have various literary techniques been used to show that these issues play a major role in an individual experiencing a sense of belonging or not belonging. It is evident that a number of issues can greatly affect a person’s sense of belonging in particular personal experiences and cultural background. We will write a custom essay sample on The Namesake or any similar topic only for you Order Now Throughout Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake a number of these issues emerge and have been presented to play a major role in an individual discovering their true identity while concurrently experiencing a sense of belonging or not belonging. A range of various literary techniques including intertextuality, motifs and juxtaposition 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 because Ashoke was clutching the pages of The Overcoat in his hand that he was found among the wreckage of the train and ‘reborn’.This personal experience played an important role in shaping Ashoke’s identity which in turn allowed him to develop a great sense of adventure which enabled him to travel to a land far away from his own and be ‘Born twice in India and once in Americaâ€℠¢. It can also be suggested that this personal experience influenced Ashoke’s ability to experience a strong sense of belonging wherever he goes. The Overcoat is again mentioned numerous times throughout the novel mainly in relation to Gogol Ganguli’s personal sense of belonging. Gogol’s namesake is in fact Nikolai Gogol and it was the short story which had influenced the naming of ‘Baby boy Ganguli’. Although there is no connection between Gogol Ganguli and Nikolai Gogol, Ganguli’s sense of belonging is greatly affected by Nikolai’s own identity. Gogol Ganguli feels that he must live according to his namesake who was considered ‘insane’ and this concurrently creates a sense of disconnection within Gogol during his high school years. After discovering the true meaning of his name, Gogol asks his father if he thinks of the night he almost died whenever he thinks of him – ‘Is that what you think of when you think of me? , ‘Do I remind you of that night? ’, to which his father reassures him that he does not. However because of this Gogol forms a sense of isolation and regret towards his father while simultaneously realising the importance of life and family.This sense of isolation is then c ontrasted to the sense of belonging that is developed later in the novel when Gogol Ganguli changes his name to Nikhil Ganguli in order to gain acceptance and a stronger sense of belonging within the American community.The Overcoat is also a motif that is used to symbolise the importance of identity and personal experience and the role these two factors play in securing a person’s sense of belonging or not belonging. It is evident throughout the novel that there are a number of motifs used that represent issues surrounding the main character and his family. The first of these motifs is manifested on the first pages of the novel where Ashima is said to be making a concoction of ‘Rice Krispies and Planters Peanuts and chopped red onion in a bowl’ to which ‘she adds salt, lemon juice, thin slices of green chili peppers’.It is said that this snack created by Ashima is a humble approximation of the snack that is sold for pennies on Calcutta sidewalks and railway platforms throughout India. This food motif emphasise the isolation that Ashima is currently experiencing as a result of her recent migration to a land foreign to her, America. Although Ashima’s craving of the snack commonly found in Calcutta emphasises her disconnection and isolation from her homeland, this sense of isolation is eventually replaced with belonging as her community of Bengali friends begins to grow later in the novel.Later the food motif is once again made evident through the gathering and sharing of traditional Bengali food between the Ganguli’s and other Bengali families. These recurring references to traditional Bengali foods reinforces the idea that migration, cultural background and traditions plays a major role in creating a sense of disconnection and eventual belonging. Similarly trains are a key motif within the novel and are first introduced in hapter two when Ashoke recalls his near death experience in a horrific train accident which did physically immobilize him momentarily but eventually acted as source of independence and crucial motive in his want for a better life away from his homeland. The motif of the train is then manifested when Ashima gains independence for the first time when riding it alone, although she is alone Ashima feels a sense of belonging to the American community to which she now belongs to. This event is eventually contrasted to her leaving behind presents she bought for her deceased father on the train.Because of this Ashima now creates a great sense of loss as well as disconnection from her homeland, culture and family. For Gogol the train acts as a setting for which his most important relationships have been established in turn providing him with a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging is then contrasted to the se nse of disconnection and hurt he later experiences when he discovers the affair between his wife Moushimi and another man whilst on a train. The key motif of the train within The Namesake can be seen as a symbol for change and advancing. This motif is also used to express how personal experiences and relationships can greatly affect a person’s identity and in turn influence their sense of belonging or isolation. The use of juxtaposition throughout the novel The Namesake to contrast each characters sense of belonging. It is also used to emphasise the affect cultural traditions, migration, family and identity have on a person’s sense of belonging. The American culture is greatly contrasted to the traditional Bengali culture to which the Ganguli’s belong to. The two cultures are vastly different in many aspects of life including food, morals and family simply to name a few.The Ganguli’s diaspora from Calcutta has resulted in their sense of disconnection and isolation from society as well as from their family back home. Their lifestyle back home within the Bengali culture has been greatly compared to the lifestyle which they now live in America. Juxtaposition has also been used throughout the novel to contrast the different identities in which the characters have. It can be noticed that Ashoke has a rather strong sense of identity as does Sonia, however Ashima can be viewed as a person who is torn between two worlds whilst Gogol’s dentity is rather confused. From this it can be gather that each characters identity shapes their sense of belonging and this is once again reiterated through the use of juxtaposition. By utilising literary techniques including intertextuality, motifs and juxtaposition Jhumpa Lahiri has successfully addressed issues such as cultural traditions, migration, family and identity while concurrently demonstrating how such issues play a major role on influencing a person’s sense of belonging or not belonging.It is palpable to acknowledge the fact that personal experiences, relationships, time and cultural traditions play an important role in shaping a person’s personal identity that can in turn influence a person’s sense of belonging and in some cases not belonging. By using the previously mentioned literary techniques, Jhumpa Lahiri has effectively represented this idea in her award winning novel The Namesake. How to cite The Namesake, Papers The Namesake Free Essays Jhumpa Lahiri in her famous book â€Å"The Namesake† clearly portrayed the facts and problems of Bengali immigrants in America, their culture, laws and customs of different religious observations and family life. In her novel Lahiri narrates the story of a Bengali family who immigrated to America and their condition in the exile was a blending of cultural and emotional disparity with the Native Americans. The story is centering about the family of Ashoke and Ashima Ganguly, a perfect immigrant family who are deeply interested in carrying their Bengali culture. We will write a custom essay sample on The Namesake or any similar topic only for you Order Now The story starts with the serious accident in India from which Ashoke fortunately got rescued due to the book of short stories by Nikolai Gogol. Though they thought their child’s name would be selected by Ashima’s grandmother but circumstantially name of their son was given by Ashoke. He named his son Gogol in the name of famous writer Nikolai Gogol. After moving out of Boston they tried to admit Gogol in the school with a good name Nikhil again according to the similarity to the first name of Nikolai Gogol but Gogol disagree to have that name and he continued with his nick name Gogol. After some days his sister was born and she was given the name Sonali. They simultaneously celebrated the birth of Christ and the most major festival of Bengali Hindu’s Durga Puja, the worship of Goddess Durga. Efforts were made from the part of their parents to aware them of Bengali culture and language. On coming to India they visited several famous places in Calcutta, Delhi and Agra and then came back to America. One day listening to the lecture of her teacher on the life of Nikolai Gogol, Gogol was very much upset and started trying to deny his name. Consequently Gogol changed his name to Nikhil and then again on hearing the incident behind his naming from his father he became disappointed. Meanwhile Gogol graduated and Sonia started studying in California. At this time Ashoke died of a massive heart attack in Ohio and they observed the death of Ashoke according to the Hindu Custom. Following the breaking of relationship between Maxine and Gogol her mother expressed her interest over the marriage of Gogol with Moushumi Majumdar, whom he met before in family parties. They married each other according to the Hindu traditions.   After deciding to come back in Calcutta Ashima realized that for 33 years she missed India and at this older age she will miss her job, American Culture and above all her children. In the mean time divorce took place between Gogol and Moushumi. To search the old books as his mother was willing to donate some books to the library where she last worked, Gogol got the book ‘The short stories of Nikolai Gogol’ given by Ashoke at Gogol’s birth day in 1982 and he became emotionally moved reading his father’s statement in his own handwriting. In the book several important cultural ceremonies was pictured in an impressive way. At the age of six months Gogol went under ‘anaprasan’ which is based on his first consumption of solid foods in which Dilip Nandy acting as Ashima’s brother played the major role by feeding rice to the child. Lahiri narrates the incident as follows: Gogol is dressed as an infant Bengali groom, in a pale yellow pajama-punjabi from his grandmother in Calcutta. The fragrance of cumin seeds, sent in the package along with the pajamas, lingers in the weave. A headpiece that Ashima cut out of paper, decorated with pieces of aluminium foil, is tied around Gogol’s head with string. He wears a thin fourteen-karat gold chain around his neck. His tiny forehead has been decorated with considerable struggle with sandalwood paste to form six miniature beige moons floating above his brows. (Lahiri 39) Such description helps the reader to have a proper look into the Bengali culture. Moreover about Durga Puja she mentioned the custom of worshipping the goddess with marigold petals and eating of vegetarian foods. On Ashoke’s death Ashima, Gogol and Sonia ate mourner’s diet i.e. food without meat and fish which is, another example of Bengali Hindu’s culture. On the eleventh day there was a social ceremony called ‘shradhya’ to end the mourning period. Lahiri described this culture in her own way: The rest of it-the calls, the flowers that are everywhere, the visitors, the hours they spend sitting together in the living room unable to say a word, mean nothing. Without articulating it to one another, they draw comfort from the fact that it is the only time in the day that they are alone, isolated, as a family; even if there are visitors lingering in the house, only the three of them partake of this meal. And only for its duration is their grief slightly abated, the enforced absence of certain foods on their plates conjuring his father’s presence somehow. (Lahiri 181) Again while describing the marriage of Gogol and Moushumi she started from the way in which both of them sat in the marriage ceremony to the playing of Shenai music including the inevitable presence of a Brahmin as a priest. While observing these customs Gogol realized the extent of obedience which is involved in such a ceremony. Moreover she also makes aware her readers about the custom of addressing â€Å"his second set of parents† as â€Å"Baba and Ma†. (222) If we compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the culture depicted in the book and Judaism, then we will see that both cultures in their own way are different from each other. First we consider the culture regarding birth of a child. The culture portrayed in the book suggest that after the birth of a baby the name is given by her grandparents which symbolizes the place of honor the grandparents hold in the Bengali society, though it is not rare that the name is given by the child’s parents. On the other hand according to Jewish rituals, immediately after the birth of the child father will pray to the almighty for blessings for the child. If the child is son his name is given on the eighth day after the birth and in case of girl child name is given at the time of birth. According to the Jewish concept marriage is very important without which a person remains incomplete. In the past Jewish marriage were arranged by parents though they can seek help from others to find the appropriate match. The marriage ceremony involves breaking of a plate which symbolizes the destruction of temples in Jerusalem and signifies that Jews are still feeling very bad for that heart breaking incident. But according to the culture in the book, Marriage can be done on some specific holy days and it can be done in the presence of a Brahmin priest. Father of the bride handed over the bride to the groom and they will ask for blessings from older people including their parents. If we search for similarities then we will see in case of birth both cultures have the tradition of praying to God for the well being of the child. In case of death both cultures several rituals as a sign of mourning and in both cultures being in contact with the dead body causes ritual dirt. And above all both the cultures have beliefs in afterlife which is based on the fact that those who lived an honest life in its truest sense will get another beautiful life. So far we have discussed different laws and customs regarding religious observances like birth, marriage and death and most importantly family life of the Bengali immigrants in America. Moreover we have tried to research the main culture depicted in the book and at last we tried to compare the different similarities and differences between culture described in the book and the culture of Judaism. Works Cited Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. India: HarperCollins Publishers India, 2006 BBc-Religions and Ethics-Jewish Weding Rites: Jewish Weding Rites.   May 5, 2008http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/rites/weddings_1.shtml. How to cite The Namesake, Essay examples