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The Namesake By Jhumpa Lahiri Essay

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Within this extract of Lahiri 's book, 'The Namesake ', Ashima experiences America for the first time. The text is particularly significant because of the opposing traditional Indian background from which she comes from causing her to feel like the two cultures do not coincide. Lahiri highlights these differences by presenting America from Ashima’s perspective to reflect her opinion being that is lacks spark, is discreetly disgusting and immensely lonely. Despite her attempts to become accustomed to this unfamiliarity, Ashima feels alienated as she cannot ignore the absurdity of her new lifestyle. Lahiri presents Ashima to despise the dull nature of America. The repetitive phrase “The gray of the roof, the gray of cigarette ashes,” outlines …show more content…

This is evidenced by the “waist-high chain-like fence.” that surrounds the apartment. Not only does this physically prevent Ashima leaving with ease, it also indicates her struggle to find peace. The fence is described to be low enough to step over and escape however it symbolises Ashima’s internal conflict to accept the lifestyle in America. She is given the opportunity to live freely however she may not feel able to accept such difference and leave her Indian lifestyle behind. In being enclosed this way she lacks comfort from family members and friends when attempting to adapt to the change. Furthermore, Ashima is presented to feel incapable of discussing her difficulty out of fear of disappointing the ones she loves. The harsh metaphor “the frigid New England chill piercing her inner ears and jaw,” implies that despite the intensity of Ashima’s situation she lacks the ability to speak or share her emotions, “she has kept her disappointment to herself, not wanting to offend Ashoke, or worry her parents.” This makes her feel trapped in loneliness emphasised by her physical surroundings that are “ice covered

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Born to Bengali parents in July 1967,in London and with her family’s move to Rhode Island, Jhumpa Lahiri began life in the U.S.A. She grew up in the background of traditional Bengali culture. From childhood, she often accompanied her back to India-particularly to Calcutta (now known as Kolkata).. She observes that her parents retain a sense of emotional exile and she herself grew up with conflicting expectations. In her work, Lahiri, is a second-generation immigrant, reflects on the Indian diaspora and creates a narrative that reveals the inconsistency of the concept of identity and cultural difference in the space of diapora.

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When Ashima found out that her husband Ashoke had died from a heart attack, she was devastated (Lahiri 168). After Ashoke’s death, Ashima began to mourn her husband because she had lost someone she had loved. Ashoke’s death was a tragic time for Ashima. Lahiri shares that “Ashima feels lonely suddenly, horribly, permanently alone, and briefly, turned away from the mirror, she sobs for her husband” (278). Ashoke’s death has made Ashima feel alone and shows how much she misses her husband.

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