The Namesake By Jhumpa Lahiri Essay

Wind Spills over the towering buildings and into ruckus the of the street. The crimson sun casts long shadows upon the crowded street. Gogol, half asleep, is comforted by the warmth of another. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri tells the story of Gogol, a child of immigrants, who experiences America and its culture. He experiences different cultures and lifestyles and is at times troubled about his own identity. Through Lahiri’s use of Gogol’s lovers, Ruth, Maxine, And Moushumi, Lahiri shows Gogol’s confidence and security within his identity.

First, Ruth was Gogol’s first real relationship and their interaction reflected his lack of identity. Gogol and Ruth attended the same college yet they met randomly on a train. Gogol became inseparable from Ruth yet he was conflicted about introducing her to his family. Gogol had stated, “he cannot picture her at the kitchen table on Pemberton Road, in her jeans and her bulky sweater, politely eating his mother's food. He cannot imagine being with her in the house where he is still Gogol.” (Lahiri 268). This quote

This can be proven by this thought of Gogol’s “Part of him wants to bring it up with her. "Are you happy you married me?" he would ask. But the fact that he is even thinking of this question makes him afraid” (Lahiri 615) This quote shows that Gogol’s confidence and security within his Identity directly correlates to Moushumi’s affection. This can be seen when Gogol states his fear of questioning their love. Without the affection of his wife Gogol loses all sense of self identity. Keep in mind that Gogol is building a life with Moushumi and to question their love is to question everything that is built around it. To question their love is to question the foundation of his new life. To question their love would be to question his identity. And his inability to question his identity shows weak confidence and security