The Namesake Thesis

Have you ever found yourself, yet lost yourself? That question may be a mouthful but think about it. Have you ever steered off of who you are and the discovered a whole new side of yourself? In The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, the main character, Gogol, maintains two identities as Gogol, linking back to his past, and Nikhil, which develops as he grows up. Gogol is more family oriented and more true to Indian culture, while Nikhil follows the “American” way by showing independence and rebellion.
As Gogol begins to grow up in America his attitude towards his name starts to change. The novel begins with Gogol feeling very uncomfortable with being called Nikhil on his first day of school. “It is very common for a child to be confused at first. Please

One of the first acts of rebellion that Gogol preforms occurs right before he enters college. “In spite of his parents ' sanction he feels that he is overstepping them, correcting a mistake they’ve made” (101). Gogol makes his own decision to officially change his name to Nikhil. Ashima and Ashoke do not necessarily agree with this decision, but they let it slide since Gogol is old enough to make his own life choices. This action of Gogol 's represents Gogol distancing himself from his family and being introduced to independence. This is the moment where his two identities, Gogol and Nikhil, begin to pull apart from each other and more major differences between the two show more intensely. Later on, Gogol develops a serious relationship with an all-American woman named Maxine who leads him ever further from his family. “He tells her he has a deadline at work, but it’s not true-- that’s the day that he and Maxine are leaving for New Hampshire, for two weeks” (144). Since Gogol is spending all this time with Maxine and her family, he barely has any time for his own family and he’d rather be with Maxine. Gogol starts lying to his parents and making up excuses to avoid them which causes him to drift from his family even more than he already has. Not only does this make him drift from his family, but drift from his Indian Culture. “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 his immersion in Maxine’s family is a betrayal of his own” (141). Gogol has been following the “American” ways with Maxine’s family and he has become aware of the disconnection between him and his culture. It seems as if he is starting to feel quite guilty because of this and he feels as if he is being