Confusion. Distress. Frustration. All of these feelings were present and prevalent throughout Gogol’s life story as he had a difficult time identifying himself due to conflicting cultures. This is best represented by the people he chooses to maintain relationships with and his actions within the relationships with those closest to him. His parents, specifically his mother, are more in touch with the Bengali culture and want him to be as well, while his American friends want him to be more in touch with the American culture. Accordingly, his reaction to these relationships and their expectations shows his confusion regarding his identity. By ending the relationship with the woman who was enforcing an American culture, he was showing a new affinity towards his Bengali culture. However, when Gogol starts dwindling the time spent with his parents due to their cultural beliefs, he was showing an affinity towards American culture. These relationships have an immense impact on the main character and his development regarding his self-identity. How he interacts with these people, who are enforcing certain cultures, is critical to recognizing his confusion regarding his identity within himself and his culture. His perception of himself changes numerous times throughout the novel, moreover these changes frequently occur after considerably major events in Gogol’s life, such as the death of his father. In the novel, The Namesake, by Jumpa Lahiri there is the prevalent theme of