The Namesake Culture

When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do

Have you ever been to a place where you did not know whether to be yourself or act like everyone else around you; have you ever just conformed to society even when you are not thinking about it?(Rhetorical question). 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do,' means that when a person is in another place that has a different culture than he is used to, he will react by going along with the culture of the place that he is in rather than to stick to his own. When the

Ganguli family movies to America, they started to do as Americans did. Some of their actions would not be acceptable in their culture. They conformed to some of the American traditions.

Throughout The Namesake, after Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli move to America, they experience the need to conform as they transition into their

His father becomes upset but still allows Gogol to change it.

When in a different place with a different culture, people often conform to new traditions or rituals that are not theirs. "Ashima sits at the kitchen table on Pemberton Road, addressing

Christmas cards."(Lahiri 159). In Bengali culture they do not celebrate Christmas(Logos). Being in America for so long, and having two children who have grown up with the idea of

Christmas as a normal tradition, has made her conform without even really thinking about it. She has gotten so used to the idea of Gogol and Sonia wanting to decorate the house and open presents, that she too has started to allow the holiday to change her beliefs.

Conforming to society seemed to be significant throughout The Namesake. When the

Ganguli family movies to America, they started to do as Americans did. Some of their actions wouldn't be acceptable in their culture. They conformed to some of the American traditions. This family changed themselves to fit in with their surroundings, so that they would feel more comfortable around the American culture(Pathos). Does this make them bad people?