The Namesake Gogol Identity

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In The Namesake, Gogol was always unsure of his identity he did not know how to communicate his feelings with others or how to express himself. He was nothing like his sister Sonia or his enemy Dimitri. He was quiet and lonesome.
Sonia and Gogol are complete opposites when it comes to their character types. Sonia is more outgoing, whereas, Gogol is the shy oddball. According to the book, The Namesake, “Sonia plays with the dirt they've dug up from the yard and threatened to put the dollar bill in her mouth." Sonia is referred as the "real American." On the contrary, Gogol is awkward and unsure of his identity. Sonia knows exactly who she is, and she's not afraid to be herself. Gogol and Dimitri and many differences as well. Dimitri and Gogol’s …show more content…

This most likely triggered his low self-esteem. It was often hard for him to interact with the people around him. He was a peculiar child who never loved who he was or his cultural background. Gogol remembered being picked on as a child. Kids often called him “googles.” Gogol is stuck in two worlds. It was hard for him to find out who he was. After Gogol’s father dies, he falls into a depressed state of mind. It brings back haunted memories of being bullied in elementary school. For this reason, Gogol’s is not accustomed to communicating with anyone and chooses not to, because he does not know …show more content…

Gogol hates his name and sadly, he does not know the symbolism behind it. His name is the name of a famous writer which book saved his father's life. There is a dispute between the new and older generations of the family. Gogol and Sonia are used to the "American" way of living and their parents don't accept that way of life. The author Jhumpa Lahiri tells us in her interview with PBS News Hour that she experienced some of the conflicts that Gogol experienced. “It’s what my world is, and what I’ve always been aware of. My parents

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