The Namesake Sociology

1551 Words4 Pages

Introduction
“The Namesake” begins with a young Ashok back in Calcutta to meet his bride to be for the first time. This is an arranged marriage so he has no choice but to marry his future bride, Ashima. They marry in Calcutta and even though still strangers, Ashima moves with him to New York. Life in America for Ashima is so foreign and she is left alone while Ashok goes to work. Ashima is stranded in an alien world where everyday challenges such as making a meal or doing laundry can be quite overwhelming. The true challenge comes when they give birth to their son whose identity is an issue from the moment he is born. When the hospital required a name for the birth certificate they where taken back that they were unable to leave the hospital …show more content…

The parents volunteer his pet name, “Gogol”. The name holds quite a story as to how his father, Ashok, came to naming his son “Gogol” and was explained in one of the scenes. However, the significance of the reason behind it that it has for the father is lost on the son, who has grown up as a typical pot-smoking, loud-music-playing American teenager. “Gogol” began going by “Nickolai” in college and dated a Waspy blonde, spending all his time with her family and distancing himself from his own. The film addresses the impressive spans of time, emotion, and distance without turning into sentimental mush. Paradoxically, “Gogol” becomes torn between finding his own identity without losing his heritage after his father passes. Gogol and his sister both find partners, whom they marry. The Namesake addresses not only the Indian culture but also the power and pulls of family- what unites us all is the love and misery in equal measure. Ashima, the mother, was the glue that held this family together staying true to the attire and heritage of Calcutta. She had a long-suffering to adapt to America and grow steadily in love with her husband. The struggles she dealt with: the children’s lack of respect for Indian tradition and hurt by their selfishness …show more content…

Ashima due to being homesick and pregnant attempts to recreate a spicy Bengali snack, Jhl muri, by combining Rice Krispies, Planters peanuts and chopped red onion in a bowl. Salt, lemon juice, green chili pepper are added. All that was missing was the mustard oil to pour over the mix. This snack is very popular in India, though she couldn’t get the snack quite right, showing us just how far from home she is. Another time in which food shows disconnect or connection of the character and culture is when Gogol has his first taste of solid food during his annaprasan. This is a rice ceremony in which the baby at six months old is feed rice for the first time. The Ganguli home preserved the Bengali culture through

Open Document