The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri in The Namesake illustrates the assimilation of Gogol as a second generation American immigrant, where Gogol faces the assimilation of becoming an American. Throughout the novel, Gogol has been struggling with his name. From kindergarten to college, Gogol has questioned the reason why he was called Nikhil when he was a child, to the reason why he was called Gogol when he was in college. Having a Russian name, Gogol often encounters questions from people around him, asking the reason of his name. Gogol was not given an Indian name from his Indian family or an American name from the fact that he was born in America, to emphasize that how hard an individual try to assimilate into a different culture, he is still bonded to his roots as the person he ethnically is.
In the conversation between Gogol, his kindergarten teacher, and Gogol's father, Gogol is confused and refuses his name as Nikhil. "She bends down so that her face is level with his, and extends a hand to his shoulder:
"Can you tell me how old you are, Nikhil?" When the question is repeated and there is no response,
"According to these documents, your son's legal name is Gogol,"
"that you want us to call him Nikhil?" "That is correct."
"Are you happy to be entering elementary school, Gogol?" "my parents want me to have another name in school," "and how about you, Gogol? Do you want to be called by another name?" after a pause he shakes his head. "is that a no?" he nodes. "Yes." "(p.58-59). During his childhood, Gogol's parents want him to assimilate into the society faster, through requesting his name in school to be Nikhil. By changing his name to Nikhil, people can easily refer him as "Nik" or "Nick", a name easier for him...
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...o assimilate into the society by entering school with a more acceptable name, but Gogol refuses. The acceptance of the society has pressured him to change his name in college, and to hide Gogol from the society. Till the day Gogol understands the reason why his father chose to name him Gogol instead of an Indian or American name, Gogol experienced a lot of changes, as a second generation American immigrant. Gogol has been assimilated to different culture than he ethnically is. At the end, through family, Gogol has come back to his roots. Gogol was not given an Indian name from his Indian family or an American name as he was born in America, to emphasize an individual try to assimilate into a different culture, but in the end, he is still bonded to his roots as the person he ethnically is.
Works Cited
Lahari, Jhumpa. The Namesake Boston, New York. Mariner Books, 2004
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