The Unknown Citizen Identity

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Exchanging Culture for Freedom
“Was he free? Was he happy?” through various poems like “The Unknown Citizen,” English American poet and Pulitzer prize winner, W.H Auden, questions emotional satisfaction within one's identity. Desperation for independence assists motivation to question cultural behavior and leads to rejection of identity which damages relationships around them. It is in the face of a culture that Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel; namesake reveal internal struggles individuals face when the culture has limitations that problematic conflicts occur. Cultural complications develop internal struggles with identity; however, these developmental obstacles ultimately influence desire for freedom and independence.
Being born as an Indian born in …show more content…

Gogol attends a college party and decides to head upstairs, unexpectedly meeting Kim. Gogol fears Kim’s reaction of his name “Gogol,” so he introduces himself has Nikhil, a name that was given to him when he was a young boy entering kindergarten. Kim, being a stranger, made Gogol confident and begins to have a conversation with ease, “...his mind floats” demonstrates new traits with his new name “Nikhil,” and he senses freedom he never felt with “Gogol.” Gogol obtains a new identity following moments Gogol legally changes his name to Nikhil, and he becomes reborn, but to everyone, he knows Gogol “...will visit him…” because they were part of his past life. Even though he is now Nikhil, his name, Gogol, still sticks with him because of the family who grew up with him at the time. Entering college, Gogol uses his new identity on everything he used to put Gogol on. It is as if “he’s cast himself in a play” playing both characters of Gogol and Nikhil, switching on and off unknowingly; struggling with past and future cause indecisiveness of identity. Growing up as Gogol created habits he could not escape for eighteen years, and the transition to Nikhil forces adaptation to alternate personalities in just two months. Gogol’s decision to change his name to Nikhil demonstrates dedication to identity

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