Namesake

I. Theme: Culture and Identity.
II. Ideas: The influence of culture on generations causes conflicts, a clear example is how culture affects Sonia and Gogol, and how in turn, they affect Ashimaand Ashoke. The culture causes family conflict and not only that; also very common that culture affects the identity of Gogol and his parents. How the cultures clash and coincide in the Ganguli family.III. Thesis: The culture differences and experiences of the members of the Ganguli family affect the dynamic of the family, the preferences of the family members and affect the personality ofeach of the members.
IV. Examples:
* Gogol and Sonia are affected for the culture Examples:
* -They change their clothes.
* –They don’t speak Bengali.
* –They chosetheir career, not follow his father’s studies
* - Moved away from family.
* – Denied arrange marriage.
* - Prefers the American way of life over the Bengali wayof life.
* Very independents.
* Culture affects the identity of the members of the Ganguli family.
* –Ashima and Ashoke decide to put a pet name to their first son.* - Ashima never calls her husband by name and never tells romantic words in front of people.
* - Gogol decides to change his name to Nikhil, as his pet name is not a common name.* - Moushumi and Gogol bond over their Bengali identities and how they are a source of confusion for Americans.
* - Sonia has only one name, a name more common in the U.S.* - In death, to utter her husband's name. She does not understand his identity as linked to his name.
* How American and Bengali cultures clash/ correlate.
* *Clash
*–Food- Ashima views / feelings.
* -Name- parents wishes, Gogol’s wishes.
* Teacher/Principal let Gogol choose his own name.
* –Don’t spend much time together....