The Namesake
Páginas: 3 (600 palabras)
Publicado: 7 de enero de 2013
Sara Marti Ibañez
The Study of Literatures in English-Speaking Countries
2012/12/18
LIVING IN MORE THAN ONE WORLD
The Namesake, written by Jhumpa Lahiri is a novel about generations, exile anddeficiencies; about what is gained and what is lost in the life of an immigrant. In this case, the Gangilu family, whose move from Calcutta to the east coast of the United States evokes a greatdifficulty in order to introduce themselves into a new world, forgetting their old one. Although the parents (Ashoke and Ashima) miss their family and culture from India, they are very proud of the newopportunities their son and daughter will have in America. Paradoxically, Gogol (their sun and main character of the novel) feels torn apart between finding his unique identity without losing his heritage.Giving all the attention to the main character: Gogol and her teenager sister, Sonia, they both live between the clash of their home culture and the American culture they are taught at home: so itseems as if they live in more than one world.
Gogol, was born in 1968 in Cambridge. His education will be American when he is outside and Bengali when he is with his family at home, so he will have twoworlds and two areas of relationship: one with the American people and another one with his Bengali friends and family. But before going to school, Gogol’s life takes place only with his family,totally unaware of the American manners; his family is closed on itself:
“Sometimes they drive out of the town altogether, to one of the beaches along the North Shore. Even in summer, they never go toswim or to turn brown beneath the sun. Instead they go dressed in their ordinary clothes […] His mother cries out, laughing, as she lifts her sari a few inches above her ankles, her slippers in onehand, and places her feet in foaming, ice-cold water. She reaches out to Gogol, takes his hand.” (Jhumpa Lahiri, 97-98)
His mother teaches him Tagone’s poems and Indian deities. She also shows him...
The Study of Literatures in English-Speaking Countries
2012/12/18
LIVING IN MORE THAN ONE WORLD
The Namesake, written by Jhumpa Lahiri is a novel about generations, exile anddeficiencies; about what is gained and what is lost in the life of an immigrant. In this case, the Gangilu family, whose move from Calcutta to the east coast of the United States evokes a greatdifficulty in order to introduce themselves into a new world, forgetting their old one. Although the parents (Ashoke and Ashima) miss their family and culture from India, they are very proud of the newopportunities their son and daughter will have in America. Paradoxically, Gogol (their sun and main character of the novel) feels torn apart between finding his unique identity without losing his heritage.Giving all the attention to the main character: Gogol and her teenager sister, Sonia, they both live between the clash of their home culture and the American culture they are taught at home: so itseems as if they live in more than one world.
Gogol, was born in 1968 in Cambridge. His education will be American when he is outside and Bengali when he is with his family at home, so he will have twoworlds and two areas of relationship: one with the American people and another one with his Bengali friends and family. But before going to school, Gogol’s life takes place only with his family,totally unaware of the American manners; his family is closed on itself:
“Sometimes they drive out of the town altogether, to one of the beaches along the North Shore. Even in summer, they never go toswim or to turn brown beneath the sun. Instead they go dressed in their ordinary clothes […] His mother cries out, laughing, as she lifts her sari a few inches above her ankles, her slippers in onehand, and places her feet in foaming, ice-cold water. She reaches out to Gogol, takes his hand.” (Jhumpa Lahiri, 97-98)
His mother teaches him Tagone’s poems and Indian deities. She also shows him...
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