Novel :- The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Namesake is a heart wrenching story,portraying the strife involved in family,growing up the circle of life & one's identity. The novel opens with the birth Gogal,the protagonist.the reader is given background information pertaining to the lives of Gogol's parents & each character's story is presented from his or her own perspectives. Ashima & Ashoke grew up in Calcutta. They came to America as young adults right after they tide the wedlock which was also right after they met.Ashima in particular had a trying time adjusting to American society.this background information makes the readers more intimate to each of the characters individually. It also assists the reader to better understand the choices each makes throughout the novel & to better comprehend each of their identities.
When one steps into a new land one has a sense of wonder & adventure of the sight & feel of a landscape so distinct from what one has been attuned to,there is also a sense of isolation & fright. It's the poignant anguish of diasporic identity & the sense of alienation that Lahiri harps on in her novel.this feeling of inbetweenness is germinated from the cultural dichotomies faced by the immigrants. This is the one of the chief thematic concerns of The Namesake.
* Name and Identity
Nostalgia
United States vs. India
The novel is marked for it's lucid narrative & picturesque descriptions. The flow of language is perfectly in tune with the pace of the storytelling.
One of the most remarkable traits of the novel under discussion is it's craft of convincing characterization. Ashima as a typical, girl-next-door grkm Calcutta. Ashoke as a mature,settled NRI,Gogal as an American born confused Desi,Moushumi as an infield Lady etc.
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