Gogol, the son of these immigrant parents grows up wanting to assimilate himself in this new cultural but ultimately seeking to. Moushumi and gogol have very little input into what is said and done, and throughout the proceedings, they see each other and talk to each other. Reviewing the russian connection he had been traumatized since the accident claustrophobia and nightmares brought back haunting memories of that train accident throughout his. Namesake definition of namesake by the free dictionary. Soon their son is born, in the foreign environment of the american hospital. Ashima and askoke want to give their son a name that will add meaning and 3 dawes. What is meant by the word namesake in the namesake. Books are records of the past and carriers of names, as in the case. But in 21stcentury usage, namesake is often applied to the source of the name, making john, sr. Namesake dictionary definition namesake defined yourdictionary. Someones or somethings namesake has the same name as they do. For instance, ashima refuses to display the rubbings of gravestones young gogol makes with his classmates. Jhumpa lahiri writing styles in the namesake jhumpa lahiri this study guide consists of approximately 41 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the namesake.
The namesake by jhumpa lahiri, chapters vocabulary list. Definition of namesake in the legal dictionary by free online english. The definition of a namesake is a person named after someone. Ashoke reflects on how lucky this boy isthe baby receives the present of a book from a bengali friend. Gogol and moushumi both choose professions that are not in medicine, engineering, or the sciences, as their parents would prefer.
The namesake quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. He had been reading his favourite story the overcoat when the accident had happened. The namesake by jhumpa lahiri plot summary litcharts. The overused description of jhumpa lahiris novel the namesake 2003 as diasporic. The year is 1968, and ashima ganguli, a bengali woman who has recently moved to cambridge, massachusetts with her new husband, is about to give birth. Her husband, ashoke, accompanies her to the hospital in a taxi. Incessantly looking for meanings about his existence, but aware of the legacy.
In american english, the traditional definition of namesake is one who is named after another. The intertextual dimension of otherness in jhumpa lahiris the. The sand on its namesake beach turns gray as the sun dips behind the two brothers, twin granite spires at the far side of the bay. Artistic objects such as paintings, books, or photographs carry particular meaning.
A struggle for identity published by nsuworks, 2007. The namesake is the story of two generations of the gangulis, a family of indian immigrants to the united states. Ashimas marriage is an arranged one and therefore is lacking in the strong emotions of an american marriage, leaving ashima feeling. The namesake is a novel of selfdiscovery that is an emotional journey its readers will not soon forget. Gogol begins school, and although his parents have settled on an official name, nikhil, for him to use. Lahiri explores in several ways the difficulty of reconciling crosscultural rituals around death and dying. When ashima ganguli becomes pregnant with her first child she has only lived in america for a short time and is still getting used to the unusual culture. Information and translations of namesake in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Here, the word cavalcade simply means a colorful display but the image of the given definition could be used to exaggerate the number and. Namesake meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. In jhumpa lahiris book, the word namesake references the human search for meaning. Namesake definition and meaning collins english dictionary. When this was not possible, ashoke gave his son a name that represented hope for a better life and second. Books play an important role in many key scenes in the novel, beginning in the first chapter with the young ashokes allconsuming love for thema love that saves his life, and gives gogol his nameand ending with gogols chance discovery of the book his father had given him for his birthday more than a decade before.
The gangulis move to a boston suburb, a university town where ashoke has found a job teaching electrical engineering. Gogol begins preschool, then kindergarten, and ashima misses spending time with him, and walking around the neighborhood. One chosen by his maternal greatgrandmother would have be sacred and perfect in every way. Essay on the namesake by jhumpa lahiri 1446 words bartleby. However, if we take the criminal offense of official. The namesake, is a book about how life can be difficult in a new country for immigrants trying to raise a son with mixed cultures.
The namesake by jhumpa lahiri book club discussion. Fortunately, its usually easy to figure out which version. For some people finding out who they are is not exactly the hardest thing. In the waiting room of the hospital, ashoke remembers how in 1961, as he was taking the train from calcutta to jamshedpur to visit his grandfather and collect the books he was to.