In Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel, The Namesake, Gogol and his name usage have consistently elicited my frustration. Since the beginning of the book, when, as a kindergartener, Gogol chose to use his pet name, Gogol, instead of his good name, Nikhil, I have felt frustration toward both Ashima and Ashoke. This frustration multiplies later when his parents neither objected to Gogol's idea for a name change, nor explained to him the significance of his name. In Chapter 9, during the wedding, Gogol flashes back to when he told Sonia his idea for a name change, ‘“You can't do that,’ she'd told him... ‘you can’t. Because you're Gogol”’ (221). Sonia, at the time, a mere thirteen-year old, serves as a foil to her weak and timid parents as she boldly asserts that her brother has no right to change his name. The juxtaposition in Chapter 9 of this opinion with the narrator’s statement, “he still felt guilty at times for changing his name,” makes Gogol appear pathetic, as his thirteen-year old sister knew he should not change his name. I feel by waiting this long in the novel to insert Sonia’s opinion on the name change, the frustration and guilt evoked becomes more focused toward Gogol and less on Ashima and Ashoke as the reader learns that although his parents did not object to the change, he received some guidance from his sister. My frustration increases with his inability or refusal to tell Moushumi how he feels throughout Chapter 9. For example, the narrator acknowledges that although “he hasn’t admitted this to her, he’d [Gogol] hoped,” that Moushumi might consider changing her last name to Ganguli “as a tribute to his father if nothing else” (227). Although in a strong relationship a wife may have the ability to intuit her husband’s desires, some blame remains on Gogol for not confessing to Moushumi his hope that she would change her name. This failure to speak his mind not only indirectly characterizes Gogol as weak and timid but also parallels Gogol to his parents, in their inability to speak up against his name change. However, I now realize I cannot entirely fault Gogol for his refusal to speak up, his parents modeled this behavior through allowing him freedom with his name and he allows Moushumi the same.
I agree with Emily's frustration with Gogol. Throughout the novel, I have viewed Gogol's decisions as absurd and childish. I feel Gogol made a mistake by changing his name with invalid reasoning. The decision to change a name remains permanent throughout life. Even during the process of changing his name, Gogol felt a "twinge of sadness, that this [was] the last time in his life he [would] hear that name" (101). The fact that Gogol regreted his decision before the process began proves that deep down he knew he acted foolishly. In my perspective, Gogol changed his name because of his insecurity with himself rather than the actual name. Like Emily stated, Gogol continues to struggle with this insecurity throughout his life. A name does not define an individual. However, I feel a person can shape the perspectives on a name through their own personality.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I agree with Emily’s frustration regarding Gogol’s timidness around his wife, I feel that his decision to change his name was neither unjustified nor irrational. When asked in chapter 5 the reason for desiring a name change, Gogol stated, “’I hate the name Gogol…I’ve always hated it’”(102). Can there be a more justified reason for change? Granted, Gogol’s idealistic vision that the name Nikhil would drastically improve his life proved faulty, but I feel he should not face criticism for striving to improve his life. Although some readers and classmates feel that Gogol disrespected his parents, particularly his father, by changing his name, I disagree. Unlike the reader, Gogol had no idea of the emotional baggage the name Gogol represented for his father when he changed his name, and I feel that Gogol cannot face blame for his ignorance of the matter.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Emily's frustration with Gogol, and both Ashoke and Ashima. I think that emotion from Ashoke and Ashima both on the name change issue would have greatly effected Gogol's decision. I feel also that if Ashoke had told Gogol earlier on the story and background to his name, Gogol may have grown up understanding his odd name and not detesting it. I feel that the juxtaposition between Gogol's quiet hope in wanting Moshumi to changer her name, is similar to the perhaps quiet hope of Ashoke when Gogol attempts to change his name. I feel Gogol changing his name was very selfish and rash.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily's view of Gogol mirroring his parents in weakness. I believe that Gogol lacked the necessary guidance from his parents to develop a strong sense of confidence in his own decisions.This lead to much of his identity crisis with his name change. However, as an adult, I believe that Gogol should take responsibility for his own actions. He cannot blame all of his hardships on his parents.
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