Absence In Gogol's Life

In the Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, Gogol lost his father a year ago and sincerely heart broken from the death of his father and losing Maxine. "The only significant difference in his life, apart from the permanent absence of his father, is the additional absence of Maxine"(Lahiri 188). It's ironic that he says "the only difference in his life" when it is a dramatic life changing experience losing your dad from a heart attack and then for grieving with your family too much, Maxine, his girlfriend breaks up with him. It was a big difference, is he trying to be strong? It is interesting, that is the reason she broke up with him because in my opinion she seemed to support his decision all the time but really was just pushing him away from his family and background and the second he goes back she is jealous. She wanted Gogol all to herself and not share him with his family. This shows Maxine's real sense of character and the person she really is. You shouldn't break up with someone for spending more time with their family after the death of someone they loved, that is just horrible and wrong. He is better off without her. Having so much absence and losing two people that were special in his life all at once must be really hard on him, will this be another reason to be rebellious or change back to his normal self?

Gogol or Nikhil

In the Namesake,"How could you guys name me after someone so strange?"(Lahiri 101), Gogol, I mean Nikhil says. He doesn't understand why he has a pet name in the first place. When his mom says, "It's our way, Gogol"...."It's what Bengalis do"(Lahiri 100). But what is ironic is that his name isn't even Indian it's Russian which doesn't help their parents case at all. I think Gogol or Nikhil whatever he wants to be called is stuck in an identity crisis who lives in this American world. He seems embarrassed of his name. Especially when he went to the college party when he told this girl Kim his name was Nikihil and nervous she wouldn't be accepting. But she was, they talked all night and Nikhil felt so on top of the world that he kissed her. He said, "That Gogol had had nothing to do with it."(Lahiri 96). He feels like he isn't stuck anymore being named Nikhil and his parents are just going to have to accept it.

The Namesake

I have only read two chapters of The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, and I really enjoy reading it so far. It is interesting to read about the culture and lifestyle she is leaving behind in India. I feel bad for Ashima because she was arranged to marry a guy she didn't really know and move to an unfamiliar city. She is about to give birth, and she shouldn't be alone to give birth to her baby. But her husband is nowhere to be found. She said the only reason why she isn't fully alone is because her baby is keeping her company. Also the only thing that is getting her through the pain is going back in time when she was living in India with her family. Ashima is lost and afraid of being a mother in a city she isn't familiar with and I have sympathy for her.

The Lion Project

There are different ways of telling a more complete story. For example, a website called Clubfoot Club and a book called “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe shares to the world about the life of being clubfooted or living in Africa. These two sources are two different ways to tell a more complete story of their stereotypes. The website tells a story of how living a life being clubfooted is always a battle of being an outsider and not able to relate or talk to anyone. The book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe shows a different perspective of the life of an African and not just unfortunate people who need help. All in all, both sources are ways the authors portray a more complete story about what they represent and are known as. These sources are two different ways to share their voices that want to be heard.

            No one really knows what being clubfooted really is. Well it is a birth defect when a baby is born and there feet are curled in between their legs, you either need surgery or casted when you’re a few days old. Children need to be treated immediately to live a “normal” life style. Born with clubfeet has misconceptions of being awkward, lonely, bullied, not a curable disease, suffering in silence, but also overcoming battles.  The website Clubfoot Club is one way to not suffer in silence, meet other people experiencing the same defect, and sharing the complete story.

            Anyone that writes on this website are certain individuals who want other people to hear what he or she are going through and to be able to not suffer in silence. A sixteen-year-old girl named Victoria shared her story saying that, “[she] has recently started looking for stories written by people like [her].”(Clubfootclub.org-Victoria’s story). This shows that individuals use the website as a great resource to read about people’s stories who are struggling with the same birth defect and able to relate and not suffer in silence. Victoria also says that, “The teasing probably started in third grade”(clubfootclub.org-Victoria’s story) which supports the clubfoot stereotype and one main reason to have this website. Victoria is not the only one bullied but “knowing that someone else has dealt with the same thing and knows what you are going through makes dealing with it a lot easier” which is what the website is used for people in need to be heard just like Cindy, another survivor.

            Cindy also told her story at the age of thirty-one years old born with severe bi-lateral clubfeet. On the website she said, “[She has] been reading some of the stories and they are very uplifting but [her] story isn’t as positive” which she wants people to know the good, the bad, and also the ugly. Cindy struggles through the pain everyday of her life and doesn’t enjoy people looking at her feet because it is embarrassing. She says, “But after all of those things, I am stronger and my pain threshold is extremely high. Like I said earlier ‘I am still walking’ and that is great!”(Clubfootclub.org-Cindy’s story). Living the battle of clubfeet makes you a stronger optimistic person who never gives up and all these stories share this message throughout the website and is amazing to read. What is also amazing to read is “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, which is another way to share the complete story of an African man.

             The author Chinua Achebe wrote this book to share Okonkwo’s complete storing of his life in Africa. Achebe tells the story of a man who is stuck in a hard world that is changing the way he doesn’t want to live. Living in Africa is a hard way of living because of the poverty, men having more control over woman, and different religious beliefs. The stereotype of African people is ones who need help all the time and who portray innocence. But being innocent is not the case because Okonkwo, “beat her very heavily”(Achebe 29) just because his food wasn’t ready and his wife wasn’t to be found anywhere when he called for her. He is one who isn’t an innocent man you needs to feel forgiveness for because he felt guilt so he “did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna”(Achebe 63). This contradicts the misconceptions of the African stereotype because not everyone is innocent and deserves help or attention. This is the reason why Achebe wrote this book to tell the story of the good the bad and the ugly and wanting everyone to know this side of Africa.

            The Clubfoot website and the book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe are two completely different ways to tell stories you want to be heard by a broad audience. The website is a way for people who were born with clubfeet that feel there are suffering in silence to tell the complete story, and to find other people who are experiencing the same life struggle. People who are born with clubfeet aren’t known for their stereotype, they aren’t awkward and they are normal like everyone else. The website is a great way to express your feelings about what you have gone through and let everyone know about it. Another great way to do that is by writing a book. “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is different and efficient way to get your voice heard, and to tell the complete story of African people’s life.  The book contradicts the misconceptions of the African people. Achebe portrays that these people aren’t as innocent as we perceive them to be, and they aren’t as poor and do have hard working labor. They experience the good the bad and the ugly throughout the entire book, and that is what Achebe wants heard. These two sources show different but similar stories of struggle, accomplishment, and defeat and they use a website or book to share that complete story.

Masculinity in Things Fall Apart

One of the main themes in Things Falls Apart is masculinity and its a topic I fell strongly about that needs to change. It is ridiculous how much the men in this book put themselves above woman like Okonkwo. It isn't normal. You can't beat girls and make them your slaves like Okonkwo makes her wives do everything for him and also his daughters. You can't beat your wife or any woman.

Diana Nyad: Never Ever Give Up

Everyone in my class had to pick one Ted Talk video that was interesting, or inspiring to you and freely write about it. I chose Diana Nyad: Never ever give up, because I felt like being inspired this weekend. At the age of sixty-four she swam from Cuba to Florida knowing the dangerous risks there was such as: sharks, deadly jellyfish, swimming in the dark, and just swimming in the ocean nonstop for fifty three hours. She knew she couldn't do this alone, she had her team of researchers and medical team that were on a boat beside her cheering her on and making sure she was going to make all the way, which she did. She accomplished her dream goal at age sixty-four not knowing if she can do it. Her team attempted it four times not able to finish, until know.

I can't imagine being able to do this at her age, and having the determinate to push through the pain she had to go through. She is a role model to look up too and know that you can do anything you put your mind too no matter what age you are at. Yes this ted talk is very inspiration, but she also made the viewers laugh, I know I did. I thought it was very cool she listened to the same song the entire time. The message I got from this video is you are never to old to follow your dreams and accomplish them.