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.