The Namesake
The Namesake means someone or something that has the same name as
another person. Gogol is the namesake of the writer Nikolai Gogol. A last name
turned first name. So everything pertaining to this name is relevant.
Nikolai Gogol wrote a realistic fiction and was the champion of the little man as
a literary hero. Nikolai Gogol wrote about the vexation of spirits and he had a
pessimistic attitude towards life. Nikolai Gogol also wrote about the meanest
and vulgarity of existence. He wrote about a romantic hero in his great tragedy
“The overcoat”; the romantic hero can neither adapt to the world nor escape
from it and this hero is therefore all the more anxious to expose its vulgarity
and evil. The overcoat is the great tragedy of an insignificant man who dies of a
broken-heart after his overcoat has been robbed.
Jhumpa Lahiri (born in July 11 1967 in London ) was inspired by her own story
to write the story of Gogol to whom she must have felt close for she has
changed her name in London (the scene where Gogol changes his name to
Nikhil). Also, she tries to explain her troubles and feelings while living in a
foreign country which has nothing to do with Asian cultures. However, she
adapts herself to such an extent that she even changes her name. In the
Namesake, the main concern is about the change of name in the characters
and also about the significance of the names, which the writer must have
considered as important for a name is the main part of one’s identity. Born in
London, Lahiri’s ambivalence over her identity was the inspiration for Gogol-
the main protagonist. The unusual name given to Gogol is an allusion to her
own identity. Lahiri appears briefly in the movie as Aunt Jhumpa.
Indian ethos – myths forms a very important part in the Indian consciousness.
Alike the train scenes which is considered as symbolical for the whole family.
Element of wonder brings magic to the novel alike in the Indian mythologies.
Moreover, love, marriage and soulmate is highly look upon, as well as the
symbolism of Death and Birth.
The Namesake means someone or something that has the same name as
another person. Gogol is the namesake of the writer Nikolai Gogol. A last name
turned first name. So everything pertaining to this name is relevant.
Nikolai Gogol wrote a realistic fiction and was the champion of the little man as
a literary hero. Nikolai Gogol wrote about the vexation of spirits and he had a
pessimistic attitude towards life. Nikolai Gogol also wrote about the meanest
and vulgarity of existence. He wrote about a romantic hero in his great tragedy
“The overcoat”; the romantic hero can neither adapt to the world nor escape
from it and this hero is therefore all the more anxious to expose its vulgarity
and evil. The overcoat is the great tragedy of an insignificant man who dies of a
broken-heart after his overcoat has been robbed.
Jhumpa Lahiri (born in July 11 1967 in London ) was inspired by her own story
to write the story of Gogol to whom she must have felt close for she has
changed her name in London (the scene where Gogol changes his name to
Nikhil). Also, she tries to explain her troubles and feelings while living in a
foreign country which has nothing to do with Asian cultures. However, she
adapts herself to such an extent that she even changes her name. In the
Namesake, the main concern is about the change of name in the characters
and also about the significance of the names, which the writer must have
considered as important for a name is the main part of one’s identity. Born in
London, Lahiri’s ambivalence over her identity was the inspiration for Gogol-
the main protagonist. The unusual name given to Gogol is an allusion to her
own identity. Lahiri appears briefly in the movie as Aunt Jhumpa.
Indian ethos – myths forms a very important part in the Indian consciousness.
Alike the train scenes which is considered as symbolical for the whole family.
Element of wonder brings magic to the novel alike in the Indian mythologies.
Moreover, love, marriage and soulmate is highly look upon, as well as the
symbolism of Death and Birth.
