Methods in 'The Namesake'

==FLASHBACKS==

• Train accident
• Memory of father in sea- connections with father
• Ashima’s arranged marriage
• Moushumi with Dimitri at school
• Train Moushumi’s affair

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==MOTIFS==

Reading

• Ashoke reading = opportunities
• Education- Ashoke wants a better life in America, Moushumi reading = opportunity for a better life
• Nikolai Gogol’s book significance at end- Gogol begins to read which shows his acceptance

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Food

• Ashima- feels closer to culture, way to bring people together, shows her nostalgia (thinks of India)
• Bengali traditions- mourner’s diet, rice ceremony, tradition used to annoy him as a child

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Trains (Love + Death)

• Ashoke’s accident on train- moves to America, name
• Gogol’s frequent visits to family on train
• Ruth on train- first love
• Finds out about Moushumi’s affair on train
• Man killed on train- encourages Ashoke to be honest about namesake

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Clothing

• Ashima wears saris and sandals to feel closer to her identity

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==THEMES==

Identity

• Namesake- confused
• Bengali/American family culture- distance it creates
• Resentment about name- distance with parents
• Maxine- the relationship with her and her family reveals the identity he wants (‘American Dream’)
• Ashoke’s death- brings him closer to his family and culture
• Reason why he marries Moushumi- they share the same experience of being first generation immigrants

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Immigrant experience

• The characters change and develop as a result of the immigrant experience
• Creates a divide/distance in the family but also brings family closer together near the end

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Challenges for Ashima and Ashoke

• Find it hard to relate to their children- language, food, etc
• Racism- store owner choosing to speak to Gogol instead of parents
• Driving
• Modernisation- "the American way” “only in America”
• Marriage- arranged marriage vs. dating and going through the process of falling in love + marriage

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Challenges for Gogol

• Parents have different traditions
• His name
• Relationships- doesn’t like Maxine because she’s not Bengali, introduces Moushumi to Gogol, guilty because their relationship didn’t work out
• Celebrations
• Food
• Has to teach his parents about “the American way”

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