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

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

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

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

Clothing

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

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

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

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

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”