Characters
Ashoke Ganguli: Gogol's father who is nearly killed in a train accident.
Ashima: Ashoke's wife who arrives in New York after their arranged marriage.
Gogol/Nikhil: Main character who struggles with his Indo-American identity.
Sonia: Gogol's younger sister who marries Ben.
Ruth: Gogol's college sweetheart. They separate after she studies abroad.
Maxine: Gogol's first love. Break up due to Gogol's struggles after father's death.
Moushumi: Gogol's wife. Marriage ends with her affair with Dimitri.
1. In the first three chapters, we learn of Ashoke's train accident, Gogol is born, and then Gogol starts kindergarten. After reading these chapters, some emerging themes are the importance of names and establishing a new identity.
2. The Namesake opens with an excerpt from Gogol’s “The Overcoat” but the parallels do not end there. Allusions to “The Overcoat” can be found everywhere throughout the novel. The most important similarity between the two writings is the way that Gogol Ganguli changes his name just as Akaky Akakievich changes his overcoat. Both Gogol and Akaky are born without a name picked out. As a child, the resistance Gogol shows to being called by a new name is similar to Akaky’s opposition to getting a new overcoat. In “The Overcoat”, Akaky retreats back into the defenseless person he used to be after his overcoat was stolen. In contrast, Gogol never truly converts back to his old self, except when he is with his family. Gogol wears his name like Akaky wears his overcoat. Both things give them a new sense of confidence and allows them to recreate themselves.
3. Chapter 7- Ashoke dies
Chapter 8- Gogol meets Moushumi
Chapter 9- Gogol and Moushumi get married
4. The last time Gogol saw his father was when he was with Maxine. It is a ritual for men to shave their heads when they are in mourning.
5. I think it was a terrible decision for Moushumi to call Dimitri. She knew exactly what she was getting herself in to and she wanted to prove to herself that she was still an independent woman.
6. The train represents change in many instances throughout the novel. It signifies traveling to the next stage in life. Almost every life-changing moment takes place on a train. In the beginning, Ashoke nearly loses his life in a train accident. As a college student, Gogol meets his first girlfriend, Ruth, on a train. Also, Gogol is at a train station when he learns of Moushumi’s affair.
Ashoke Ganguli: Gogol's father who is nearly killed in a train accident.
Ashima: Ashoke's wife who arrives in New York after their arranged marriage.
Gogol/Nikhil: Main character who struggles with his Indo-American identity.
Sonia: Gogol's younger sister who marries Ben.
Ruth: Gogol's college sweetheart. They separate after she studies abroad.
Maxine: Gogol's first love. Break up due to Gogol's struggles after father's death.
Moushumi: Gogol's wife. Marriage ends with her affair with Dimitri.
1. In the first three chapters, we learn of Ashoke's train accident, Gogol is born, and then Gogol starts kindergarten. After reading these chapters, some emerging themes are the importance of names and establishing a new identity.
2. The Namesake opens with an excerpt from Gogol’s “The Overcoat” but the parallels do not end there. Allusions to “The Overcoat” can be found everywhere throughout the novel. The most important similarity between the two writings is the way that Gogol Ganguli changes his name just as Akaky Akakievich changes his overcoat. Both Gogol and Akaky are born without a name picked out. As a child, the resistance Gogol shows to being called by a new name is similar to Akaky’s opposition to getting a new overcoat. In “The Overcoat”, Akaky retreats back into the defenseless person he used to be after his overcoat was stolen. In contrast, Gogol never truly converts back to his old self, except when he is with his family. Gogol wears his name like Akaky wears his overcoat. Both things give them a new sense of confidence and allows them to recreate themselves.
3. Chapter 7- Ashoke dies
Chapter 8- Gogol meets Moushumi
Chapter 9- Gogol and Moushumi get married
4. The last time Gogol saw his father was when he was with Maxine. It is a ritual for men to shave their heads when they are in mourning.
5. I think it was a terrible decision for Moushumi to call Dimitri. She knew exactly what she was getting herself in to and she wanted to prove to herself that she was still an independent woman.
6. The train represents change in many instances throughout the novel. It signifies traveling to the next stage in life. Almost every life-changing moment takes place on a train. In the beginning, Ashoke nearly loses his life in a train accident. As a college student, Gogol meets his first girlfriend, Ruth, on a train. Also, Gogol is at a train station when he learns of Moushumi’s affair.
I like how you started off this post with a list of the major characters in this novel and their descriptions. There were so many characters that we met throughout the book that it can be hard to keep track, so I find making a list very helpful. I agree with the theme that you found in the first three chapters of the book of having a name and trying to establish a new identity. I actually think this was the major theme for the entire book.
ReplyDeleteThe Overcoat and The Namesake are closely related. Gogol didn't want to change his name when he was younger but then ended up hating it and didn't want anyone to know about the name Gogol. He thought it was a name that could easily be made fun of. He then learned to take pride in his name and appreciate it once he knew the meaning behind it. It took time for him to accept the name but eventually he did. We see this similar situation in The Overcoat. Akaky didn't want to change his overcoat because it was what he always knew and wanted. He was afraid of change but by the end of the story he finally accepted the change in his life to update his overcoat.
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