Essay: The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri depicts the immigration experience, cultural identity, and family tradition. Similarly, Bend It Like Beckham, a movie directed by Gurinder Chadha, tells a story of a young, Indian girl who is culturally torn between two worlds. The theme of alienation is present in the book; Ashima Ganguli, Gogol’s mother, feels like a stranger in foreign place. Gogol sees America as his home and appreciates America in a way that his mother cannot understand. Gogol’s name is the only thing that makes him feel like an outcast. After communication difficulties between Gogol’s parents and relatives in India, their baby was named something other than the name his grandmother chose for him. Even though Gogol was not named following his culture’s tradition, his name has meaning that is held very close to his father’s heart. The variation of protagonists allows the readers to interpret all situations from multiple points of view. Jesminder Bhamra struggles between remaining loyal to her Indian culture and conforming to the British way of life. The visual effects of the movie help demonstrate the difficult decision Jesminder has to make between following her dream, playing soccer, and meeting her family’s expectations, having an arranged marriage. The director wants the audience to understand that Jesminder’s family has become an obstacle in following her dream, but she will not let them get in her way of succeeding. Jesminder tries very hard to please herself, her soccer team, and her family. Although it may be hard, she is succeeding at living the best of both worlds. In the book, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri and the movie, Bend It Like Beckham, the main characters must find their own identity in a new society under their family’s’ cultural traditions.
The Namesake portrays the challenges faced by an Indian boy who was born in America, Gogol Ganguli, while discovering his identity and place and society. The book also portrays the difficulties that his parents, Ashima and Ashoke, faced leaving their loved ones behind in India when moving to America. Ashima compares living in America to being pregnant because they are both “a perpetual wait, a constant burden, a continuous feeling out of sorts… something that elicits the same curiosity from strangers, the same combination of pity and respect.” (Lahiri 49) Ashima feels alienated and alone without her family in America. She does not feel comfortable raising Gogol in a place she is not only unfamiliar with, but also a place where she has no relatives. When Ashima came to America, she left behind her family and tradition. Ashima had to compromise her happiness in order to conform to the American way. Ashima tries to incorporate her Indian traditions into her American life. “Ashima Ganguli stands in the kitchen of a Central Square apartment, combining Rice Krispies and Planters peanuts and chopped red onion in a bowl. She adds salt, lemon juice, thin slices of green chili pepper, wishing there were mustard oil to pour into the mix.” (1) American products will never fulfill Ashima’s desire for a taste from home. Another way in which Ashima strives to continue practicing Bengali tradition is by sending Gogol to Bengali language and culture lessons. Ashima sees the importance in familiarizing her children with Bengali culture because it is a large part of who she is. “For when Ashima and Ashoke close their eyes it never fails to unsettle them, that their children sound just like Americans, expertly conversing in a language that still at times confounds them, in accents they are accustomed not to trust.” (65) American culture will never be fully accepted by Ashima. She is uncomfortable living in American society because of the many unaccustomed ways. Gogol has the ability to disconnect himself from his Bengali life and indulge in American lifestyle. Ashima could never conform to American society the way Gogol did.
Throughout the book, Gogol struggles to accept his name. In the Bengali culture, every person is given two names. The first name is a pet name, which is used only by friends and family. The second name is a good name, which is used in public. For example, a good name would be used in school, while a pet name is used at home. “Gogol” is a peculiar name, but that does not bother him during the beginning of his childhood. Gogol does not feel unknown until he relates to the rare names rather than the common ones in the cemetery. As a result of his discomfort, Gogol decides to legally change his name before leaving for college. Gogol thinks his name has no meaning, but he will soon find out that it holds a very special place in his father’s heart. Ashoke reveals the true meaning of Gogol’s name, “And suddenly the sound of his pet name, uttered by his father as he has been accustomed to hearing it all his life, means something completely new, bound up with a catastrophe he has unwittingly embodied for years.” (124) Gogol represents a new life for his father after a train accident he survived in 1961. Ashoke was holding a book written by Nikolai Gogol when he was rescued from the train. He could have died on the train, and the book was a token of his life. Gogol decided not to visit his dad in another state in order to spend time with his girlfriend. During this time, Gogol received a phone call saying his father had passed from a heart attack. Gogol feels he has betrayed his father because he was supposed to be there with him when he passed. Gogol’s life evolves around the betrayal of his father; he realizes the true importance of his name and family through the loss of a loved one.
The Namesake explores cultural identity and family tradition, as well as the struggles faced by immigrants entering a foreign place that they will soon call home. A plethora of book reviews are available for the book, The Namesake. Many have said that they can almost taste the Indian food described by Jhumpa Lahiri. A major theme in The Namesake is the unkempt links between generations. Lahiri’s use of intricate detail allows the reader to feel the deep emotions of the Ganguli family and their lost connection with India. “This book is a brilliantly told story of family, traditions, and self-acceptance. Lahiri combines skillful storytelling with emotional prose to draw readers into the world of a traditional Indian family.” (Brown) Jhumpa Lahiri highlights the denoting power of names and their contribution to discovering our true identity. (BookBrowse) The deep connections between family and culture engages the reader and does not fail to show the difficulties faced by children growing up with cultural restrictions.
Jesminder Bhamra, the main character in Bend It Like Beckham, desires to fit in a culture other than her own, while pleasing her parents and remaining loyal to her culture. Jesminder was raised by a Sikh family; they want her to marry an Indian man, but she wants to play soccer. Jesminder has a strong desire to join the British society, but is fearful of neglecting her culture and losing her family. It is a challenge for Jesminder to stay loyal to her Indian culture because there are many rules and expectations. Jesminder is concerned because her parents do not accept or understand her love for playing soccer. “If I had an arranged marriage, would he let me play football?” (Bend It Like Beckham) Jesminder knows the importance of obeying her parents, but cannot help her desire to break free from the restrictions of her culture. Jesminder’s mother has associated herself with the Indian community in England, but Jesminder is involved with the British community. Jesminder has dedicated herself to playing soccer and being a loyal, committed teammate, but still sees pleasing her parents as a priority. Her choices in life are directly impacted by being born into a cultured family. Jesminder is very persistent and takes risks in order to achieve her goal, and ultimately, she does. If you are willing to work hard and take risks, it is possible to achieve your goal under cultural restrictions.
Throughout the film, different shots and costumes are used in order to show the character’s’ emotions during different experiences. The filmmaker uses close up shots to highlight the characters’ expressions. The use of angles in the scene where Jesminder is arguing with her parents about playing soccer in the house allows the viewers to feel involved and reminds the viewers of the cultural conflict presented. The low angle of Jesminder’s mother captures the Indian God looking down over her. She cannot escape her family and their culture. The high angle shot of Jesminder shows that her parents are disappointed with her and are looking down on her for disrespecting her culture. Close up shots display Jesminder’s concern about disappointing her parents, and her parent’s anger about Jesminder letting them and the Sikh culture down. The director uses costumes in a way that represents the character’s’ mood and connects it to an activity. Jesminder’s face is lit up with a big smile whenever she is wearing her soccer jersey. The audience is able to see Jesminder’s big smile in the close up shots. Close up shots show the misery in Jesminder’s sad eyes whenever she is wearing her sari. Jesminder uses soccer as a way to accept her new culture. When she wins the final game, she combines her two cultures by wearing her sari with a smile on her face. In the locker room, the audience sees Jesminder in her sari and her teammates in their jerseys. This scene shows the ultimate contrast between her two lives because we see Jesminder and her parents in a civil place of agreement. (Chadha)
Bend It Like Beckham captures the life of young girl with the desire to fulfill her dreams, but also the desire to please her parents. Bend It Like Beckham exemplifies the challenges that young women with cultural restrictions face. The challenges in Bend It Like Beckham are presented in the way that still allows the audience to connect with Jesminder’s experiences despite being held back by their own family tradition. Through Jesminder’s willpower and desire to succeed, the audience learns to never give up on their dreams because hard work pays off. (Chadha) Jesminder idolizes David Beckham; his success gave her the motivation to work hard and follow her dream of playing soccer. “‘Nobody can bend it like Beckham,’ she beams, referring to his extraordinary ability to warp space in order to get the ball to the goal.” (Fuchs) The movie shows how overcoming challenges and life experiences really shape a person. Bend It Like Beckham beams positive energy; the cast is to credit for the excitement that the movie brings to the audience. “British import Bend It Like Beckham encourages moviegoers to chase after whatever that thing happens to be with zest and passion.” (Isaac)
The Namesake, a book written by Jhumpa Lahiri, and Bend It Like Beckham, a movie directed by Gurinder Chadha, display cultural impact on young girls. The culture one associates themselves with does not change who they are as a person, but can cause conflict. Gogol Ganguli and Jesminder Bhamra are torn between two cultures; they both conform to their new society, but still have the desire to please their parents. Gogol struggles with his identity because of his given name and his lack of knowledge about his name’s significance. Jesminder struggles with her identity because she has dedicated herself to a soccer team, but has to please her parents and stay loyal to her Indian culture at home. Jesminder has two different identities, one with her soccer team and another with her family. Jhumpa Lahiri’s use of detail indulges the readers in the emotions of the characters. Her manipulation of the narration helps the reader to experience the full story with the characters. Gurinder Chadha’s use of different shots and angles engages the viewers, while also making them feel related to the characters. As Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” Through life experience, Gogol and Jesminder discover and accept their true identity, the meaning of life, and their place in society and the world around them.