The Quest for Identity Essay Example for Free

The Quest for Identity EssayIn nigh point of our lives, we every(prenominal) try to find our identities try to find a place that we can control in completely. Most people struggle, some does not. The seekingion of identity is especially difficult for immigrants and their coming generations since they stand different cultures and different views. In the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, the main character Gogol struggles with his cultural identity ascribable to the ideological difference between him and his parents on the concept of summons. According to Bengali naming traditions, every wholeness has two names, a pet name and a good name.The good name is for the public to office, the pet name is for family and friends to use in private places, it is also a persistent remnant of childhood, a reminder that life is not always so serious, so formal, so complicated. They are a reminder, too, that one is not all things to all people (26). Different traditions represent diffe rent cultures In the get together States, many people name their parole after the father or the grandfather to honor the elders and also act as a symbol of heritage. On another hand in India, every name is sacred and cannot be inherited.Ashima and Ashoke decided to name their first child Gogol, this name doesnt only when represent the life of this child, it also represents the life of the father-Ashoke. However, this unformed and weightless name has become a burden of Gogols life for a big long time. The first lesson that Gogol learns near his names is at the towns public elementary school. At first, he does not expect to go to kindergarten because his parents harbour told him that he will be call a forward-looking name-Nikhil at school which he does not want and does not sympathise.He is afraid to be Nikhil, individual he doesnt endure (57). Of course, he is not the only one who doesnt understand about the pet name and the good name. When Ashoke tries to explain to the principal Mrs. Lapidus about why they want her to call Gogol Nikhil, Mrs. Lapidus tries to understand, and ends up in confusion due to the cultural difference. Im not sure I follow you, Mr. Ganguli. Do you mean that Nikhil is a middle name? Or a nickname? many an(prenominal) of the children go by nicknames here (58). She has never deal with this issue before, even with the other Indian students at school. And the big problem with this is that Gogol does not respond to the name Nikhil. Therefore, Mrs. Lapidus decides to ask Gogol about his own opinion towards this forward-looking name, Gogol shakes his head as his answer, so Mrs. Lapidus writes a note to Ashima and Ashoke telling them Gogol will be known as Gogol instead of Nikhil at school due to his preference.In here, Gogol is just a kid who doesnt understand about his culture, but at the same time, the author is trying to hint us that even though Gogol is an Indian looking kid, he is Americanized his thoughts are very differen t from his parents who are typical Indians. And in the United States, his parents thoughts are not so accepted which increases the gap between Gogol and his parents. As Gogol is getting older, he past realizes how unusual his name is. As an Indian-American, his name is neither Indian nor American, but Russian.He does not know about the story behind his name yet, all he knows is that he starts to hate his name. Before he goes to college, he decides to change his name to Nikhil officially. It seems like he believes that changing his name would make him who he wants to be. So he goes home and asks for his parents opinion and complaints about his name. I dont get it. Why did you have to give me a pet name in the first place? Whats the point? Its our way, Gogol, his mother maintained. Its what Bengalis do (99). Until this point, Gogol still doesnt accept this naming tradition because he feels middle-level for his name.However, The only person who didnt take Gogol seriously, the only p erson who tormented him, the only person chronically aware of and afflicted by the embarrassment of his name, the only person who constantly questioned it and wished it were otherwise, was Gogol (100). The conversation ends with a decry by Ashoke, In America anything is possible. Do as you wish (100). This sentence sounds normal, but it is filled with helplessness and sadness. Ashima and Ashoke cant change anything, they are just two Indians living in America, no one cares about them, not even their son. They have no choice but to give in (60).Now, he is officially Nikhil, but Gogol is still like a splinter in his nerve centre. He doesnt want to touch it, doesnt like to talk about it, but the dull pain inside his heart always reminds him that its there. After Ashokes death, he learns to seize the time with Ashima. But when he knows that Ashima is formulation to move back to India, he suddenly realizes that Without people in the world to call him Gogol, no emergence how long he himself lives, Gogol Ganguli will, once and for all, vanish from the lips of loved ones, and so, cease to exist.Yet the thought of this eventual death provides no sense of victory, no solace. It provides no solace at all (289). He finally realizes that as he gets mature, his love once are getting older too. His name will die just like the people. This shows that finally accepted himself as a whole, and this name is part of him. Maybe Gogol is not who he wants to be, but Gogol is who he really is. Ashima and Ashoke are the first generation immigrants, they consider themselves Indians, but learning to define their minds and live like Americans.Struggles are parts of their daily lives. Gogol, as an American born Indian, he has an Indian appearance, but growing up in America and getting American education make him a real American inside. Living with a pet name and a good name, in a place where such distinctions do not exist-surely that was emblematic of the greatest confusion of all (118). No wonder, the quest for identity is exhausting, but eventually, you will get to the destination. Open your mind, accepts who you really are, life is beautiful.