- Jhumpa Lahiri has said, "The question of identity is always a difficult one, but especially for those who are culturally displaced, as immigrants are . . . who grow up in two worlds simultaneously."
1.What does Gogol want most from his life?
2. How is it different from what his family wants for him, and what they wanted when they first came to America to start a family?
3. How does Gogol’s internal battle help present the meaning of the novel as a whole?
ReplyDeleteWhat Gogol wants most from his life is consistency. He has a Russian first name and an Indian last name and attends school with Americans. Gogol feels that he is trapped in two different worlds. He must act “Indian” when he is at home and with his parents friends but must try to fit in with his American friends at school all the while trying to wrap his head around his strange first name which comes from Russian literature. That’s why when he changes his name he picks an Indian name instead of an American name. At least that way his first name would be consistent with his last name. This is different from what his parents want for him and what they wanted when they first came to America to start a family. The Gangulis came to America to pursue education and prosperity for themselves and their future family. They didn’t necessarily want or feel the need to escape their Indian culture. In fact, they wanted their children to be proud of their heritage. They followed Indian traditions and befriended other Indian families. They wanted Gogol to become an engineer, a doctor or a lawyer because those professions exemplified prosperity in Indian culture. Gogol’s internal battle provides meaning for the novel as a whole because his search for his own identity is symbolic of the melting pot that is the United States. His struggle represents the struggles all immigrants feel as they try to assimilate to American culture while still clinging to the traditions of their former home. This novel is really the story of all who have settled in America.
Gogol wants to be accepted. With the name of a Russian writer and as the son of Bengali immigrants living in America, Gogol feels that he will be unfavorably judged and doesn’t know how he identifies himself. He changes his name to Nikhil to eliminate his insecurities and confusion, but he will always be Gogol, so he hides it, along with his Bengali culture. On the other hand, his parents want him to embrace his name, Gogol, and his culture. When they first came to America, they had to adjust to their new lives, while still keeping some of what they had in India. When they started a family, they wanted their children to also have a part of both cultures in their identity. Gogol’s parents had worked “to organize the holiday, to convert it, to introduce the tradition to those who are new”, and it was for Gogol and Sonia, that they had gone to such lengths to learn these American customs (286). Gogol’s internal battle helps present the meaning of the novel as a whole because it represents the struggle that many people face in finding and accepting their identity--more specifically those with multiple cultures, like immigrants and their children.
ReplyDeleteGogol wants to find his true identity since he is stuck between the Bengali and American culture. While Gogol wants to blend in with his American peers, which is shown through him changing his name to Nikhil and dating American girls, Gogol also does not want to abandon his culture completely, which is depicted when he allows Ashima to set him up with Moushumi. Yet Gogol’s family wants him to follow the Bengali customs and remain close to his family and feel accepted within the American society, while Gogol feels the need to branch out and discover who he is. When once first coming to America the Ganguli’s wanted their children to be successful and hold onto their cultural values, but Gogol wants to be an architect and discover himself without being held back by his culture. Gogol’s internal battle with his identity as an American and Bengali man presents many of the themes within the novel such as cultural preservation versus accommodation, as well as the differences between the older generation and younger generation, of those born in America and immigrants.
ReplyDeleteGogol wants to be able have a single lifestyle where he can live in one place normally and not be torn with different cultures. Gogol’s parents wants him to participate on Indian activities yet he also wants to participate in American activities. His parents continued to live as they would in India, the clothes they wear, the food they cook and eat, the language they speak. Gogol, however, wanted to wear American clothes, wanted to eat American food, and wanted to speak English. He chose to speak Indian only around his family members and not anywhere else. When Ashima first is in America, she is afraid of being surrounded by people she doesn’t know, places she’s never seen and where she knows so little about. Gogol’s internal battle represents the feelings of other immigrants in the same position as him, not knowing who they truly are as they live in a foreign place. Gogol feels like a mix and wishes he could live in one way. He is also torn from his parents are they live differently from him even though they live in the same household. The children of immigrants can surely relate because they grow with such different traditions than their parents and also struggle to find themselves.
ReplyDeleteGogol wants to be able to have his own identity, and it seems as if he wants to identify more alongside his American culture than his Indian culture. He even goes so far as to pondering changing his own name, as well as dating women who don't have the same cultural ideals as his family's Bengali lifestyle. When Ashima and Ashoke first came to America to start a family, they tried to integrate their own traditional culture into their newfound American culture. They hope for Gogol to follow in their footsteps and adopt their traditions, but instead, find him basically abandoning his own culture entirely and adopting the American culture instead. This being shown through the name change and dating of different cultured women. Gogol's internal conflict with his identity helps present the meaning of the novel as a whole by relating the challenges of Gogol finding his true identity with the reader and their struggles in real life to find their own identity.
ReplyDeleteGogol wants more than anything to live the life of a typical American who also takes part in his Indian culture rather than strictly focus on being Bengalis. In order to do this, he changes his name although he still goes by Gogol, dates American girls yet marries Moushami, a Bengalis woman, which was as arranged, and he even follows his dream of becoming an architect instead of those his parents created for him. This is different from what his parents wanted because they wanted him to be exactly like them and live a successful and happy Bengalis life in America. They wanted him to follow in his father’s footsteps and be an engineer. They also wanted him to wear, eat and dress like a Bengalis while also having an arranged marriage, with no divorce, with a Bengalis and start a family. Gogol’s internal battle throughout the novel shows how difficult it is to be an immigrant in a new country. It shows the struggle of trying to find your identity and figure out who you are and how you best fit into the society.
ReplyDeleteGogol wants to have an identity that he can be proud of showing. He is not proud of being Gogol since it is a Russian name, nothing to do with his culture. Therefore, he changes it to Nikhil, so that he can hide the name of Gogol. However, his parents want him to embrace his name and the Indian culture, something Gogol prefers to not show. When his parents first came to America to start a family, they wanted for Gogol to show his Indian identity outside of just being at home. The parents truly show this by still participating in Indian traditions and still wearing Indian clothing. The battle shows the meaning of the novel of having an identity which is what Gogol is trying to find. He wants to find his identity he wants to show but is torn between two forces from within his home and outside of his home. For a while, he tries to balance these two forces, but ultimately cannot and in the end he embraces the identity of being an Indian.
ReplyDeleteGogol wants to have an identity that he can be proud of showing. He is not proud of being Gogol since it is a Russian name, nothing to do with his culture. Therefore, he changes it to Nikhil, so that he can hide the name of Gogol. However, his parents want him to embrace his name and the Indian culture, something Gogol prefers to not show. When his parents first came to America to start a family, they wanted for Gogol to show his Indian identity outside of just being at home. The parents truly show this by still participating in Indian traditions and still wearing Indian clothing. The battle shows the meaning of the novel of having an identity which is what Gogol is trying to find. He wants to find his identity he wants to show but is torn between two forces from within his home and outside of his home. For a while, he tries to balance these two forces, but ultimately cannot and in the end he embraces the identity of being an Indian.
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ReplyDeleteI believe that what Gogol wants most from his life is to be happy, no matter what his definition of happiness may be. Growing up in a country where his parents were not from was difficult for Gogol’s entire family, and even from a young age Gogol was unhappy. For example, in the novel, Gogol decides to change his name to Nikhil. By making this significant change, Gogol becomes quite happy and begins to act more positive about life in America. When Gogol did change his name, however, his mother, Ashima, was upset because she believed that American names weren’t good enough. Despite his mother’s beliefs, Gogol did what made him happy and went through with his name change. Also, in order for Gogol to be happy, he feels as though he needs to be accepted. Therefore, I would have to agree with Anita when she writes in her blog that Gogol desires to be accepted because finally being able to “fit in” with the Americans is a goal that Gogol would be more than happy to accomplish. Although Gogol’s parents may continue their Indian heritage while living in America through the foods they eat, clothes they wear and names they hold, Gogol instead wears the typical American outfit of jeans and a t-shirt, holds (now) an American name, and attempts to speak English, rather than Indian. By doing these things and carrying out these specific actions, Gogol is trying to show his parents that what he is doing is making him happy and is also making the move from India to America easier for him. Gogol really just wants to live his life the way he wants to, rather than the way his parents want him to, and by doing so, Gogol will be able to finally pursue his goal of happiness.
ReplyDeleteFrom his life, i feel Gogol most wants is freedom and the ability to do as he pleases. for him, it is always an internal struggle in which he is trying to make the right decision for not only himself, but for his parents, his significant other, his culture/heritage etc. He needs to feel content with his life and the decisions he makes regarding it. This is different from his mother's beliefs, which is why he never really went through with his name change. When his family had first come to America, they did not want to adapt to the cultures, but keep their own. Gogol grew up, met a girl, and went to school. he is obviously going to assimilate to heritages and cultures around him, which is much different from what his family originally wanted for him.
ReplyDeleteGogol aches for self-acceptance, as well as acceptance from his community. He is not sure whether to present himself as American or Indian, as he feels so judged by his peers and wants to keep his Bengali life completely hidden from the world. This is hard for his parents to accept because they want him to be at peace with himself and his culture, and want him to be ok with the fact that he will never be “Nikhil” (the name he chooses for himself), as he will always be known as Gogol. When his parents decided to move to America, it was for the sole purpose of living out the “american dream” and for the education, not for the freedoms of the American lifestyle over the Indian lifestyle. They felt that raising their children with both cultures would be beneficial and give a unique make-up to their identities. His internal struggles are a reflection of the struggles all immigrants face when trying to become assimilated into American culture because balancing both their heritage and the culture surrounding them is a constant tug of war, both physically and mentally.
ReplyDeleteWhat Gogol wants from his life is to be a normal accepted American like most of his friends and colleagues. He feels alone with his unusual name and wants to be compared to someone common so that he can relate more to the people he is surrounded with. Most of all, he wants to feel like part of the crowd. Unlike some who strive to be different, he is striving to be the same, moving away from his culture and everything that it had represented to something that is ordinary and in a sense mundane. What Gogol’s family wants from him is to absorb their native culture and to go by the family customs. This could be because of the deep family roots to that of Bengali. They may also feel like they want their son to grow up like they are; proud of their culture and traditional in form. They start this with completely surrounding them in all of the things in their culture: eating traditional food, wearing classic garments and participating in their festivals and holidays. However, Gogol rejects most of it as he progresses in his life. He may feel like it is a handicap when he is socializes, as if he is embarrassed for people to know or constantly think that he is in some way different because of these cultural differences.Gogol’s internal battle helped present the meaning of the novel as his struggles are directly related to the social issues of immigration from an unlike culture. One can draw a comparison to the many struggles that similar people face when migrating on such terms from a perspective of a first generation immigrant. One can assume that the person wants to fit in as much as possible to his or her surroundings.
ReplyDeleteGogol yearns to fit in among his peers, and ultimately wishes to be proud of his culture rather than it being a barrier for him. He is torn between his Indian heritage, and his newly adopted American lifestyle. For example, due to insecurity, he changes his name in order to fit in and “mask” his Bengali culture. When his father, Ashoke moved to America, he initially saw it as an opportunity to branch off and become a professional. Although, once he had died, Ashima believed that it was important to retain their Indian heritage and have a balance between their newly adapted culture, and their roots. On the other hand, Gogol feels as if it is necessary for him to mask his culture and fit in as an American. He feels this to the point where he actually changes his name. The struggle that Gogol and his family endure is very prevalent within today’s society, and represents how immigrants moving into a new country and adapting to a new culture can be quite difficult.
ReplyDeleteGogol yearns to be accepted among all of his friends and family and to accept his own culture instead of being ashamed of it. He hates his heritage and all it stands for. Throughout the whole book he tried his hardest to do the exact opposite of what his parents and his culture want. He changes his name to change the childish name but when he learns the true meaning of the name he is ashamed of himself for changing it. Gogol feels it is necessary to mask his culture which because he is ashamed of how his parents act. It is through Gogol and his family the reader grasps an idea of what it is like for a family for which immigrated into a country. It is through this book that allows us to see the changes in the family's culture and show how difficult it is to adapt to new surroundings.
ReplyDeleteGogol abandons the life his parents raised him in very quickly. His parents wanted Gogol to be aware of his roots in this foreign country, but to him this foreign country is his home, and India is a foreign country. If you think about it, he grew up going to school in America, all his friends had such different cultures than his, the normal lifestyle wasn’t the life he was living, can you blame him for wanting to be normal? Anyways, he changes his name, he dates american girls, falls in love with their customs. He actually starts to ignore his own family because he is spending so much time with Maxine’s. All of this reflects Gogols internal battle between cultures. It is when he starts dating Moushumi and his father dies that he discovers a balance between cultures.
ReplyDeleteWhat Gogol wants the most in his life is to be accepted while trying to fit in with the Americans. He probably wants to keep his Indian traditions, but he's probably too afraid to, because of the judgements he'll get. He desperately tried to ignore his Indian identity because people thought it was different and found it weird. But Gogol doesn't want to disappoint his parents at the same time. This constant battle shows unrest and war going on in the story, a war that won't be reached until Gogol can come up with a treaty himself that will end it. What Gogol's family wanted for him was completely different from what he wanted, which was for him to choose between becoming a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer because in India, it shows rank, respect, and a successful life that will pay off in the end. His parents made friends of their own culture, and Gogol wanted to go along with them and make them happy, but he wants to be happy too and the stuff that he wants won't make them proud but it will make him proud. The constant battle of figuring out this situation is to figure out how to assimilate his life to America and getting his parents to adapt to its customs and traditions as well as staying true to theirs and also mixing it in with the new, American ones, and when Gogol finally does start creating this balance, it's when he meets Moushumi and his father dies that he does.
ReplyDeleteGogol wants to identify himself as his own person and ultimately be happy. He wants to be accepted as an Anerican. On the other hand, his family wants him to keep his Indian culture and appreciate it. When they first moved, his family expected to live their Indian life, just in America. Gogol's internal struggle shows how hard it is as an immigrant to be accepted in a new place. His constant battle between his Indian culture to please his parents and his American culture to please himself, shows the struggle of having parents as immigrants as well. His struggle represents the internal struggle between cultures.
ReplyDeleteI think Gogol really wants to find his purpose, and understand who he is and wants to become. Gogol wants his own life, to not always be surrounded by his family. His family wants him to understand his culture and background, and follow in their footsteps. They wanted to raise their Indian family in America, but found that they couldn't do that entirely. Gogol’s internal battle plays into how he cares for his parents but still wants to live his own life.
ReplyDeleteAll Gogol is looking for in America is to be happy, and to find a niche for himself in this vast and expansive country that he calls his home. Gogol wants to be independent from his parents and to be able to be happy on his own terms. However, his internal battle, the battle between Gogol and Nikhil, is one of identity, as Nikhil, the confident, independent American capable of accomplishing anything he puts his mind to. Or Gogol, the Indian boy tied to his family's roots and always overruled by the shadow of his family/his parents' homeland. This differs from what his family wants for him as they wish for him to experience, a traditional one that is full of Indian culture and to experience the things that his parents experienced themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhat Gogol wants most of his life is to be accepted by the people around him. He feels like he will never be accepted because of his name and his culture so he changes his name, but his family wants him to embrace and be proud of his indian culture. When they first move to america they hope to keep their indian culture and hoped to raise their kids with some if not most of their traditions, while still allowing them to adapt to their surroundings. Gogol's internal conflict represents the meaning of the novel as a whole because it represent the struggle of many people in america whose parents were not raise in the U.S. It represents their struggle of not feeling like they belong to either culture and the feeling of trying to be more of one than the other instead of a happy medium.
ReplyDeleteGogol wants to be able to live as himself the most. In his life, he lived between two cultures, the American and the Bengali cultures. In Bengali traditions, Gogol is only allowed to marry another Bengali woman and act a certain way. Although his parents let him date Americans, but they allowed it as long as he marries a Bengali. From this, he does not live as how he wants, but as how his parents want him to because of the Bengali customs. In the beginning, Gogol’s parents wanted their children to be successful and proud of their culture, but later on in life, Gogol wanted to become an architect rather than be an engineer and wanted to stray from his Bengali traditions. Gogol’s internal battle help present the meaning of the novel as a whole because it shows the struggles for a person living between multiple cultures, differences between immigrants and Americans, following traditions, and more.
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