The Namesake Culture

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Literature is a magical mirror from authors. It reflects a story seen through from their eyes and speaks to the readers. Each character in the literature is often vividly depicted that shows a significant characteristic and appeal. In the collection of Jhumpa Lahiri’s debut novel, The Namesake, she skillfully uses the cultural and physical surroundings to shape the psychological traits in Ashima Ganguli. On account of cultural differences between Bengali and American, her family members living apart, and Ashoke Ganguli’s sudden death, these occurrences establish Ashima’s adaption, certainty, and independence in accepting the United States. In The Namesake, the author, Lahiri, meticulously places Ashima into a challenge to maintain a balance …show more content…
Ashima is a traditional Bengali wife, which her culture teaches her to trust her husband and rely on him. She follows Ashoke to Cambridge to start their new life and give born to their children. During her adulthood, Ashima knows Ashoke is always beside her, although he needs to work and only able to come home every three weeks. The miserable news of Ashoke’s death pressures Ashima to learn to take care herself and to become accustomed to her loneliness. She needs to make her own decisions now and takes her husband’s responsibility as a father as well. It is said the solitude and reality lead to Ashima’s independence.
The Namesake is a simple and splendid piece of writing. Jhumpa Lahiri sets Ashima Ganguli to experience the challenges of her surroundings in order to lead her to her acceptance of American culture. Seeing through the cultural differences between Bengali and American, Ashoke’s sudden death, and living alone by herself, she finally overcomes her alienation and gains independence as a Bengali wife. She becomes more independent and certain that she fit into the American environment. It is said her cultural and physical surroundings shape her into a more mentally strong
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