The Namesake

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The key aspect of culture is difference. There are many differences between cultures and one is names. By moving to different parts of the world will make a realization of the differences. Many cultures or parts of the world will have common names. This story gives a great example because it tells a story about a young boy who realizes his differences after moving to America. His last name is completely rare in America. This is considered to be because of his culture. In “the Namesake,” Jhumpa Lahiri develops the theme that culture has its differences but in reality all culture are the same through his unique names, his care for it, and realization.

The start of all this was, that the young boy’s name is Gogol. He knows his name is different. He never sees it anywhere like others around him. To add, it doesn’t help that he has an odd last name as well. Him with the last first name Gogol and last name Ganguli makes it even harder to find someone with a similar name. For example, his class went on a field trip to a graveyard and he didn’t see his name on one gravestone. In the story it said,”the children begin to scamper between rows of the dead, over leathery leaves, looking for their own names, a handful triumphant when when they are able to claim a grave they were related to.” He obviously didn’t find his which relates to the fact …show more content…
People want him to realize he shouldn’t care that his name is different because it doesn’t honestly matter. Another script from the reading says, “He has been told that he was named after a famous Russian author, born in a previous century.” This made him realize that he’s not alone and he knows he doesn’t really care. Next, to get to the point the author literally said it doesn’t bother him. “It doesn’t bother him..” stated Jhumpa Lahiri. He blantly said he doesn’t mind his name and knows its different. It is clearly stated that Gogol doesn’t mind his
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