Abdelaziz Abdelrahman

Ms. Kozuch

English 1

April 10 2023

Jhumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake" is a charm novel that explores the dare of two
cultures. The characterizations of Ashoke and Mrs. Lapidus takes a notable role in the
story's development, putting up to its themes and main conflict.

In one section, Ashoke reflects on his near death encounter, revealing his brooding
nature. He says, "I realized then that I had lived my entire life by accident. I had lived
half a life, perhaps less." This quote highlights Ashoke's reflective nature and his
search for meaning in life. Mrs. Lapidus's gregarious and active manner differs with
Ashoke's brooding personality, highlighting the cultural differences between Bengali
and American societies. This difference also presages Gogol's grapple to coordinate
his two identities.

Another example of how Ashoke and Mrs. Lapidus plays a part in the plot when they
meet for dinner. Mrs. Lapidus's interest about Ashoke's name and background sets the
stage for the main conflict of the novel. Ashoke's story of how he came to adopt the
name "Gogol" foreshadows Gogol's difficulty in harmonizing his Bengali legacy with
his American identity. Ashoke explains, "I chose the name because I was lost, and it
seemed as good a means of being found as any." Mrs. Lapidus's interest with Ashoke's
name decorate the cultural gap between Americans and Bengalis, emphasizing the
difficulties that Gogol and his family face as they try to navigate two worlds.

In conclusion, the characterizations of Ashoke and Mrs. Lapidus are pivotal to the
evolution of the plot and themes in "The Namesake." The difference between
Ashoke's brooding and Mrs. Lapidus's sociable nature highlights the cultural
differences between Bengali and American culture, while their conversation about
Ashoke's name foreshadows the main dispute of the novel. Lahiri's expert storytelling
draws readers into the world of Gogol and his family, exploring general themes of
identity, belonging, and cultural comprehension.