How does Gogol's definition of home change throughout "The Namesake"? Use evidence from the story to support your claim.
In Jhumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake," Gogol's definition of home changes as he grows older and adapts to the different stages of life. Throughout the story, Gogol struggles with his identity, culminating in a shifting understanding of where he feels a sense of belonging and home.
At the beginning of the story, Gogol's home is clearly defined as the house he grew up in with his Bengali-Indian immigrant parents, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli, in suburban Massachusetts. His main connection to his home is through his loving family, who tries to instill a sense of Bengali culture in their children while also adapting to their new American surroundings.
As Gogol grows older and starts to attend school, he begins to feel conflicted between his Bengali roots and his American upbringing. This conflict is highlighted when he learns the origin of his name, which is inspired by the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol. Gogol's name represents not only a source of embarrassment in his social and academic life but also his struggle to find a balance between his two cultural identities. This struggle becomes a driving force behind his changing definition of home throughout the novel.
When Gogol goes to college, he believes that leaving home and reinventing himself is the key to discovering his true identity. He starts going by the name "Nikhil" and tries to distance himself from his Bengali roots. For Gogol, his new identity represents an escape from the confines of his childhood home and a chance to create a new sense of belonging.
After college, Gogol moves to New York City and further immerses himself in an American lifestyle. Through his relationships and friendships, he explores what it means to be an American while he continues to neglect his Bengali roots. For a while, he believes that his newfound independence and renewed identity have given him a new sense of home in New York City.
However, Gogol soon realizes that completely abandoning his own culture leaves a void within him. His father's eventual death prompts Gogol to reevaluate his understanding of home and reconnect with his family on a deeper level. He begins to appreciate his Bengali heritage and the sacrifices his parents made for him and his sister.
At the end of the novel, Gogol's definition of home evolves into something more nuanced than a physical location. Home becomes a blend of the cultural aspects he has inherited from his parents and the American environment in which he grew up. As opposed to seeing these two elements as conflicting, Gogol learns to balance his Bengali roots with his American identity, ultimately gaining a greater understanding of who he is and where he comes from.
In conclusion, Gogol's definition of home in "The Namesake" changes as he grows older, shifts between cultures, and faces various life experiences. While his initial understanding of home is rooted in his childhood in a traditional Bengali home, Gogol later confronts his cultural identity as he seeks independence and self-discovery. Finally, Gogol realizes the importance of embracing and balancing both aspects of his background, allowing him to redefine home as a combination of his Bengali roots and American upbringing.