The Namesake, chapters 5–7: The story of Gogol (or Nikhil, I guess) continues...
Chapter 5 of The Namesake begins with Gogol actually contemplating changing his name to Nikhil, and he decides to go through with it. Ashoke signs the document without complaint, but I'm sure we all know he wasn't thrilled by the idea of his son getting rid of the name he chose; the one that represents his survival the night of the train accident... But then again, Gogol is changing his name to one that Ashoke and Ashima did also pick; it's not like he decided to become Fred or George or something... Also, Ashoke finally reveals to Gogol the reason WHY he selected such on odd name, leaving Gogol a little shaken by the fact that he never knew his dad had almost died at such a young age. I guess Ashoke finally thought it was the right time. Personally, I think it was a good decision to wait until after Gogol had changed his name rather than when Gogol presented Ashoke with the papers because I don't think it's fair for Gogol to keep his name out of guilt.
I have to say, after reading this section, my first thought was:
(Source: Barney Stinson. Digital image. WishBox. N.p., 03 July 2016. Web. 2 Mar. 2017.)
But what I have to say definitely isn't all praise...
Don't get me wrong, I thought chapter 7 was well done; it was a true and honest depiction of the hardship Ashima faces everyday throughout her life in America, and even more so after being isolated from her children and after Ashoke's death. Gogol, on the other hand, is really starting to get on my nerves. I thought, at the very least, chapters 5 and 6 were going to take a closer look at Gogol's psychological state after changing his name, an identity crisis maybe, really ANYTHING about his emotions... But frankly all I recall is him avoiding his parents, dating girls, and having sex...
My reaction to Gogol's romantic ventures:
(Source: Barney Seppuku - How I Met Your Mother GIF. Digital image. Tenor. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2017.)
Particularly, what bothers me is his relationship with his parents. Sure, a lot of people change a bit when they go off to university, but Gogol has taken it to a whole new level...
(Source: High School You Vs. College You. Dir. BuzzFeedViolet. YouTube. N.p., 24 Nov. 2014. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.)
Even the guy in the video still calls his mom for God's sake!
Lahiri describes how "[Gogol's parents] had been disappointed that he'd gone to Columbia. They'd hoped he would choose MIT, the other architecture program to which he'd been accepted. But after four years in New Haven he didn't want to move back to Massachusetts, to the one city in America his parents know. He didn't want to attend his father's alma mater, and live in an apartment in Central Square as his parents once had, and revisit the streets about which his parents speak nostalgically. He didn't want to go home on the weekends, to go with them to pujos and Bengali parties, to remain unquestionably in their world" (Lahiri, 126).
Especially after Ashoke told Gogol the meaning of his name, you would think this would bring them closer together. But no, Gogol just wants to live in his own little world with Maxine where his family doesn't exist, where he was never Gogol, and where he lives the American Dream.
In my opinion, it seems like Gogol is trying to isolate himself from everything he associates with his childhood (the time when he was still Gogol and not Nikhil), including his parents and his old Bengali-American lifestyle. He wants to make it seem as if Gogol never existed. Sure, he had a weird name, but now its changed. It’s not like anything traumatic or even particularly embarrassing happened in his childhood that’s related to his name! He has absolutely no reason to neglect his parents, and I think he’s being pretty immature. I mentioned in my last post that people often focus on certain aspects of themselves that others pay no mind to; Gogol even realizes that "the only person who didn't take Gogol seriously, the only person who tormented him, the only personally chronically aware of and afflicted by the embarrassment of his name, the only person who constantly questioned it and wished it were otherwise, was Gogol" (100). So yes, his name may have affected him more than others would perceive as reasonable, but I still think he's taking this too far.
He's using the name Nikhil as an escape, of sorts. If he isn't Gogol anymore, then he has no obligation to see his parents or practice his old culture, right? WRONG! His parents sacrificed a lot for Sonia and him; they've done nothing but support him. He may be Nikhil to the rest of the world, but to Ashoke and Ashima, he'll always be Gogol, and he should honour that.
I mean, even Norman (if you also remember from my last post) is really close with his mom! Maybe a little too much...
(Source: Vera Farmiga Animated GIF. Digital image. Giphy. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2017.)
I'll admit, I'm not always happy with my parents, and I do want to leave Ottawa for university. All kids want to leave home and have a new experience at some point. But at the same time, I'm aware that they've done nothing wrong, and I have no reason to make them feel unloved after they've spent 17 years of their lives raising me. I know for a fact that once I leave for university, I'm going to miss home; I'm definitely the kind of person who would come back every two weeks! Sometimes, it's important to just take a step back and look at the big picture. Especially reading about Ashima's bleak new life, I can't help being furious with Gogol for not going to visit more often. Ashima now "does laundry once a month. She no longer dusts, or notices dust, for that matter. She eats on the sofa, in front of the television, simple meals of buttered toast and dal, a single pot lasting her a week and an omelette to go with it if she has the energy to bother" (162). Gogol may have felt a little frustrated at times, but, for example, he's definitely going to regret not spending as much time with his dad before he died. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, so there's really no point being bitter. He says himself, "[he] feels helpless, annoyed yet unable to blame his mother, caught in the mess he's made" (106). It's true that spending time with family may make him feel slightly conflicted, as he doesn't really know at those times if he's Gogol or Nikhil, but I don't see why they can't be one and the same. I’m perfectly fine with Gogol changing his name, but what he’s doing isn’t healthy. It seems like he’s using the new name to become a completely different person who's all rebellious and not exactly the ideal Indian child...
(Source: Mindy Lahiri Animated GIF. Digital image. Giphy. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2017.)
Having two names doesn't have to be like Hannah Montana where each one represents a completely different identity; Gogol and Nikhil can coexist harmoniously.
Gogol keeping his distance from his parents also represents how much he has integrated into American culture. Ashima describes how "[h]aving been deprived of the company of her own parents upon moving to America, her children's independence, their need to keep their distance from her, is something she will never understand. [...] She had complained to her friends at the library, and they had told her it was inevitable" (166).
But who knows, as tragic as it is, maybe Ashoke's death will teach Gogol to be a little more appreciative. It'll be good for him to shut Maxine out for a little while and focus on family.
(Source: For My Parents... Dir. BuzzFeedYellow. YouTube. N.p., 5 Dec. 2015. Web. 2 Mar. 2017.)
Now, I'm not that fond of Maxine either. I think she can be quite controlling at times (like when she asks Gogol if they were still going to the cottage JUST AFTER HIS DAD DIED), but anyways, I did have some sympathy for her. She fully incorporated Gogol into every aspect of her life, but all he wanted to do was hide her from his past. He said he didn't want anyone who didn't know Ashoke at the funeral, but he never even gave her the chance to get to know him!
(Source: Sitaji. Maxine at Ashoke's funeral. Digital image. Bollywood Food Club. N.p., 26 Apr. 2008. Web. 2 Mar. 2017.)
Overall, I think Gogol really just needs to accept that the past is the past and MOVE ON! It's not a bad thing to be close with your parents, and being known as Gogol by family doesn't mean he needs to turn into the insecure and reserved person he used to be when he visits home.
As an aside, Sonia has also been going through her own sort of transformation, getting an “American” smile when her braces come off, cutting her hair, dyeing her clothes black, and threatening to dye her hair and get more piercings. I'm curious to see what kind of person she'll grow up to be.
Now for the best part! Looking for a snack to accompany this section of the novel? If you found chapters 5 and 6 as dull as I did, a plain old, boring vanilla and chocolate cupcake might go nicely. But, if you want to spice things up a bit, I'd suggest a churro fiesta cupcake! If you actually loved hearing about Gogol's relaxing time in the nature of the Ratliff cottage in New Hampshire, maybe some fresh fruit will suit your tastes, in which case strawberry would be a perfect choice!
Thanks for reading, and be sure to keep an eye out for my next post!