Namesake

Lahiri divulges various facets of Ashima’s character, and also shows her strengths and weaknesses, in her book, The Namesake. Lahiri is telling her readers that the role of Ashima in the Indian culture is to get married, but not boy choice, bear a child, and to take care of the child while her husband provides the funds. Lahiri is also trying to get the readers to understand that Ashima’s life in America is a whole different lifestyle than her life in he home country. Coming from India to America for her husband’s education, having a baby in America, and having to cope with her mother’s illness and father’s death, while being in another country, Ashima Ganguli proves to be a strong woman.

When Ashima is at the hospital, she hears a man say “[He] loves you, sweet heart”, to is wife (3). Ashima never expects this affection to happen between Ashoke and herself, since she had an arranged marriage and does not call her husband by her first name because of intimacy, saying she loves him is unthinkable. Coming to America for her husband’s education. Ashima had high hopes to live there. After having the baby Ashima realizes that her son, Gogul, will be growing up in America alone, with no family besides Ashoke and herself. Ashima expresses how she feels by stating, “[She] can’t do this…[She] won’t”…Not here. Not like this” (32-33). She insists that Ashoke should hurry up and finish his degree so they caan go back to India and raise Gogol, so he would not grow up alone.

Not having gotten the letter from her grandmother, Ahima writes to her explaining the situation about Gogul’s name. The next day a letter comes in, but from her grandfather saying that her grandmother has had a stroke and does not now how long she will be with them. Since Ashima’s relationship with her grandmother was so strong. Ashima was devastated. Before Ashima left for America, her grandmother states, “Do what [She’ll never do. It will all be for the best. Remember that. Now go” (38). Ashima’s grandmother is telling her to start a life in America, outside of India, as she never did. A few weeks later Ashima;s brother calls, talking to both Ashoke and her. Her brother Rana relays a message to Ashoke, but not to Ashima. Since Ashima wondered why