Home
How do I get home? That's one question Gogol can't seem to answer. He is never quite at home – not at Maxine's, not at his house on Pemberton Road, and not in Calcutta, either. And he's not the only one who's having trouble finding a place to put his feet up. The characters of The Namesake all seek to create homes for themselves, and the houses they live in reflect their personalities. The rich Ratliffs live in a lavish mansion. Gogol's bachelor pad is spare and, frankly, depressing. The Gangulis' first apartment is small and cramped, but filled with love. If a home reflects identity, it's no wonder Gogol has trouble finding and creating a lasting one. Plus, it makes it all the more fitting that he chooses to be an architect. If he can't find a home, he might as well build one.
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In The Namesake, the décor of a home speaks volumes about its inhabitants, telling us everything we need to know about personality, relationship status, class… the list goes on.
By the end of the novel, the house on Pemberton Road has become a real home for the Gangulis, reflecting the years they lived together and apart as a family.
1. What is the concept of "foreignness" and how does it relate to the theme of "the Other" in the novel The Namesake? |
2. How does the novel The Namesake explore the theme of identity? |
3. What role does naming play in The Namesake and its exploration of foreignness? |
4. How does the novel depict the experience of being "the Other" in American society? |
5. What is the significance of cultural heritage in The Namesake? |
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