Sunday, March 23, 2014

Going Back to His Roots?

Is Gogol finally starting to become more confident in his heritage? In chapter 8, it really seemed like he was getting back to his family roots, and Moushumi is helping him step out of his rebellious phase. Gogol seemed to be really humbled by his father's death, and it probably made him realize how important family is, and how uncertain life can be. Gogol seems to be spending more time with his family, and even though "he is invited to join [his coworkers], he always says no" when they ask him to go out for drinks (190). Gogol not going out to party and him staying at home with his mother and sister show how deeply Ashoke's death hit Gogol, and how he is trying to rekindle the relationship between him and his mother.
Additionally, the relationship forming between Gogol and Moushumi is helping Gogol become more confident in his heritage because he has nothing to hide. Unlike all the other girls he has wooed, Moushumi is the first woman who know Gogol by his true name. Gogol and Moushumi grew up together, so he has nothing to hide and can be completely himself. Even when they go out to dinner, "they sometimes slip Bengali phrases into their conversation in order to comment with impunity on another diner's unfortunate hair or shoes" (211). Gogol speaking his native language is a huge stepping stone for him. Gogol communicating with Moushumi in Bengali is the first time in a while we have seen Gogol not embarrassed about who he is or his past.
So what do you think? Is Gogol embracing who he truly is? Or will he just go back on the American path?

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1 comment:

  1. UnknownMarch 27, 2014 at 7:55 AM

    Hey Charlotte, your very first sentence was beautifully written because I was immediately hooked and wanted to read more. Your first sentence also summarized all that you were going to talk about in a short, concise question. Later in your post, you talk about the death of his father affecting Gogol at a very deep, emotional level, which I completely agree with. Gogol was becoming more and more spoiled the longer he stayed with Maxine and was slowly pushing away his family and culture until the death of his father. After the tragedy, Gogol’s mind was warped back into where it used to be, thinking about his family. Gogol is being pulled in different directions mentally by Lahiri because when he was young, he believed that his family and culture was great. Then as a teen, he hated it and wanted to get away from it. Then he got further away from his culture when he lived with Maxine. Now, he has fallen back to his roots and is becoming more intertwined with his family and culture with the help of Moushumi, just as you said. I agree with everything you said. Gogol is becoming more involved with his family and culture by dating Moushumi, staying with his family after his father died, and speaking Bengali phrases. I hope Gogol will soon find a balance between his American life and his Bengali life instead of having one or the other overpowering his mind.

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