The Namesake: Chapters 1-4

Chapter 1-4: Adaptation

In the novel the namesake, written by Jhumpa Lahiri, one of the main themes is adaptation. In this novel we follow a recently married Bengali couple trying to adapt to American Culture, in America while raising their son. It is clear that throughout the beginning of the novel Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli are struggling to adapt to American culture, without losing their Indian traditions. Yet, it is more of a struggle for Ashima, since she has recently arrived from India to America, in a completely new environment, different from her norms and away from everything she knew and loved.

This theme in this section can relate to my grandmothers personal life and her experience of immigrating to Canada. My grandmother and her sister emigrated from Germany to Canada around 1951. Just like the Ganguli’s, my grandmother moved from a place she was accustomed to, to go to a different country to pursue greater and better things. She came to Canada without knowing any English, and had few connections. She definitely had trouble adapting to Canadian culture and to a completely different society. Just like Ashima, my grandmother was scared to live in a foreign country without the support of her family and friends. In the novel Ashima is seen to afraid and anxious to raise a child in a foreign land with any support. She even goes on to say; “I'm saying I don't want to raise Gogol alone in this country. It's not right. I want to go back” (Lahiri 33). Ashima is scared of having a child in a country that she hasn’t adapted to, because she doesn't feel accepted and comfortable in America, while her son will feel at home being born in America. Likewise, my grandmother didn't feel comfortable in Canada.

My grandmother also experienced a language barrier, not knowing any English, and having to learn the language to accommodate to the Canadian culture. Although, she was not obligated to learn the language, she felt that in order to adapt and fit into the Canadian society, she had to learn English. Even after learning the language my grandmother preferred to converse with her sister in their native tongue around others, which relates to how Ashima and Ashoke still communicate in their preferred langue in front of others. “I’ll be back, Ashoke says to her in Bengali” (3)   

Another connection between Ashima and my grandmother is that even though my grandmother wanted to learn and adapt to the Canadian culture, she didn't want to lose her German culture. Ashima in the novel wants to familiarize with the American culture, and as the novel progress Ganguli family being to adapt to the American culture by starting to celebrate American holidays. Yet, Ashima still wants to keep her Indian traditions, culture and religion. Just like Ashima, my grandmother also wanted to keep her homeland culture in her new environment. My grandmother to this day still prepares and serves a famous German dessert called Apple Strudel to maintain her culture and Ashima tries to maintain her Indian traditions in the novel by continuing to wear her traditional Indian dress, a sari. Finally, my grandmother connects to Ashima, through struggling to adapt in an unknown country, and still wanting to keep traditions.