The Namesake CHAP 9
The Namesake CHAP 9
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Within the year they are married, at a Though both Moushumi and Gogol are
hotel in New Jersey close to her parents’ accustomed to rebellion, at this point both
home. They might both have preferred a have become obedient to the wishes of their
smaller American wedding, one families and are eager to be married. Although
they are already essentially living together, they
outdoors and with jazz, but their parents maintain the illusion of separation once they
invite close to 300 people, taking control arrive at the wedding venue. The trappings of
of the planning of the wedding his past, and of his father, follow Gogol
themselves. Gogol and Moushumi larg throughout this ceremony. The gift from Sonia
ely acquiesce as just punishment for is a thoughtful acknowledgement – from an ally
having listened to their mothers and who understands the struggle of growing up as
having gotten together in the first place. a child of immigrants – of the care that Gogol
They drive to the hotel together and then has taken in forging his own identity.
separate into their families for the last
time. Gogol wears an old Punjabi
of Ashoke’s, and Ashima is dressed up
for the first time since her husband’s
death. Sonia gives Gogol a birthday
gift, a red flask with the initials “NG”
on it, and Gogol remembers her refusal
to accept his decision to change his
name when she was thirteen.
As they both unwind in their hotel room This reflection on the inevitability of their
afterward, Gogol remembers his marriage, which was expected from the
engagement proposal. It was moment they started dating, is paired with the
on Moushumi’s birthday, at an inn in in-the-moment experience of an expected
action – sex on their wedding night – that is for
the country, and he had presented the
both, at this point, just another part of the
ring along with the hat he had bought ritual they have been taking part in almost
her months before. In the end the hat automatically all day. Unlike their parents, the
was more of a surprise than the ring, as young couple drinks champagne, and so are
from the beginning, marriage was fully American in that way. The confusion of
expected. After Moushumi has names on their wedding gifts is a sign that even
showered, they make love, even though with this move, Gogol has not escaped the
both are exhausted, and afterward problem of a divided identity. Their marriage
Gogol feels he can relax for the first will never be quite like that of his parents, as
Moushumi’s choice to keep her name suggests.
time. They open the champagne, going
through the cards and checks from their
guests. Moushumi had wanted to avoid
registering for gifts again, after the
disaster of her first wedding. The checks
are addressed to them both, some
referring to him as Nikhil and some as
Gogol. Although the cards say
Moushumi Ganguli, she has chosen to
keep her own last name, to Gogol’s
slight regret.
With the money from their guests, they Moushumi and Gogol now form a life together,
put down a security deposit on a and with our omniscient perspective as readers,
beautiful one-bedroom apartment on the we can compare it to the early days of Ashima’s
Lower East Side that is slightly above marriage to Ashoke. Gogol and Moushumi’s is a
firmly American relationship, but relics of their
their price range. They cook with
past remain, in the occasional craving for Indian
produce from a farmers’ market, food or in small ornaments in their apartment.
occasionally beating the too-sensitive The white wedding dress is an ominous sign of
fire alarm with the handle of a broom. Moushumi’s continuing attachment to the
They merge bank accounts, host dinner rebellious past she gave up to marry Gogol.
parties—small, classy affairs different Graham’s name haunts their relationship in the
from those of their childhood—and when inscriptions Gogol finds, foreshadowing future
they are craving Indian food they trek trouble.
out to Jackson Diner in Queens.
Sometimes in the apartment Gogol finds
remnants of Graham, like an inscription
in a book of poetry, or a postcard.
Gogol has a nagging worry that he
represents some sort of defeat for
Moushumi. The most pressing reminder
of Graham is her white wedding dress,
never worn, which is stuffed into a bag
in their closet.
In March they visit Paris together, This visit to Paris is another hint that the
where Moushumi is presenting an seemingly perfect beginnings of Moushumi and
academic paper. The weather is gray, Gogol’s relationship might be starting to wear
and Gogol feels acutely the eyes of off. This is a part of Moushumi’s identity to
which Gogol has no access, in the same way
passing men watching his wife. It is his
that Maxine had no access to Gogol’s Indian
first time in Europe, and they visit heritage. Here in France, Gogol is entirely a
monuments together, but he has the foreigner – and Moushumi’s slight
feeling that Moushumi would rather be embarrassment over his attempts to take
at the conference or visiting friends. He photos is reminiscent of their past
is mute at dinner with her French embarrassment when their parents, foreigners
companions, feeling useless and out of in America, would make their foreignness too
place. Finally he decides to set off on his apparent by tripping over an English phrase or
own to see the city, while she works on committing a social faux pas.
her paper. Everything he sees is
beautiful beyond description, but he is
depressed that none of it is new to
Moushumi. He is jealous of her life here,
so separate and independent. At their
final dinner she seems sad to be leaving,
and is slightly distant but beautiful.
Gogol takes out his camera for a
picture, but she refuses. She doesn’t
want to be mistaken for a tourist.
At the moment the conversation has The theme of naming takes center stage here,
turned to baby names—the names of and with it a sense of the bond between
Popes, nonsense names—and baby name Moushumi and Gogol, whose “unique” names
books are passed around the separate them from their companions – they
are united in their isolation. Gogol’s realization
table. Gogol feels his bond
that he does not know what Moushumi’s name
with Moushumi return for a moment, means suggests that their relationship is
because neither of them will be in these shallower than he had imagined. With this,
books. He is disconcerted, however, to along with the memory of Graham that haunts
realize that he does not know what her this place, Lahiri is creating a very strong sense
name means. He wanders upstairs, that something is not quite right in their
through the renovations, and into the marriage.
kitchen where Donald is finally starting
to cook. Gogol offers to help, and the
two of them talk. Donald reveals that it
was here that Moushumi came after her
break-up with Graham. This only
increases Gogol’s hatred for the place.
The wedding
What foreshadowing can be seen about the
fallout of Gogol`s and Moushumi`s relationship
during their wedding reception?
How did Gogol & Maxine act at the wedding?
What concerns does Gogol have about the
wedding?
How does he learn to appreciate about his
parents on the occasion of his own wedding?
What kinds of cash wedding gifts do Bengalis
give?
How much money do they get at the wedding?
Wedding certificate
Does Moushumi change her last name when she
gets married? Why or why not?
How might this decision have had something to
do with her interest in French feminist theory?
Did Gogol want her to change her name? Why
or why not?
The trip to Paris
Why do they go to Paris?
Do they enjoy the trip?
What does Gogol think about Moushumi's
smoking?
What is Gogol`s general mood throughout the
trip to France?
What does the weather in Paris being "raw,
cheerless, the sky white" represent regarding
the Gogol Moushumi relationship?
Gogol's secret
What secret of Gogol's does Moushumi reveal
at the party
How does Gogol react?
What does it make him think about how
Moushumi feels about him?
What does the party say when they learn
Gogol's name
The party
What does Moushumi's name mean
What does Gogol think when he learns it
What does Gogol tell the party about names?
How does Moushumi react?
What does Gogol realize about his relationship
with Moushumi during the party
Themes
How does this chapter deal with the idea of
"open" and "closed" minded ness