Week Three Discussion (pages 68-101)

Happy Saturday Scholars,

Hope you are staying cool on this sweltering summer day! Hopefully you have read and enjoyed pages 1-101 of The Namesake. We're in to the triple digits here people! And if you're not quite where we are yet, no worries. You have plenty of time to get it all done. You can do this!  As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns please reach out so we can make sure the text it clear.

Here are some questions to consider for the third section of the text (pages 68-101):

1. Imagine that you are Gogol. You notice that people laugh at your parents’ accents when they speak English to salespeople in stores. Explain how you feel when you see this happening.  Does it make you lose respect for your parents? Are you ashamed of them?  Do you do anything to protect them? 

2. Imagine you are Sonia.  Somehow you knew enough to take the dollar bill and put it in your mouth at your rice ceremony.  One of the guests noted, “This one is the true American” (63).
Explain why it is easier for you, as the second child in the family, to follow your brother’s lead and become “the true American.”

3. What are Gogol's main interests at the age of 14 years old? How do his parents view these interests?

4. How does Gogol try out his "new" name for the first time?  How does his own memory of the incident show that from this point on he will live with a double identity?

5. How does the visit to India involve a great sacrifice for Gogol and Sonia and give them at the same time the opportunity to see their parents for who they really are?

6. How can your sibling, the one you fight and quarrel with throughout childhood, be your closest friend in the world?  How do Sonia and Gogol realize the allegiance they have to each other when they spend eight months in India?

7. Imagine if Ashoke and Ashima knew how their children felt about the time spent in India - eight months that are “quickly shed, quickly forgotten, like clothes worn for a special occasion, or for a season that has passed, suddenly cumbersome, irrelevant to their lives.” How do you think they would react? Would they be shocked by their children's attitude, or is their attitude something they are aware of?


Think about your responses. You do not need to answer all the questions here unless you would like to do so. Instead, use the questions to explore the themes of the reading.

The novel is called The Namesake. As the story develops we must consider Gogol's navigation between American and Indian culture.  As previously noted, this presents challenges to him as he grows older. Consider this as you prepare your response. We look forward to the discussion. Remember next week's reading includes pages 102-135.  Enjoy and stay cool!