Linguistics and Literature Studies Vol. 1(1), pp. 1 - 7
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2013.010101
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Jhumpa Lahiri's Gogol: In Search of Identity for the Nowhere Man

Asha Choubey^*
MJP Rohilkhand University

ABSTRACT

Cultural alienation and consequent loss of identity forms a central issue in the diasporic discourse. The pain of displacement continues to pinch not only the immigrants but also their children who are rendered incapable of belonging to the country of their birth. The tragedy of alienation is felt as much by the immigrants as the next generation because the sense of estrangement is more intense in proportion to the sense of affinity with roots. Immigrants find themselves unable to adapt to their adopted country failing to adjust to the foster culture; however, their predicament is not as pathetic as that of their children. They are half-lost as there is at least one place where they wholly and absolutely belong whereas their children do not belong anywhere becoming truly and pitiably nowhere persons. There are two fictional characters that come to mind Willie Somerset Chandran and Nikhil Gogol Ganguli that occur in V. S. Naipaul's Half a Life (2001) and Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake (2003) respectively. I shall attempt to trace the dilemma of Lahiri's Gogol who is born to Indian immigrant parents but is a naturalized citizen of America by dint of his birth. My paper attempts to read how an Indian-American, Gogol lives like a pendulum till he finally attains maturity to move towards self-realization. Gogol's story is the story of a nowhere man searching for his rightful place in his home that remains for long a place of exile.

KEYWORDS
Postcolonial, Identity, Diaspora, Women's Writing

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Asha Choubey , "Jhumpa Lahiri's Gogol: In Search of Identity for the Nowhere Man," Linguistics and Literature Studies, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 1 - 7, 2013. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2013.010101.

(b). APA Format:
Asha Choubey (2013). Jhumpa Lahiri's Gogol: In Search of Identity for the Nowhere Man. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 1(1), 1 - 7. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2013.010101.