Lahiri has said, "The question of identity is always a difficult one, but especially for those who are culturally displaced, as immigrants are . . . Who grow up in two worlds simultaneously." What do you think Gogol wants most from his life? How is it different from what his family wants for him, and what they wanted when they first came to America to start a family? How have expectations changed between generations in your own family? Do you want something different for your own children from what your parents wanted for you?

Answer and Explanation:

1. What Gogol wants most is to be accepted and discover his own identity. That's because Gogol is Indian and was raised to the standards of Indian culture, in the USA, where he was raised. American clout is very influential in Gogol's life, especially after he starts to live with Americans at school and in his daily life. Gogol feels confused between the two cultures and this distresses him, moreover, he has a Russian name and an Indian surname, which causes more confusion about who he is both for him and for other people.

2. Gogol's family went to America in search of a better quality of life and better political, economic and educational resources for both them and their children. What they want for Gogol, however, is that he represents a successful individual for Indian culture and so they want him to be a doctor or an engineer.

3. In this novel, we can see that the expectations between the generations of a family change. While older generations want their children to seek financial stability and a successful career, children seek acceptance, happiness and comfort.

4. I believe that all parents want their children to be happy and healthy, so I don't believe that I want anything different for my children than what my parents wanted for me.

This question is about the novel "The Namesake" which addresses the need for cultural identification in a country as diverse as the United States. In addition, the book addresses the differences between immigrant families according to the cultural mix and the evolution of the generations.