Marriage is portrayed in a nuanced manner throughout The Namesake. The marriages of two different couples are examined, showing the various themes that repeat themselves from one generation to another. Although the author delves into the darker side of marriage, this work manages to avoid cynicism.
Ashima and Ashoke
Ashoke is a young engineering student who lives in America and returns to Calcutta to find a wife who shares his cultural heritage. He marries a young Bengalese woman who did not have any significant choice in the union, but he is not unkind and the couple manages to create a relatively happy life. Nonetheless, Ashima finds herself isolated in her new country due to the language and cultural barriers. She especially longs for the sense of community and family she had in Calcutta when she gives birth to her son, Gogol.
Gogol and Moushimi
Moushimi is a vibrant and independent young Bengalese woman who is introduced to Gogol through his mother. After being abandoned by her fiance, she was able to enjoy an unusual amount of freedom in her twenties. While she is instantly drawn to Gogol, it takes only a year for her to resent their marriage and the loss of freedom it brings. She pulls away from him and begins an affair with a former high school classmate. Although their marriage ends poorly, Moushimi and Gogol share a brief period of happiness and romance.
Both couples in this story demonstrate different aspects of married life in Bengalese culture. Moushimi and Ashima may have chosen different life paths, but they come from similar backgrounds and share similar feelings about marriage. Both women feel isolated and constricted by the role society expects them to play as wives. Gogol finds himself disappointed with the way his marriage ended, but it leads to introspection that allows him to find self-acceptance.
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