Generational Conflict and Identity Negotiation in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Author: Ali Alzuhairi

Keywords: Generational Conflict, Identity Formation, Immigrant Experience, Cultural Assimilation, Diaspora Studies, The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri, Postcolonial Theory, Family Dynamics, Cultural Identity, Second-Generation Immigrants, Names and Identity

Abstract: This paper explores the generational conflict within Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake (2003), focusing on the complexities of identity formation in the context of immigrant families. The novel intricately depicts the tension between Ashoke and Ashima, first-generation Bengali immigrants, and their son Gogol, a second-generation American caught between two worlds. Through a comparative lens, this study examines how generational conflict in The Namesake serves as a metaphor for the broader struggles of assimilation, cultural preservation, and personal identity within diasporic communities. By analyzing the significance of Gogol’s name and its evolving role throughout the narrative, this paper argues that Lahiri uses generational conflict as a powerful tool to address the challenges of belonging and self-definition faced by immigrants and their children. Drawing from postcolonial theory and diaspora studies, the paper also engages with existing scholarship on immigrant literature, offering new insights into how Lahiri’s portrayal of family dynamics speaks to the ongoing negotiations of cultural identity in a globalized world. Ultimately, this study reflects on how the generational divide in The Namesake not only shapes individual identity but also offers a broader commentary on the immigrant experience, suggesting that reconciliation between cultures is not simply an act of coexistence, but a continuous process of negotiation and transformation.

Article Info: Received on: 12 Nov 2024 Revised on: 10 Dec 2024 Accepted on: 18 Dec 2024

DOI: 10.22161/ijeel.3.6.9

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Page No: 47-53