Exploring Cultural Identity In Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake

Abstract

Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake explores the complexities and nuances surrounding cultural identity in the context of immigration. The novel probes into the lives of the Ganguli family as they struggle with their dual identities as Indian immigrants in the United States. This paper examines how Lahiri skillfully traverses the theme of cultural identity through the lens of the Ganguli family, portraying the challenges, conflicts, and reconciliations they experience while striving to bridge the gap between their Bengali heritage and their American surroundings. This paper also analyses key characters and narrative elements to reveal the intricate ways in which Lahiri presents the fusion and collision of cultures, ultimately portraying how the quest for a sense of self is often intertwined with the quest for cultural belonging.