LITERATURE: The Namesake – Culture

Since the focus of this novel appears to be the conflict between tradition and acceptance of a new way of life for immigrants, I found this notion interesting:

To predict his future path in life, Gogol is offered a plate holding a clump of cold Cambridge soil dug up from the backyard, a ballpoint pen, and a dollar bill, to see if he will be a landowner, scholar, or businessman. Most children will grab at one of them, sometimes all of them, but Gogol touches nothing. He shows no interest in the plate, instead turning away, briefly burying his face in his honorary uncle’s shoulder.

“Put the money in his hand!” someone in the group calls out. “An American boy must be rich!”

“No!” his father protests. “The pen. Gogol, take the pen.”  (p. 40)

I’m backtracking here only because I’ve come upon another similar scenario, when the rice ceremony, celebration of a baby’s first introduction to solid food, repeats itself with Gogol’s new little sister.

She plays with the dirt they’ve dug up from the yard and threatens to put the dollar bill into her mouth. “This one,” one of the guests remarks, “this is the true American.”  (p. 63)

It is here where the reader would be affected by his or her own background, as an American or non-American, and if an American, likely of what generation. I’m relatively new, being a second generation born American, my grandparents having come over from Europe in the early part of the twentieth century, around the time of World War I. I’m not sure of their reason for making the move, but I suspect it was for a new life of opportunity that was being touted as the American Dream.

I must admit I’m put off a bit by the foregoing passages only in that it seems to define Americans as only interested in money. I don’t find that to be true. The opportunity that most immigrants seek, and I’m sure Ashoke and Ashima and their friends as well, is to be able to earn a good living and have things they could not have in their own countries. It’s the opportunity, not the money. I think this is one of the most misunderstood elements of the American way of life and of Americans.

In this story, Ashoke who is himself a lover of books and a university professor, urges Gogal to take the pen that assumes scholarship. He alone seems to see the value in the choice that would not offer just personal satisfaction, but would lead to creating an opportunity for financial gain as well. One of the first things the couple does when Ashoke is hired is save and buy a house and car.

Work that earns income translates into shelter, food, education. The medium used to translate one into the another is money. Are we not to aspire to having a nice home? Enjoyable, healthy food? As much of an education as we can afford or gain ourselves through reading and acquiring knowledge? Then what’s the problem?