The Namesake: Atmosphere

Atmosphere of Displacement

The theme of displacement that runs throughout the novel also heavily influences its atmosphere. The Ganguli family’s dislocation from Calcutta to Cambridge, Massachusetts instills a sense of cultural and spatial estrangement. This alien atmosphere is particularly palpable in Ashima’s regretful reminiscing of her homeland and in her attempts to replicate Bengali traditions in America.
There is an atmosphere of cultural friction and confusion, felt as the Gangulis grapple with clashing Indian and American norms. Gogol’s angst over his uncommon, Russo-Indian name personifies this cultural unease. The shame he feels infuses the novel with an air of self-deprecation and embarrassment.

The narrative conveys a restless, searching atmosphere as different characters seek their personal and cultural identities. For instance, Gogol’s continuous search for an identity that aligns with his name results in an atmosphere of uncertain expectation, peppered with moments of self-discovery.
Gogol’s renaming of himself as Nikhil showcases a desperate attempt to escape the contradictions associated with his birth name. Yet, even as Nikhil, he remains unsettled and questioning. This lends a significant air of unease and disillusionment to the narrative.

Throughout the novel, there’s an ever-present feeling of melancholy and deep sense of loss. This is particularly noticeable as the narrative reflects on the aftermath of Ashoke’s death, and during Gogol’s break-up with Moushumi.
Ashima’s feelings of homesickness, weaved throughout the storyline, add a layer of sorrow to the narrative’s atmosphere. As she immerses herself in the letters and books from India or prepares Indian dishes in her American kitchen, she cultivates an aura of longing and sadness.
The deaths of Ashoke, Gogol’s father, and Ruth, Gogol’s first girlfriend, heighten the ever-present atmosphere of loss within the novel. Despite Ashoke’s acceptance of mortality post his accident, and Gogol’s eventual acceptance of his name’s significance post his father’s death, their losses underscore a nostalgic and grief-stricken atmosphere.