The Namesake Compare
and Contrast Essay
Allie
Specht
AP
British and World Literature
Ms.
Wilson
October
2, 2013
I have read and
understand the sections in the Student Handbook regarding Mason High School's
Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title page of my
paper, I am certifying that I have not cheated or plagiarized in the process of
completing this assignment. If it is found that cheating and/or plagiarism did
take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences
of the act, which could include a "0" on the paper, as well as an
"F" as a final grade in the course.
In both The
Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, and the movie version directed by Mira Nair, a
family, whose parents are originally from India, experience the journey of
finding their way in America. Their eldest son, Gogol, struggles to find his
way, trying to lead himself away from home, while his parents try desperately
to keep him there. During one particular part Gogol recalls a memory shortly
after his father’s death of a time when he and his father, Ashoke, traversed
the rocks at a breakwater off of Cape Cod when he was young. Within this part a
paradox is presented between Gogol and Ashoke’s respective journeys. As Gogol’s
father’s journey has ended, Gogol’s own journey is beginning. With the final
words of that part spoken by his father, “Remember that you and I made this
journey, that we went together to a place where there was nowhere left to
go.”(187), Gogol is reminded that even though obstacles may lie in his way, he
has gone this far with and learned from his father, and is now prepared to take
on his own journey.
One of the main differences between the book and the
movie are the images presented. Lahiri uses gothic imagery, “They walked along
the water to the left, heading toward the lighthouse, past rusted boat frames,
fish spines as thick as pipes attached to yellow skulls, a dead gull whose
feathery white breast was freshly stained with blood.” (186) “rusted”,
“spines”, “skulls”, “dead”, and “blood” are all words that have a darker feel,
that symbolize decay, and this is what Gogol and his father are seeing on their
journey down the rocks. These represent the obstacles faced on the journey. But
there is still a light at the end of the tunnel; the words of decay are
juxtaposed with words like “yellow”, and “feathery white breast”, showing that
there is reason to continue; they are all leading to the lighthouse. The
lighthouse, which symbolizes guidance for Gogol, is what they are heading
towards, and Ashoke is helping him get there. Ashoke is Gogol’s mentor; he is
leading him through it all. Now, as Gogol remembers this moment after Ashoke’s
passing, he knows he can begin his own journey. “we went together”, Ashoke has
shown him the way, Gogol’s own journey is able to begin without Ashoke because
he has learned from his experiences. He knows how to handle the obstacles and Ashoke
has already provided him the direction he needs. Lahiri also says in the book,
“They paused to regard a cracked wooden buoy painted blue and white, shaped
like an old parasol. The surface was wrapped with thin brown strands of seaweed
and encrusted with barnacles. His father lifted and inspected it, pointing to a
live mussel underneath.” (186) The decaying words such as “cracked”, “thin
brown”, and “encrusted” are representative of how Gogol struggles with his
father’s death, his mentor is gone, and now he is on his own; a frightening
challenge. But Gogol is able to look beyond that and see “a live mussel
underneath”. Gogol is still there and he has learned from Ashoke. Underneath
all the sadness is a new life, Gogol beginning on his own journey, alone.
In the movie however, there is no lighthouse, no gull, no
mussel. Nair makes up for the losses of these symbols with the setting and
costumes. The juxtaposition delivered through the imagery in the text, is also
exhibited in the movie. The overcast sky, and the jagged black rocks, is
juxtaposed with the white of the crashing waves, and the red and yellow colors
of Gogol’s clothes. The ocean represents the unknown, the journey Gogol is
about to embark on by himself. The ocean is rough, dark, and deep and there is
fear of the unfamiliar for Gogol. But the movie shows young Gogol in bright
colors, holding hands with his father, and he is able to realize that it is not
as daunting as he thinks. His father had told him to “try to remember it
always,”(187) speaking of that day, and Gogol understands now that this memory
is pushing him to continue on and flourish in his journey.
The
scene ends with a point of view shot, showing the ocean that lies out in front
of them, the unknown that now lies in front of Gogol. In both the movie and the
book, this scene is placed towards the end. It is beginning to bring some
perspective to Gogol, allowing him to come to terms with his father’s death and
accept the road that is now in front of him. It is a hard time for Gogol and
his family, but the experience with Ashoke having already been presented, the
ocean is no longer as frightening. It now holds an exciting new journey for
Gogol to experience on his own. In the
book, Gogol is leaving home after he has been there for several weeks helping
his mother cope with his father’s death before the memory is presented. It is
here where his journey starts and the reflection on this moment allows him to
have the correct perspective. The camera angle used in the movie demonstrates
the all that lies ahead of Gogol.
The
paradox of Gogol’s journey beginning as Ashoke’s ends is shown by both Lahiri
and Nair in The Namesake book and
movie, respectively. While some of the images presented differed, the
juxtaposition of those displayed help to reinforce the overall paradox. Gogol
is able to embark on his journey because of the experience he and Ashoke had
together, the experience that had taught him how to handle his new journey on
his own.
The Namesake Mis
En Scene Analysis Essay
Allie
Specht
AP
British and World Literature
Ms.
Wilson
October
2, 2013
I have read and understand
the sections in the Student Handbook regarding Mason High School's
Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title page of my
paper, I am certifying that I have not cheated or plagiarized in the process of
completing this assignment. If it is found that cheating and/or plagiarism did
take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences
of the act, which could include a "0" on the paper, as well as an
"F" as a final grade in the course.
In the
movie, The Namesake, lighting, sound,
costume choices enhance the universal them of the journey that is expressed in
this part of story. Both the lighting and sound is calm and serene, it helps to
deliver the message that was originally expressed in the book. The costume
choices are symbols for the journey and help to show how things have changed.
The
setting is simple. They are traversing a breakwater, a path of rocks leading
out into the ocean, surrounded by water on three sides. It's winter, everyone
is bundled up in scarves and hats, the sky is overcast and the ocean appears
gray. The setting contributes to the mood of the scene, it adds to the feeling
of nostalgia and provides a simple place for an important scene to be
delivered.
The
lighting is dull, colors are not illuminated and you’re really seeing many
different shades of gray. This adds to the mood of the scene, it’s nostalgic
for Gogol, as he looks back on this memory shortly after his father’s death.
The natural lighting choices enhance what Gogol is feeling, he realizes that
his father has reached the end of his journey and this memory helps him to be
at peace with it. The overcast sky gives the dull natural lighting to the
scene.
The
costumes reflect the setting of the scene well. They are all dressed in winter
clothing, scarves, coats, and hats, which helps to reflect the mood of the
passage already being presented. They’re presented in typical American clothing
and this shows how far they’ve already come on their journey. But the
connection to home is also shown. Ashima still has the dot in the middle of her
forehead so the costumes and makeup show that even though they have come a long
way in America they still hold the connections to their true home.
The lighting partnered with the sound help
convey the calm and accepting feel experienced by Gogol. The diegetic sounds in
the scene consist of Gogol, his father, and his mother, talking, the gulls
chirping, and the waves crashing onto the rocks. The waves especially give a
serene feeling to the scene, and the non-diegetic sounds of music playing in
the background also enhance this feeling. The music is simple and slow; it
paces the scene and is perfect in the background setting the overall mood.
The
camera angles in the scene show how the journey has progressed. For most of the
scene the camera is looking at Gogol and Ashoke, or viewing them from behind.
As you see them from behind, you see how they’re making their journey, how
they’re continuing down a rough path. As you look at them you can see the relationship
between Gogol and his father, and why this memory is important to him. But at
the end of the scene we see a shot of their point of view. This shows the end,
the rocks that lead out into the ocean, where they can go no further. This is
symbolic of how Ashoke’s journey has come to an end, and seeing this allows
Gogol to come to peace with it. Ashoke had been making a journey across
difficult paths his whole life. The rocks symbolize the journey he had to make
in America and they show how it has reached its end. Gogol can see how he has
had his own struggles throughout his life and that that is simply part of the
journey.
The Namesake Analysis
Essay
Allie
Specht
AP
British and World Literature
Ms.
Wilson
October
2, 2013
I have read and understand
the sections in the Student Handbook regarding Mason High School's
Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title page of my
paper, I am certifying that I have not cheated or plagiarized in the process of
completing this assignment. If it is found that cheating and/or plagiarism did
take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences
of the act, which could include a "0" on the paper, as well as an
"F" as a final grade in the course.
In “The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri, the universal theme
of a journey is examined throughout the book, and specifically on pages
185-187. In this passage we see vivid imagery used to describe a memory of
Gogol, and the memory is laid out to us as if it were a journey in miniature.
Gogol is remembering a trip out to the harbor with his father. The passage is
symbolic of the journey that both Gogol and Ashoke experienced throughout the
book.
Gogol’s memory comes at a point in
the book shortly after his father’s death. Ashoke has reached the end of his
journey and brings Gogol back to the small journey they once took together. “He
had expected his father to turn back, but still they had continued, stepping
onto the sand.”(Lahiri 186), the memory is presented as a journey, they journey
out to the rocks, across the beach and the sand, and continue until there’s
nowhere left to go. At this point in the novel Gogol’s father had reached the
point where he had nowhere left to go, and we are reminded of this as Gogol
recounts this memory. The imagery presented in this passage is extremely vivid,
as it says, “They paused to regard a cracked wooden buoy painted blue and
white, shaped like an old parasol. The surface was wrapped with thin brown
strands of seaweed and encrusted with barnacles.”(Lahiri 186) The imagery
allows you to be in their shoes and experience what the journey was like, and
why it meant so much. The passage and chapter conclude with Ashoke telling
Gogol, “Remember that you and I made this journey, that we went together to a
place where there was nowhere left to go.”(Lahiri 187) There is nowhere left to
go for Ashoke, he has travelled with Gogol on the journey as far as he could,
but now it is up to Gogol to finish his journey, and he realizes this with the
memory, a memory of home
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