The Namesake: A Paradigm of Cultural Estrangement

In the recent times globalization has created a new trend in migration and almost deleted from our thinking the concept of global geographical boundaries. Now people are moving out of their native countries to go to other nations with the desire for a better lifestyle and opportunities. However, under the influence of globalization, contemporary man is losing the sense of attachment to any person, or even his country of origin. Jhumpa Lahiri’s, The Namesake, traces the perplexities that Asians face when challenged with a foreign culture. The novel addresses various issues like cultural shock, displacement, identity crisis, and isolation. The Namesake is a novel that narrates the story of a middle-class Hindu Bengali family and their traditions, cultural beliefs, and social setups. There is a continual struggle between an insider and outsider as the self is not able to withstand the two cultures and lifestyle of the host nation. The novelist through her work has shown the journey of her characters towards home and self-realization, being seen as disturbing race through alienation, cultural clash, and hybrid culture. The paper will highlight the issue of identity crisis arising from cultural estrangement.