Identity Crisis The Namesake And The Great Gatsby

Identity Crisis in the Namesake and the Great Gatsby An identity is the state of being oneself. Your character is comprised of your past, present, and future. Some individuals are ashamed of who they really are and try to change themselves, or mask their identities. One of the dominant themes that is conveyed throughout The Namesake is the theme of identity. In the novels, everybody is a little lost, or a lot lost, frankly. Each individual struggle with his or her identity, because every person senses the tug and pull of different cultures, different traditions, and different aspirations. The Namesake is about this perpetual dilemma faced by immigrants as they fight to maintain their identities while trying to shake them off at the same†¦show more content†¦He felt courageous, brave, and more importantly, he felt like himself with the name Nikhil. He loses his virginity with the name Nikhil, and that name has led him to meet and have relationships with multiple women (Ruth, Maxine, Bridget and Moushumi). Even after making all determinations to erase his past, his failure to state his identity can be seen through his relationships with women. He lawfully changes his name to Nikhil before he leaves for college. The name Nikhil goes on to represent his individuality and separation from his parents. It also signifies him accepting American culture and distancing away from Indian culture. The change comes into play when people starting calling him Nikhil, it startles him. He likes the name Nikhil better, but he does not feel like Nikhil. On the inside, he feels like Gogol, no matter how much he dislikes the name. This adds to the controversy of his identity: is he Gogol or Nikhil. On the other hand, he is a mix of both: Gogol by day and Nikhil by night. The character Gatsby, from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, exemplifies the idea of identity. Since Gatsby is ashamed of whom he really is, his attempt to hide his identity by hiding himself; however, it is impossible to change your identity because it is impossible to change the past, therefore they die as who they really are. Jay Gatsby s real name is James Gatz; he had changed his name at the age of seventeen. He is originallyShow MoreRelatedANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesthe text reveals under close examination. Any literary work is unique. It is created by the author in accordance with his vision and is permeated with his idea of the world. The reader’s interpretation is also highly individual and depends to a great extent on his knowledge and personal experience. That’s why one cannot lay down a fixed â€Å"model† for a piece of critical appreciation. Nevertheless, one can give information and suggestions that may prove helpful. PLOT The Elements of Plot When we