The question of identity can be translated universally, it always seems difficult to answer, especially for those who are culturally dislocated, growing up in two worlds at once, just as immigrants are forced Do. There are external components of identity that are bestowed on people; cultural classifications such as race, religion, and gender, as well as social characterizations such as family, career, and title. Many people use these external labels and definitions to describe or define themselves, however, there is much value in moving beyond these external descriptors to recognize one's true and complete identity. In the novel The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri, the author thoroughly examines the topic of identity from many angles, raising questions in the reader's mind. Lahiri never explicitly answers these questions, but instead describes identity as a unique and fluid sense of self. This self-realization may not always be immediately satisfying, however it is continually developing, always creating new branches of identity to explore. Regarding Bengali culture and the maturation of Gogol's identity, Lahiri makes his name the most significant and persistent aspect of identity and, ultimately, demonstrates that reinventing himself by changing his name does not fulfill his hope of shutting out the past embodied by the name Gogol, because as Gogol eventually realizes, the creation of "a new person" cannot be derived from the actions he takes to please others. Although this only happens towards the end of the novel, Gogol awakens this “new person” through the choices he makes for himself, rather than in the hope of receiving the approval of others. Throughout the novel, Go......middle of the paper...the interesting part of The Namesake is the ending. The progression of the novel does not come full circle, but rather a U-turn, as Gogol realizes that he has always had the power to be whoever he wanted. A clear awareness of how he was perceived in the social world, combined with self-awareness, would establish salient characteristics, creating Gogol's true identity. There was no need to envy other Americans, there was no need to distance himself from his family and culture, and at this point the reader cannot help but pity Gogol. When Gogol is 26 and his father dies, he realizes that “Without people in the world to call him Gogol, no matter how long he lives, Gogol Ganguli will, once and for all, fade from the lips of loved ones, and therefore, cease to exist. Yet the thought of this eventual end gives no sense of victory or comfort. It provides no comfort” (289).