When Does Gogol Ganguli Have A Pet Name Essay

Gogol is a man of many transformations. He struggles with understanding what the meaning of home really is. As the story progresses he has difficulties fitting in, in which his attempt at interaction is delayed due to his multicultural background. Over time, Gogol concludes that the idea of home is realizing who you are as a person, and what your purpose is in our world. Gogol, although a great guy, seemed to be lacking the confidence early on to establish his place in society. He felt like a little fish in a big sea just trying to find his way. In the story it says, “He is afraid to be Nikhil, someone who doesn’t know him” (Lahiri 118). This quote just lends support to the fact that Gogol was afraid to be himself because he didn’t know what his purpose was. He was so afraid about being judged that he forget how to be himself, a man many …show more content…
He no longer wanted a “pet name” so with dignity, and course he followed through with the process and got it legally changed. In the story it says, “Not only does Gogol Ganguli have a pet name turned good name, but also a last name turned first name. And so it occurs to him that no one knows in the world, in Russia or India or America or anywhere, shares his name. Not even the source of his namesake” (Lahiri 158). This symbolizes the pride that rushed through Gogol’s veins when he changed his name. Before this point Gogol struggled immensely mentally in American culture because of his name. The changing of his name from Gogol to Nikhil really made him feel like he was a part of the immigration process of changing your legal name, and made him feel unique in that no one else has his name. He felt as if he was connected among the others who have done it in the past, which gave him a stronger coherent feel with the people he was surrounded by day in and day out. His comfort level rose as he realized that he is a special individual because of the rarity of his