Generational impact of Diaspora and Patriarchy in Jhumpa Lahiri's, "The Namesake"

Jhumpa Lahiri's novel, "The Namesake" offers nuanced insights into the lives of those displaced from their homelands. Lahiri's characters in 'The Namesake' offer the readers glimpses of the diverse ways in which diasporic circumstances impact various aspects of one's life. This research aims to analyse the two female characters of Jhumpa Lahiri's, "The Namesake", Ashima Ganguly and Moushumi Mazoomdar. The analysis points out the contrasting and diverse viewpoints, that Ashima and Moushumi provide the readers, in regard to their respective response to diaspora and patriarchal oppression in their lives. Lahiri has penned down a beautiful and subtle narration that offers the readers a peek into Ashima and Moushumi's personal dynamics in relation to diaspora and patriarchy. The research follows both the characters journey through the course of the novel and traces the collective impact patriarchy and diaspora has on these characters lives, their journey, their choices and their personalities. This paper explores the varying impacts of diaspora on first generation immigrants as well as the second-generation immigrants. Ashima and Moushomi's characters portray these diverse impacts of diaspora. The constant longing, Ashima has for her homeland paired with the sense of loss of identity, the inability of Moushomi to claim a land, a country, a culture her own, symbolise the conflict ridden state brought about by diaspora. The paper also aims to shed light on the extent to which patriarchy plays the role of one of the primary driving factors in Ashima and Moushomi's lives and the choices they make throughout. The constant presence of patriarchal expectations has a tremendous impact in shaping the personalities and lives of both these female characters.