The Namesake

Introduction

In the Novel, the Namesake, Nikhil Gogol Ganguli has been observed to have quite a number of relationships in the course of his life. However, sadly, he is unable to make any of them work for him in the long run. He had three major relationships in the course of his life, with Ruth, Maxine and with Moushumi. He had a relationship with them at different instances. Following is a discussion for starting their relationship and why and when did they finally broke up.

Discussion

Relationship with Ruth

Gogol meets Ruth in a train when he is in transit from New Haven to his house. She is also student of the Yale University, where Gogol also goes. Talking about one thing leads to another and soon they both end up in love and start dating. Ruth was the first real relationship Gogol has with a girl and she was also of his university. At that time, he was trying to run away from his Bengali Identity and dating an American girl, was a sure-fire way to becoming a 'real' American. Gogol is young and at the time, any attentions of a girl seldom go unwanted. He is swept away with the experience. Ruth is an intelligent, American girl and at that time seems to be the 'perfect woman' for Gogol. When she leaves for a semester at Oxford University, Gogol ends up feel lonely and alone. He attends a panel discussion about ABCDs' (American born confused desis) which start stirring up the Bengali side of his personality which he had suppressed all his years. When Ruth returns, Gogol has somewhat changed. He is no longer the 'complete American' and that starts having a toll on the relationship. After which they break up. Ruth was good for Gogol as long as he was willing ...