"The Namesake"

1) "What is the symbolism behind the shoes in the film?"

In the film "The Namesake", Gogol's family undergoes a drastic cultural transition throughout the film, starting from the very beginning of the film to the very end of it. With Gogol entering the United States at a young age, his culture is drastically different from that of his parents, who are very much inclined with their Indian heritage. Gogol grows into the American way of life, picking up a more secular, independent background while his parents are use to a more close-knit, family orientated background, especially his mother, Ashima. But as time rolls on, both Gogol's and Ashima's worldviews begin to change, for the two begin to assimilate to each other's culture. Ashima assimilates to American culture while Gogol becomes closer to his Indian heritage. The significance of this assimilation is the series of events that precede their decisions. In the beginning of the film, Ashima puts on two tone shoes to embody her assimilation into American culture. Gogol's reconnection with his heritage occurs shortly after the death of his father, with him putting on his recently deceased father's shoes. It is here that Gogol assimilates to the cultural heritage that defined his father, given that he had remained so distant from him for so long (a result of American culture). By putting on the shoes, Gogol gains this desire to fill his father's place, so he can feel close to his father. In short, shoes embody the assimilation into new cultures.

2) What was symbolism of Gogol's name? Does he ever come to terms with it? What's the significance of your own name and how was it chosen?

Gogol's name in the film is an allusion to Nikolai Gogol, a Russian writer during the romanticist movement of the early 19th century. Gogol's name is in respect to the writers for Gogol, much like his historical counterpart, developing a talent for mimicry within his written works at an early age. This personal merit is similar to the film's Gogol, who attempts to assimilate to multiple cultures and traditions all while remaining the same individual. In the end, Gogol never addresses the acceptance of the name, but comes to realize his constant mimicry and thus resigns that merit in an effort to define himself despite his given name. Given that my first name and middle name are biblical, I feel that my name does bear the weight of the two biblical characters, but that does not define who I am or who I desire to be.