In 2003, Jhumpa Lahiri published her first novel, The Namesake. A New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winner, the story has become a touchstone of Upper School tenth-grade English classes. In recognition of sophomores’ annual study of the Ganguli family’s American odyssey, the scholars of B-period Honors American Literature crafted a chapter-by-chapter playlist of songs that evoke the tone, characterization, and themes of Lahiri’s tale.
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
“Fast Car,” Tracy Chapman (1988) covered by Luke Combs (2023)
Chapman’s song describes the narrator wanting to escape a difficult situation and start somewhere new. Similar to this, Ashoke moves to America after the train accident, hoping to build a new life and future. The song shows the struggle of trying to make life work in a new place, which reflects Ashima’s feelings of loneliness during her pregnancy in Cambridge. The “fast car” represents change and risk. America represents the same thing for Ashima and Ashoke because, despite opportunity and a new life, there is discomfort from being away from family and very far from their home (India). The narrator of this song sacrifices the safest and most familiar option for the possibility of something better in the same way the Gangulis leave their familiar life in India for new and better opportunities in America, especially with the coming of a child. ~Kevin McGann
Chapter 2: American Baby
“Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy),” John Lennon (1980)
Lennon’s soulful ballad reflects the naming of Gogol from his father, Ashoke. After holding him in his arms, Ashoke realizes that his baby boy has saved him from the memories and torment of the train accident. Because the boy did not receive a name, Ashoke names him Gogol after the writer which symbolically saved his life when he gripped the torn pages of Nikolai Gogol’s book and held it up which made the rescue team find him and save his life. Gogol saved his life in the accident, and his son saved him from the memories. ~Devin Farmer
Chapter 3: Just the Way you Are
“Stressed Out,” Twenty One Pilots (2015)
Twenty One Pilot’s song, “Stressed Out” greatly reflects this chapter through its words on insecurity and the struggles of gaining confidence in one’s identity while growing up. In this chapter, Gogol is forced to embrace change as he moves with his parents from Cambridge to Massachusetts in which he must go to a new school. Upon entering the school, Gogol asks the principal to be called by his pet name, Gogol, rather than his good name, Nikhil, given to him by his parents. Upon choosing this name, Gogol faces various jokes at his school about his name in which he is made fun of. However, through experiences such as the school trip to the graveyard, Gogol begins to gradually rid of these insecurities as he recognizes the uniqueness of his name.
Chapter 4: “Nikhil?”
“Could You Be Loved,” Bob Marley
Bob Marley’s song ” Could You Be Loved ” talks about the struggles of going through life and being your own self. This fits chapter 5 as Gogol struggles with his identity in this chapter, thinking Gogol isn’t good enough to go to a party and kiss a girl, but Nikhil is. This fits the song’s theme of struggling to find one’s own way as Gogol struggles a lot with the expectations placed on him by his parents, heritage school, and society in this chapter. Gogol also calls himself Nikhil for the first time in this chapter, and this is his way of dealing with the struggles of life because he believes Gogol can’t be loved and Nikhil can. ~Jake Augustyn
Chapter 5: A New Name, A New Beginning
“ Unwritten,” Natasha Bedingfield (2004)
Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Unwritten”, captures Gogol finally stepping into his own life. After changing his name legally to Nikhil and introducing himself as that from then on, he sheds the burden he’s carried his whole life and fully embraces college, his independence, and his relationship with Ruth. By no longer going by “Gogol”, he frees himself from the confusion and weight linked to his past, giving him the confidence and excitement to fully live in the moment and move forward into this new chapter of his life. ~Louisa Kypreos
Chapter 6: Deep Desire
“I’m on Fire,” Bruce Springsteen (1982)
Bruce Springsteen’s song “I’m on Fire,” is a depiction of emotional connection and desire for another. In this chapter, Gogol develops a deep connection to Maxine, making it his main focus. He is becoming more distant from his family, with a feeling that Maxine is his only care. Springsteen’s song highlights this emotion because it depicts an intense connection, making it feel like one’s only purpose and mood. His song represents the deep, emotional feeling that Gogol has for Maxine, straining away from others. ~Maddie Lemanski
Chapter 7: The Five Stages Of Grief
“Landslide,” Fleetwood Mac (1997)
Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” perfectly fits the Cape Cod and train memory scene at the end of chapter seven due to its emotional weight and idea of change. The song’s fear of losing someone who built your whole world connects directly to Gogol realizing on the train his dad was the foundation that he kept on rejecting. The song’s imagery of the ocean and changing tides also relates to Gogol looking out into the coastline recalling memories of him in the breakwater with his father. The song also talks about a child rising above loss which captures Gogol’s actions such as changing his name or choosing Maxine feels meaningless without his father there to pushback. Both in Gogol’s life and the song there is a turning point where the past feels more precious than the future of which they were in pursuit. ~Grant Rinehart
Chapter 8: The Illusion
“Lost,” Frank Ocean (2012)
Frank Ocean’s “Lost” echoes Gogol’s feelings of misconstrued identity and falling out of place in all aspects of his life. Gogol had recently “lost” his father, and in chapter 8, he is still thrown off balance, and cannot really find himself. His life looks stable on the outside, just like the song does not have a very sad tone, even though it has to do with feeling lost, but on the inside, Gogol feels unsettled with the death of his father, and the gradual breakup of him and Maxine. ~ Ashlyn Aninowsky
Chapter 9: Who Am I and Why Am I Here?
“Creep,” Radiohead (1992)
“Creep” by Radiohead connects to chapter 9 because it perfectly represents Gogol’s feelings of being out of place or scared in his life within this chapter. “Creep” follows the story of the lead singer, Tom York, loving and yearning for a woman who would never love him back. He describes himself as being a creep and feeling out of place within society because he’s scared of everything within his life. Relating to chapter 9 of The Namesake, Gogol marries Moushoumi but feels alienated and lonely because of the life that Moushoumi wants to live vs the life that he wants to live. Gogol feels like he does not belong, which could be considered him thinking he is a “creep.” ~Michael Raso
Chapter 10: Mouse
“Bad At Love,” Halsey (2017)
Halsey’s song emphasizes how the narrator is bad at love and plays with males’ feelings similarly to how Moushumi cheats on her husband and finds a weird, enticing pleasure from it. Moushumi does not think about Gogol’s feelings or about lying to him; she cheats on him anyway and is fine with leading him on and living a lie every day. She understands that she is in the wrong; however, she finds peace with her actions. The song talks about the idea of running towards someone and connecting to someone who’s bad for you, which directly correlates to Moushumi choosing Dimitri’s sophistication over Gogol’s stable and familiar love.
