The Namesake unfolds the odyssey of the Ganguli family, who relocate from Calcutta to Massachusetts in a bid to find a new life while wrestling with their ingrained cultural heritage. At the heart of their story is Gogol, named after a Russian writer, who navigates the often-rough terrain of being a first-generation American. His name, representing the expectations and legacies of his ancestry, becomes a symbol of his inner conflicts as he strives for individuality. Jhumpa Lahiri intricately weaves a narrative that explores the immigrant experience, the resonating impact of names, and the arduous journey of self-discovery amidst the backdrop of familial expectations and cultural dichotomies.