Gogol and Moushumi: The Definiation of a Dysfunctional Relationship

             At first, I could not believe Moushumi’s actions in chapter ten of Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. I felt extremely upset about how Moushumi completely betrayed Gogol without even talking to him about the problems dealing with their relationship. Although after thinking about it, such a miscommunication should not come as a surprise in Gogol and Moushumi’s relationship. In order to have a healthy relationship, both parties must share their feelings and communicate effectively with each other and in Moushumi and Gogol’s dysfunctional relationship, this has not occurred. The third-person omniscient narrator illuminates their lack of communication when he/she describes Gogol’s thoughts about going to Moushumi’s friends’ parties: “In the beginning these occasions hadn’t been quite so excruciating (237). By using the painful diction “excruciating,” Lahiri indirectly characterizes Gogol as unhappy about going to Moushumi’s friends’ parties. Because Gogol unhappily attends many of Moushumi’s parties without expressing his unhappiness, Lahiri highlights the miscommunication in their relationship. In addition, the narrator describes Moushumi’s failure to communicate with Gogol after their unhappy anniversary dinner: “She shakes her head. She doesn’t feel like explaining” why she is unhappy (253). Through the use of the callous diction “doesn’t feel like,” Lahiri indirectly characterizes Moushumi as apathetic toward relating her feelings to her husband. Lahiri shows that both Gogol and Moushumi fail to communicate with each other effectively. I believe that this miscommunication has resulted in Moushumi’s affair with Dimitri and has resulted in the overall unhappiness of Gogol and Moushumi. Lahiri highlights that people in relationships need to communicate their feelings if they want happiness and longevity in their relationship.