Tra(i)nsition: Motifs of Movement and Transportation in 'The Namesake' Maddie Culcasi 11th Grade

The Ganguli family is constantly adapting to change in all of its forms. From moving to a new country, to marriage, to death-- they are always being forced to adjust to their new environments and circumstances no matter how strongly it may affect them in the moment. Yet somehow, the vast majority of these pivotal transitions seem to happen on or near a train. For instance, Gogol found out his wife was having an affair, Ashima lost her bags, and Ashoke nearly died all while on trains. There is no doubt that this motif was intentional on Lahiri’s part, and its significance is just as clear to see. The concept of a train-- a method of transportation that brings people from one location to another-- represents the major shifting points for the Ganguli family. The trains give the family members the chance to undergo personal transitions by providing them with opportunities of reflection and, ultimately, allowing them to improve their lives.

By almost dying in a train accident, Ashoke was inspired to move from his home in Calcutta, to America in order to pursue a life more exciting and fulfilling than the one he was destined to live in India. On the night of the train crash, Ashoke was talking to Ghosh, a man in his compartment on...