The Namesake Lesson Plan

Why did Mrs. Lapidus insist that Gogol go by the name Gogol in school, and do you think she was right to do so? Why or why not?

Some students may believe that Mrs. Lapidus was right to listen to the child's wishes, since five-year-old Gogol himself was the one who would have to be in school; others may believe she was wrong for ignoring the beliefs and wishes of parents from a different culture. Mrs. Lapidus seems on one level to be acting out of kindness: she notes little Gogol's discomfort and wants to do something to alleviate it. In addition, Ashoke's explanation of good names might have been somewhat obscure to an American. However, the fact remains that Ashoke asked her...