The Namesake Film Analysis

At the start of the film, Ashoke and Ashima leave India for America and their life together begins. The move from the big city of Calcutta to the big city of New York is much lonelier because they have no family nearby and the land is unfamiliar. The climate is also different, it is winter time and the weather is cold. Ashima is learning very quickly that the living conditions are different. Ashoke explains to her that they have gas twenty-four hours a day, and the difference between hot and cold water symbols. Also there was no need for her to boil the water for drinking; she could just drink straight from the tap. Life in America is different and at times lonely, however Ashoke believes it’s the land of opportunity. When Ashima accepted her arranged marriage the cost was to leave her family of orientation behind, and all that she had ever known. The benefits were a companionship and the opportunity to build life in the U.S. Ashoke also shared the same benefits, but the costs seemed less because he had already traveled abroad. Ashoke was more familiar with U.S. culture, and had a job in New York City. He seemed to gain more immediately from the arranged marriage than Ashima because now along with his job he had a life companion. As the story evolves, Ashoke and Ashima don’t show a lot of physical affection, but it seems apparent that they care for one another as people of the same culture, learning to be together. Ashoke dreams about being physically intimate with Ashima, and that tells the viewer that he desires her. In the U.S., relationships that are just beginning have a higher desire for physical affection and intimacy than relationships in older stages. However this could be true because in the U.S., people are allowed to choose their partner, rather than the selection being arranged. Also a high amount of affection or display of affection is accepted by American standards, and it seemed less accepted by Indian culture. Their marriage begins