The Namesake, Overall Thoughts #3

Jhumpa Lahiri effectively uses dramatic irony throughout the book. At the beginning of the book, after Ashima gives birth to Gogol, she acts calm about taking care of a baby by herself. However, the audience knows that she feels disappointed and lonely. A perfect example is when Gogol begins to despise his name as he enters adolescence, wondering why on Earth his parents would give him such a strange name. He doesn't know, but the audience does, that his name came from the day that his father almost died. Another example is when Ashoke passes away and Ashima tries to contact Gogol at Maxine's house. Gogol dismisses the call, thinking it's not that important, but the audience knows that the call will inform Gogol that his father has died. One more example is when a married Gogol goes about his day in New York alone, while his wife Moushumi is at a "conference," but the audience is aware that Moushumi is having an affair and is probably with another man.