I finished reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri a few weeks ago, but Gogol has remained with me.
After attending Lahiri's presentation at AWP in Washington last fall, I placed her name on a list of authors to read. Thus, she became part of my summer reading. If I had known then how inspirational her work would be, I would have immediately begun reading The Namesake last November. As a result of this reading, I open up the question what makes a real character to the world...
Gogol- what a name- what a name to live up to- what a name to live with- what a name to be identified with- what a name to finally ___________.
Real Characters:
- Readers can connect with real characters (self, text, world).
Self:
I connected to Gogol on many levels- educated, serious professional, adapting to change, searching for meaning, love...
I related to Gogol's desire to be an American and the struggles he endured.
Text:
I am now re-reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens to refresh my memory of how and why Pip is so enduring.
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones is a real character as well. His struggles to adapt in a community of people very different from himself are remarkable. He is an admirable man.
Atticus of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is the archetypal American male.
World:
How to develop/maintain a cultural identity and/or assimilation are questions that citizens of the world will continue to debate as we become smaller with advances in technology.
What makes a real character?
What makes Gogol a real character to you?
What makes Mister Pip a real character to you?
