11/10/10
Stuck On Last Names: Chapter 9 Discussion Reflection
During our class discussion of chapter 9 today, we spent considerable time dissecting and criticizing various characteristics and decisions of both Gogol and Moushumi, and further analyzed our perceptions of these two characters. At one point our discussion focused in our Moushumi's choice to keep her last name and how "the thought of changing her last name to Ganguli has never crossed [her] mind"(227). When asked whether we believe that women should adopt their husband's last name after marriage, many people agreed that they should to show commitment and honor this tradition. I did not get a chance to voice my opinion today in class about my disagreement with this statement. I do not think that simply a name shows commitment, actions do. I do not at all feel against women adopting their spouse's last name, I do agree that it makes a couple seem more cohesive and together, but I believe that admonishing a woman for her decision to keep her maiden name seems outdated and close-minded. A common last name serves the same purpose as marital rings, they simply depict symbols for the relationship, not actual indispensable factors that would cause a loving relationship to crumble in their absence. In the context of this novel, Moushumi's refusal to accept her title of Mrs. Ganguli only seems disturbing to the reader because it personifies her indirect characterization throughout this chapter as distant and detached from her and Gogol's relationship. With the larger occasion of gender equality in modern day America, I do not think that Moushumi keeping her own last name seems disturbing, I think that her disgust towards this idea, which foreshadows further relationship conflicts, seems bothersome. I think that women, even Moushumi, deserve societal approval in the choice to keep their own surnames because men do not even have to make this choice, and why should different genders abide by unequal standards?
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Carolyn! I got the chance to say my opinion today in class, and when I did I said something very similar to what you are saying here. I feel that no fault should be placed on Moushumi for her decision to keep her last name. It seemed that this issue was overemphasized because of the support from many other examples of Moushumi's detachment. And in the context of the story, I consider this a "red flag," but in real life I would not think twice if a women would want to keep her own name after marriage.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I love your blog title! :)
I agree with the opinions of both Carolyn and Haley. The taking of a last name after marriage should in no way affect the relationship between the couple. I agree with Carolyn in the sense that the attachment of a husband's last name to the woman's seems to connect the couple. However, this addition physically assosiates the two, rather than, emotionally affects the relationship. Also, I feel that a man would not take on his wife's last name in a reversed scenario. Therefore, women have no obligation to their husbands to honor their family name. Rather, I feel women have the right to honor their own family's last name if they please.
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