Enter: Maxine. A seemingly lovely girl based on Gogol's description's, who has him falling head over heels form the day he first sets eyes on her. From the moment he meets her, Gogol has immense feelings for her. As human nature progressed, and Maxine mirrored Gogol's affection for her, Gogol became significantly involved with Maxine and her family.
Gogol's involvement with Maxine resulted in his integration with her American family, and subsequently with her American traditions. Her traditions in her household are the polar opposite of how he lives and how his family lives. Maxine's mother uses her fingers to eat, doesn't offer more food to Gogol and is more than welcoming to Gogol, who ultimately is a stranger, to her household. The family is, shall we say, laid back-relaxed. They are well of in regards to wealth, and are live life carelessly in a positive way. Gogol is conscious that his immersion with Maxine's family is a "betrayal of his own" (Lahiri 54).
Does this mean Gogol is ashamed of being with Maxine? No, not at all. In fact, Gogol relishes in this time with Maxine, and being away from his own family-which raises the question: How would his family, and Gogol himself, have fared if it wasn't for Maxine and her flip-flopped traditions?
Personally, I believe that if Gogol was to meet and potentially marry another Indian, he would want to stay with his parents and family, and have no desire to go elsewhere. It was Maxine's American influence on Gogol that in my opinion resulted in him distancing himself from his family and ultimately his Indian roots and traditions.
Now, the question becomes, what influence will Maxine have in the future? How will Gogol's reaction to his father's passing affect Maxine's influence from this point forward on Gogol? Should they stay together and have kids, what traditions will they follow?
Stay tuned.
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