Multiple Names

What is a name? Is a name something somebody knows or calls someone by and can be change as many time as one likes? Or is a name ones’ identity that is given to them that represents who they are, what’s their beliefs, and a way for other to know who you are through years of building up your name. In the novel Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee, Jasmine goes through many different stages in her life that involve the uses of many different alias and identities.

            Jasmine is a novel that starts out with a girl that is given the name Jyoti by her grandmother after she was born in a small hut in Hasnapur, Punjab, India. At a very early stage in her life, she was already experiencing events in her life that she felt that has already tarnished her identity. For example, at the age of seven an astrologer told her future of widowhood and exile. She did not want to believe this and just called him a crazy old man. By this point, she feels that her future has already been set and must do what ever she can, so her life is not fulfilled the way it was presented to her.

            By the age of seventeen, Jyoti goes through her first name change. Jyoti new husband, Prakash, give her the name Jasmine. Even though she did not give herself the new name, I believe she was honored to be given this name. She was happy with her new husband and things were going well. Prakash was a hard worker and had many goals that would create a life she could only dream of. By allowing this name change, she tries to change the future that was once told to her. Several months later, her dreams of a new life in America were shattered when her husband was killed by a bomb. In feeling that she should carry out her deceased husbands’ life, she decided to go to America where she encountered her third name the first nights in America.

            Fresh off the boat in America and it was not what she pictured it to be. In not knowing anybody or not knowing were to go, the captain, Half-Face, of the boat she was on took her to the place he was staying at. At this time she is then given her new name, Kali by Half-Face, which is only with her for one painstaking night. In doing something nice for Kali, Half-Face believed that she need to do something nice for him. At this point Kali is raped by Half-Face and it is then that she experience real evil that would open up her views and give her a rebirth into a new life. Kali feels that death is the only way but it was not going to be her. Kali survived her first frightful night in America and was no on her way to several more name/identity changes.

            After her experience with Half-Face, she is given two more names by two more different men. First she is given Jase by Taylor. He was married and had a daughter. Jase was hired as the caregiver for their daughter Duff. Jase fell in love with Taylor and thought of the life she could have with him. Things with Taylor and his wife did not continue to workout and at this point Taylor became more involved and in love with Jase. One day while in the park with Taylor and Duff Jase encounter the man that killed her first husband back in India. Jase gets frightened and leaves to New York to where she will acquire the name Jane. Jane is given to her by a man by the name of Bud. He is a banker in Iowa, and wants Jane to marry him before their child is born. Jane has once again changed who she is and what she is searching for. As things continue on with Bud, she is starting to get cold feet again and feel that Bud is not the right person for her. As the novel ends, Jane returns back to one of her old identity and name, Jase.

            Every time Jasmine felt in danger and like she does not fit in she would run and acquire a new name. Yes, changing one’s name might shield one from other knowing the real you but you still know who you are and made of. Instead of running and hiding from your past, one needs to take an active stance in their life and learn from your experience and continue on with who you really are. By change your name so much and having many different aliases, one forgets their true identity and stance.