What Is In A Name?

                A name is the very means by which all individuals are identified. Names represent who you are and what you stand for. In “Jasmine” written by Bharati Mukherjee, the main character sees her name change countless times throughout the novel. However, it isn’t so much her name changing, but deals more with the change in her and her environment. Jyoti was her first name; one that represented her origins. Along came Prakash, her first husband, who began calling her Jasmine. This is important for it showed her change from a small minded girl to a woman who sought new challenges in a city lifestyle from which Prakash was from. After a tragic bombing accident Prakash was left dead, and Jasmine was left with emptiness so she sought out for America.

                Once she approaches the shores of America she runs into a man named Half-Face, a fishing boat captain. This is where Jasmine embraces an intense spiritual change. During the event in which she is horribly raped, Jasmine takes on the name of Kali, a Hindu Goddess. She embraces this to justify her actions and to make better sense of the cruel intentions of the world. Soon after, yet another name places itself upon her; Jazzy. This name is given to her by Lillian Gordon who takes in Jasmine. Lillian tells Jasmine that she should always remember the past, but do not let it prevent your future. With these words Jasmine picks up and moves to New York City. In a sense it can be seen that perhaps Jasmine is running away from the past because of the confusion of where her place on this earth actually is.

                Jase was a woman who bought herself spangled heels and silk chartreuse pants” (Mukherjee 176).  Jase was the next name that Jasmine took to. It was given to her by a man named Taylor who Jasmine fell in love with. Jasmine found her way towards Taylor and his wife Wylie by taking on the job of caregiver for their son Duff. Quickly Jasse overtakes Jasmine, and she begins to take on the American lifestyle. She finds herself spending her money on clothes and lavished accessories. This shows her psychological path that she had taken way back in her journey across the Atlantic Ocean. After an encounter with the man who killed Prakash, Jasmine flees to Iowa in fear that something might happen to Taylor and the family. Finally the last name of Jane is given to her by Bud, the man who fathers her child. However, she is given this name to him being uncomfortable with her very different and foreign background. “I should never have been Jane Ripplemeyer of Baden” (Mukherjee 127). It is evident that even though she takes on the name Jane, she never fully accepts it for she doesn’t enjoy the situation she is in. Ultimately, Taylor returns to her and once again Jase returns to her as well.

                The many names and faces Jasmine undertakes is a reflection of her every changing life. It is almost as if she is trying to find herself. She realizes that nothing is forever, and in that she is also referring to her names. She isn’t so much running away from her names and problems, but rather running towards newness and enjoyment. Jasmine was a character of many inner demons, but in the end she finds herself and once again fully restores her self worth.