What is foreign to Gogol about being "effortlessly incorporated into [the Ratliffs'] lives" (p. 116)? How does this effortlessness affect him?

Being "effortlessly incorporated into [the Ratliffs] lives was foreign to Gogol. It is because the hospitality that Gogol received by Maxine's parents was different than his family's hospitality.

This effortlessness caused Gogol to fall in love with Maxine.

Explanation:

The Namesake is the first novel of Jhumpa Lahiri. The novel revolves around the life of Gogol, touching upon the themes of conflicting cultures, ideological differences, etc.

When Gogol started living with Maxine and her family in New York City, he became 'effortlessly incorporated into [the Ratliffs'] lives. It is because he witnessed the open-mindedness of Maxine's parents that lacks in his parents in India. Even the hospitality he received from Maxine's parents was different from his family.

The effect that this 'effortlessly incorporation into [the Ratliffs'] lives had on Gogol was that he fell in love with Maxine.

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