Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Names
Why are names so important? Why is it that we feel the need to know the names of others or to have them know ours? Romeo would have us believe perhaps that they are not all that important after all " that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" ( not an exact quote but I think I got the general gist of what he says). Yet often when another does not know our name we feel snubbed or unwanted. If we forget anothers' name we feel embarrassed or ashamed. Why is that? Do our names define us? Any thoughts?
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2 comments:
The line is actually spoken by Juliet about Romeo. "What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet..."
But important context is what happens after she speaks this line. She continues:
"Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, And for that name which is no part of thee Take all myself."
Then Romeo acqueices saying:"I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo."
So Romeo in essence gives up his name/ his identity and comes to be a symbol instead. This becomes incredibly problematic for Romeo. It is the first step down a long road wherein putting romance a step ahead of his own identity, he looses himself and eventually dies.
Perhaps, Shakespeare understood a thing or two about the importance of names. :) We cannot doff our name without abandoning unconscious parts of ourselves and thereby losing life itself.
In the scriptures, Adam has the opportunity to name not only all the animals, but also his future companion. Names in the Old Testament carry incredible significance. For example, Moses comes from the Hebrew name מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh) which is most likely derived from Egyptian mes meaning "son", but could also possibly mean "deliver" in Hebrew.
Note also how biblical characters are given new names (Saul/ Paul) or how Christ's name was given to marry (Luke 1:31) - obviously it was important that his name be Jesus and not something else. Also consider, we take upon us the name of Christ at baptism. It is very telling what we choose to do with that name.
In fairy tales and science fiction novels, when you know the name of something, you often have power over it. They often talk about the "true name" of objects/ people. Identity is a big deal to us. To be truly identified means to be truly seen and understood and when someone knows something so personal about you, they know you.
Names hold a lot of symbolism. They are very important. Perhaps instead of defining us, we give power or weakness to our name by who we become/ what we do with it.
sorry, Mary*
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