Randian Nomenclature

[caroljane]

Some novelists, Jane Austen notably, simply grab the first available name for their characters and get on with the story. Others choose their characters' names carefully, and I believe Ayn Rand was one of these, as she chose every element of her major novels carefully. (Please note I am thinking about this only as reader; someone who read her novels once, remembers them in part, and has read many commentaries on them since then.)

My main impression was that her character names were surprisingly boring.

First, the syllabic predictability. Everybody has two two-syllable names, just like real Anglo-Saxons, or two one-syllable ones to denote singularity.

We know Hank Rearden is legally Henry Rearden (Ron Reagan-Ronald Reagan).The Ellsworth Tooheys and so on are funnily parodic, but they're still two-two syllables.

Second, the harshness or bleakness of the female names. "dagny taggart" has an ugly, harsh sound to my mental ear. Perhaps it was not so for Rand, a Russian speaker, but she gave beautiful names to the characters in her best novel , We The Living.

The exception is Dominique Francon, whose name is French as were the stories Rand loved in her youth, and who is the character she famously described as "myself in a bad mood."

[anonrobt]

Some novelists, Jane Austen notably, simply grab the first available name for their characters and get on with the story. Others choose their characters' names carefully, and I believe Ayn Rand was one of these, as she chose every element of her major novels carefully. (Please note I am thinking about this only as reader; someone who read her novels once, remembers them in part, and has read many commentaries on them since then.)

My main impression was that her character names were surprisingly boring.

First, the syllabic predictability. Everybody has two two-syllable names, just like real Anglo-Saxons, or two one-syllable ones to denote singularity.

We know Hank Rearden is legally Henry Rearden (Ron Reagan-Ronald Reagan).The Ellsworth Tooheys and so on are funnily parodic, but they're still two-two syllables.

Second, the harshness or bleakness of the female names. "dagny taggart" has an ugly, harsh sound to my mental ear. Perhaps it was not so for Rand, a Russian speaker, but she gave beautiful names to the characters in her best novel , We The Living.

The exception is Dominique Francon, whose name is French as were the stories Rand loved in her youth, and who is the character she famously described as "myself in a bad mood."

Well, we canna name all our characters Clem Cladyddihopper...

[caroljane]

Some novelists, Jane Austen notably, simply grab the first available name for their characters and get on with the story. Others choose their characters' names carefully, and I believe Ayn Rand was one of these, as she chose every element of her major novels carefully. (Please note I am thinking about this only as reader; someone who read her novels once, remembers them in part, and has read many commentaries on them since then.)

My main impression was that her character names were surprisingly boring.

First, the syllabic predictability. Everybody has two two-syllable names, just like real Anglo-Saxons, or two one-syllable ones to denote singularity.

We know Hank Rearden is legally Henry Rearden (Ron Reagan-Ronald Reagan).The Ellsworth Tooheys and so on are funnily parodic, but they're still two-two syllables.

Second, the harshness or bleakness of the female names. "dagny taggart" has an ugly, harsh sound to my mental ear. Perhaps it was not so for Rand, a Russian speaker, but she gave beautiful names to the characters in her best novel , We The Living.

The exception is Dominique Francon, whose name is French as were the stories Rand loved in her youth, and who is the character she famously described as "myself in a bad mood."

Well, we canna name all our characters Clem Cladyddihopper...

No member of Clan Cladyddihopper would have been allowed within mile of Galt's Gulch. It wouldae been Up Yer Kilt Wi' a Wire Brush for them.

[Brant Gaede]

"Everybody has two syllable names."

John Galt

Fran cis co Dom in go Car los An dres Se bas tian d' An con ia

You might try reading her novels twice. At least that would keep you otherwise occupied for a couple of weeks.

--Brant

Edited January 23, 2011 by Brant Gaede

[caroljane]

Some

First, the syllabic predictability. Everybody has two two-syllable names, just like real Anglo-Saxons, or two [/b]one-syllable ones to denote singularity

John Galt.

Francisco is not one of the WASP/WASC/anglosaxon characters. His singularity is denoted by two three-syllable names.In English pronunciation:

FRAN CIS CO DAN TOE NYA

I'll read them again if you pay me to. Otherwise, been there, done At.

.

[pippi]

Sorry for all the empty posts I am trying to be less reactive, if there was a delete post button I would surely use it.

Edited January 23, 2011 by pippi

[caroljane]

Sorry for all the empty posts I am trying to be less reactive, if there was a delete post button I would surely use it.

[/quote}

That's OK, no problem.

[Brant Gaede]

First, the syllabic predictability. Everybody has two two-syllable names, just like real Anglo-Saxons, or two [/b]one-syllable ones to denote singularity

John Galt.

Francisco is not one of the WASP/WASC/anglosaxon characters. His singularity is denoted by two three-syllable names.In English pronunciation:

FRAN CIS CO DAN TOE NYA

I'll read them again if you pay me to. Otherwise, been there, done At..

Ho, hum. Your disingenuous 180 is duly noted.

--Brant

shouldn't have put "John Galt" in my post

Edited January 23, 2011 by Brant Gaede

[Selene]

Carol:

As Brant clearly noted and since the first lines of Atlas are, "who is John Galt?," you still have time to modify/edit your opening post because it is clearly incorrect.

Unless, you plan on claiming early dementia!

Adam

[caroljane]

Carol:

As Brant clearly noted and since the first lines of Atlas are, "who is John Galt?," you still have time to modify/edit your opening post because it is clearly incorrect.

Unless, you plan on claiming early dementia!

Adam

Brant has noted his own omission.

I'll claim early dementia if you will. How much does it pay monthly down there?

[Kimmler]

Carol:

As Brant clearly noted and since the first lines of Atlas are, "who is John Galt?," you still have time to modify/edit your opening post because it is clearly incorrect.

Unless, you plan on claiming early dementia!

Adam

Brant has noted his own omission.

I'll claim early dementia if you will. How much does it pay monthly down there?

Not as much as it does in the Union of soviet socialist republic of Canada. When are we going to see the gulag and the gas chambers there? I'd ask about the paddy fields too but I don't think you can grow rice in Canada. Have the moose been nationalised yet?

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Imagine Kimmler with a gun--or with the power to deploy those with guns.

His snarky stuff is polite enough, just as I imagine executions of people he doesn't approve of would be under him.

"Nothing personal, old chap. But you know how it is."

Boom.

Michael