"Lost" Names
Jan. 14th, 2005 11:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sdelmonteAs we slowly head further into "Lost," we also slowly get the full names of the characters. And it is quite clear that the names mean something. But what? Here are some ruminations about the names thus far. (Possibility of spoilers through this week's episode.)
Let's start with the presumptive main character, Jack Shepard. He's got a hero's first name. That was a clue right away. His last name represents his role on the island so far.
Next, Kate. Also known, at one time as Maggie. She's currently in the special category of "real name unknown." We will have to get back to her, though the significance of hidden identities is worthy of discussion as well.
John Locke. This is one is obvious, and is why I suspect that all the names could have meaning. The historical John Locke, if you recall your PoliSci courses, is a political philosopher whose writings were very influential in the creation of modern democracy and the rise of the rights of the individual. Clearly Lost's Locke is an individualist, whose "don't tell me what I can't do" in his flashback echoes the historical Locke's attitudes about the ability of the individual. I wonder if at some point, the castaways will try to form a government, and if Locke will be involved.
Sawyer. Yes, it's a fake name, but is there a more appropriate pseudonym for a con artist than one taken from the boy who tricked his friends into painting a fence?
Hurley, aka Hugo Reyes. Again, we didn't know his name at first, but why? He's not telling. Hugo could be a literary reference to Victor Hugo, but I don't what that would mean. Or, if he's really as fannish as we think, is it a tip of the hat to the Hugos? (And if this show wins one, does JJ Abrams send Jorge Garcia to get it?)
Charlie Pace. I don't know if this has any deeper meaning. "Charlie" is a very run-of-the-mill name, which seems to fit the sweet little guy well. Pace? Something to do with running? I'm not sure.
Claire Littleton - Again, I can't think of anything, though Littleton could easily be a hobbit name.
Boone Carlyle - And here we have a truly loaded name (and a lousy one - imagine growing up named Boone Carlyle!). We knew the Boone part from the beginning. It evokes Daniel Boone, the famed woodsman and patriot. Was it meant as a hint that he would get to be Locke's protege in the woods? But this week we get his last name. And Thomas Carlyle is another philosopher. One whose beliefs were quite the opostie of Locke's! Carlyle believed in the role of the hero or great man in history, so much so that he influenced fascism. Are we meant to think that while Locke and Boone are in one way natural partners, in another they will come into great conflict? Or will Boone accept Locke's authority because Locke is a hero?
Shannon Rutherford - The most well-known Rutherford is Ernest Rutherford, called "the father of nuclear physics" by many. is this an indication that she is very much the opposite of her stepbrother, operating in the realm of the purely physical? or that she is dangerous, radioactive, unstable?
That's as far I can get at this point, given that se are still waiting for last names on Michael and Walt - though old-time Jets fans will recall their one-time coach, Walt Michaels - and I don't speak Arabic or Korean, so I won't hazard a guess about Sayed, Jin or Sun.
But I would love to hear other theories and thoughts about this. It's beena while since a TV show has played this kind of name game, and it's lots of fun.
Let's start with the presumptive main character, Jack Shepard. He's got a hero's first name. That was a clue right away. His last name represents his role on the island so far.
Next, Kate. Also known, at one time as Maggie. She's currently in the special category of "real name unknown." We will have to get back to her, though the significance of hidden identities is worthy of discussion as well.
John Locke. This is one is obvious, and is why I suspect that all the names could have meaning. The historical John Locke, if you recall your PoliSci courses, is a political philosopher whose writings were very influential in the creation of modern democracy and the rise of the rights of the individual. Clearly Lost's Locke is an individualist, whose "don't tell me what I can't do" in his flashback echoes the historical Locke's attitudes about the ability of the individual. I wonder if at some point, the castaways will try to form a government, and if Locke will be involved.
Sawyer. Yes, it's a fake name, but is there a more appropriate pseudonym for a con artist than one taken from the boy who tricked his friends into painting a fence?
Hurley, aka Hugo Reyes. Again, we didn't know his name at first, but why? He's not telling. Hugo could be a literary reference to Victor Hugo, but I don't what that would mean. Or, if he's really as fannish as we think, is it a tip of the hat to the Hugos? (And if this show wins one, does JJ Abrams send Jorge Garcia to get it?)
Charlie Pace. I don't know if this has any deeper meaning. "Charlie" is a very run-of-the-mill name, which seems to fit the sweet little guy well. Pace? Something to do with running? I'm not sure.
Claire Littleton - Again, I can't think of anything, though Littleton could easily be a hobbit name.
Boone Carlyle - And here we have a truly loaded name (and a lousy one - imagine growing up named Boone Carlyle!). We knew the Boone part from the beginning. It evokes Daniel Boone, the famed woodsman and patriot. Was it meant as a hint that he would get to be Locke's protege in the woods? But this week we get his last name. And Thomas Carlyle is another philosopher. One whose beliefs were quite the opostie of Locke's! Carlyle believed in the role of the hero or great man in history, so much so that he influenced fascism. Are we meant to think that while Locke and Boone are in one way natural partners, in another they will come into great conflict? Or will Boone accept Locke's authority because Locke is a hero?
Shannon Rutherford - The most well-known Rutherford is Ernest Rutherford, called "the father of nuclear physics" by many. is this an indication that she is very much the opposite of her stepbrother, operating in the realm of the purely physical? or that she is dangerous, radioactive, unstable?
That's as far I can get at this point, given that se are still waiting for last names on Michael and Walt - though old-time Jets fans will recall their one-time coach, Walt Michaels - and I don't speak Arabic or Korean, so I won't hazard a guess about Sayed, Jin or Sun.
But I would love to hear other theories and thoughts about this. It's beena while since a TV show has played this kind of name game, and it's lots of fun.
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Date: Jan. 16th, 2005 04:09 pm (UTC)"Sawyer"=middle english for woodsman
"Shannon"=wise one, river name
"Sun"=goodness
"Jin"=super excellent, gold, treasure, pearl
According to this site, Sayyid means "master."
I think character names are important--subconsciously or not there's always a reason a writer picks the name they pick. Sometimes it's more deliberate. Lock and Sawyer was probably deliberate; Shannon was probably more random, it just sounds like an ordinary girl's name.