Names in Solar Storms
Shakespeare once wrote that a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet; that the true essence of something lies beyond its name. Yet, few would deny the power of names. Naming something brings it to life in a way. It allows that thing to be talked about as itself, to be seen as separate and unique. And names have meanings; they have denotations and connotations. Perhaps names are not all that we are, but they are certainly a starting point, a diving board, from which our journey to understanding ourselves and the people and places around us can spring. Often times a name can actually tell us just as much, if not more, about the person that gave the name than it does about the person or place to which the name belongs. (How often have you or someone you know quipped, “I guess her parents were hippies,” upon meeting a girl named Harmony or Sunshine?) Such is the case in Linda Hogan’s novel, Solar Storms#. While not at all shy about speaking her mind directly and sharing her beliefs throughout Solar Storms, Hogan also whispers other subtle ideas throughout her novel through the names she chooses for the people and places. By looking closely at these names and examining their meanings, one is able to peel away at the be
To see that there were three women and myself, all of us on some kind of 3 Just as significant as the place names in Solar Storms are the names of the people. By examining the denotations and connotations of names throughout the novel, it is clear that Hogan choose her characters’ names for a reason. Beginning with Angel, when we are first introduced to her and begin to learn about her life, the name Angel seems like a misnomer. She is bitter and cold and scarred, not exactly what one thinks of when they think of an angel. And I think that that is exactly as Hogan intended it. In order to “properly” name something or someone, you have to know it. You have to be able to understand it, and, one would argue, before you can truly know someone else, you must know yourself. Angel’s mother, Hannah, did not know herself. Her self had been taken from her when she was a young girl and she was used and beaten by men. Because of this as she grows, she grows into her name. The name Angel means messenger. And Angel does become a messenger. To Bush, Agnes and Dora-Rouge she is a messenger of hope.
Some topics in this essay:
Solar Storms,
Aurora Latin,
Loretta Hannah,
Latin Loretta,
,
Adam’s Rib,
Loretta’s Hannah’s,
Fur Island,
Beginning Angel,
Bush Bush,
adam’s rib,
solar storms,
fur island,
throughout solar,
throughout solar storms,
throughout novel,
makes sense,
name adam’s rib,
-- bush,
name fur,
loretta hannah,
denotations connotations,
denotations connotations names,
adam’s rib adam’s,
name fur island,
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Approximate Word count = 1974
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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