Orphan Train Character Analysis

Names often are overlooked, thought to be given at birth with no real meaning, other than what people will refer to you as. Most people go through everyday life with no recognition for interpretations of what their name could mean on a deeper level. Last names rich in character are often overlooked simply because they have been passed down from generation to generation without change. However, in the novel The Natural, author Bernard Malamud has control of character names, and uses this power to convey a symbolistic meaning in the last names of the influential women in Roy Hobbs's life. Hobbs meets three essential women in the novel, all of which have a last name that shows a deeper meaning about their personality. Harriet Bird portrays the

In the story, the names and personalities of the characters clash. The name is the mask covering the personality, which is representative of the reality aspect of each character. When Mrs. Hopewell named her daughter Joy, she was hoping for all the joy that comes with raising a child and watching the child develop a life of its own. What Mrs. Hopewell received was a disabled daughter who

People choose names for a reason, whether it is so that the child takes on a certain personality, based on who they are named after, or so that he or she may carry on the name of a beloved family member. Many names that are popular today are names from the Bible, since most of the biblical characters possess characteristics that parents would want their child to have. Names like Noah, Jacob, David, and Miriam, are names currently in the top 1000 child names in the world, and they are all biblical names. Names from the Bible are also found in many works of literature, like Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, a coming of age story about a young man during the mid twentieth century. The reader is introduced to multiple characters with biblical

Even the names of the characters are symbolic. It seems that the usage of names is the author's favorite way to identify how much power one character has over another. Celie is unable to call Mr.<em>_</em><em>_ by his first name and lacks any power over him . The power of names is most vividly described in the relationships of Harpo and Squeak. As long as Squeak is called so, she is powerless to defend herself. Celie notices that Squeak is much like herself in actions and obeying. However, after being raped, Squeak points to Harpo that her name is Mary Agnes and demanding to be called so she asserts herself as an independent person demanding respect .

The use of names throughout the novel is also a way to show the power roles between the characters.  This can be seen by the fact that Celie is unable to call Mr. _______ by his first name, and in fact hardly even recognizes the

In the Namesake, the new parents are faced with a decision to name their son. A tradition where the Grandmother on the Mothers’ side names the baby. Ashima’s Grandmother was sending word about the baby’s name from India. After not hearing from the Grandmother, a proper name

Vivian cherishes a Claddagh cross given to her by her grandmother just before the family comes to the United States from Ireland. Vivian pleads. “She gave it to me in Ireland, before we came over. It’s—It’s the only thing I have left.” (27). Vivian’s Claddagh cross is revealed frequently during the course of the story. It holds a lot of memories. It prompts her to think of better times. It is her solitary object she has left with after her family and home burn in a

“When a child of the streets stands before you in rags, with a tear-stained face, you cannot easily forget him. And yet, you are perplexed what to do. The human soul is difficult to interfere with. You hesitate how far you should go.” – Charles Loring Brace

Many people have certain symbols in their life that bring them comfort and represent who they are as a person. In Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train, symbols function to convey Molly and Vivian’s desire to maintain their connections to their pasts, their search for self-identity, and the trauma and loss they experience. Molly’s turtle tattoo exemplifies Molly’s personal identity and represents much of the loss she has experienced as a child. The loss, trauma, identity and longing to stay connected to her loved ones that Vivian has and experiences is symbolized by her Claddagh necklace. The charm necklace that Molly wears signifies the connection to her late father, her own character, and the loss she has experienced.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer fullback Mike "The A-Train" Alstott remains an all-time fan favorite for his accomplishments on and off the field. He played 12 seasons as a fullback, racking up 5,088 yards rushing; 71 touchdowns (a team record); six Pro Bowls; and a 2002 Super Bowl championship. He was also injured nearly 50 times and was given prescription painkillers to get him through the pain and back on the field. Fortunately, Alstott, now 41 years old and a head coach for a St. Petersburg high school football team, came through it all without experiencing an overdose or becoming dependent on painkillers, something he credits to having trainers and physicians on his side who helped him understand how to take them safely.

There comes a point in time in an individual’s life in which their name truly becomes a part of their identity. A name is more than just a title to differentiate people; it is a part of the person. In Lost Names: Scenes from a Korean Boyhood by Richard E. Kim, names play a major role on the character’s identities. The absence and importance of the names in the story make the story rich with detail and identity through something as simple as the name of a character. Names are a significant factor affecting the story and the characters throughout the novel Lost Names.

Many characters in Morrison’s book are given names that describe them somehow throughout the story. Names in the book or either historically based or given in regards to the character’s personality or events that happened throughout the book. As the story goes on, character either let names define them or escape them.

The narrator is not the only story character without a name. The narrator's parents are also unnamed. The unnamed are all individuals who fit within the black community in expected, responsible ways. Sonny and the other named characters, such as Creole and Isabel, all have names due to their deviance. Each of these characters don't quite fit into the normalcy embraced by the narrator. Creole, in particular, gains his name by providing a parental figure to Sonny. He usurps the place that otherwise would have been filled by Sonny's nameless father.

The meaning of names is a central focus of the novel, because names define people. Their worth and functions are summarized by the names. To some extent, the names also discourage originality. This occurs especially to

After Maggie, the names Milly and Molly are the next in order. The fact that Milly and Molly have the same number of letters shows, that both girls are getting further away from the natural world that contains individuality, and are entering the manmade world that is full of conventions that make people the same. The resulting sameness of the manmade world is reflected in that the names are similar in that they each have the same number of letters and also, they have the exact same letters with the exception of only one. This difference, in this one letter, foreshadows the fact that Milly displays a stronger sense of childhood, and that is the reason the names are not exactly the same. Both names display less individuality than the first name as a result of them being less close to individuality and childhood and closer to society and adulthood.