Name Transparency as a Literary Technique Essay Example

of company."

Suddenly, he had an urge to socialize and felt something novel was happening.

Dostoyevsky's protagonist in the novel experienced an intense longing for companionship, akin to a thirst.

Although Raskolnikov occasionally exhibits acts of generosity and compassion, he maintains a sense of superiority over society and lacks genuine connections with the world. This is exemplified when he saves a young woman from a lecherous man without having prior knowledge of her. He implores a police officer "to keep her out of this scoundrel's hands!" (Dostoyevsky, 40) and gives twenty kopecks to prevent harm from coming to her.

After making a decision, Raskolnikov quickly feels regret and anger towards the girl he helped. As he exclaims, "He has carried off my twenty kopecks! ... Why did I want to interfere? Is it for me to help? Have I any right to help?" (Dostoyevsky 40), the incident reveals the duality of Raskolnikov's personality that his name suggests.

With his name meaning 'one who loves the earth and simple things', Dimitri Razumihin embodies an unassuming character content with a simple way of life. He takes pleasure in life's basic joys, free from any longing for wealth or social status, thereby highlighting his modest disposition. In Raskolnikov's memories, Razumihin is portrayed as an exceptional person.

According to Dostoyevsky, Dimitri is depicted as a moral young man who exhibits so much compassion that he may be viewed as naive, in opposition to Raskolnikov who strives to achieve a more elevated position.

Despite undergoing various transformations in his life, Razumihin retains contentment and versatility. As recounted by Raskolnikov, "He once endured a winter without heating the stove and argued that he preferred it as sleeping

was more restful in the cold" (Dostoyevsky 42). This anecdote exemplifies Razumihin's adaptable nature, which is emphasized by the transparency of his name. The root of his surname, Razum, conveys both balance and logic, reflecting Razumihin's prudent approach to financial management.

According to Dostoyevsky's account, Razumhin was not easily perturbed by failure or adverse situations. Despite his poverty, he sustained himself solely through his work and possessed an abundance of methods for generating income (42).

Despite having limited resources, Razumihin's stable character enables him to sustain himself. He is also reliable and accountable, as demonstrated by his care for Raskolnikov and his relatives while Rodion was sick. Moreover, Razumihin takes on the responsibility of ensuring their wellbeing. Notably, it is Razumihin who makes a prudent purchase of inexpensive seasonal clothing for Raskolnikov using the money sent by his mother.

Dostoyevsky employs names to develop characters, with Razumihin exemplifying the rationality and level-headedness that his name implies. On the other hand, Marquez's analysis of names differs in approach. Angela Vicario's name adds to her character development, with her first name signifying an angelic quality.

Angela's innocent and pure aspect is symbolized by Angel. At first, she is portrayed as a young and virginal girl. Nevertheless, the town eventually learns that her actions do not align with her angelic name. This usage of irony by Marquez is exemplified by how Angela's mother, who frequently praised her daughters as being ideally raised, viewed them. (Marquez 35)

According to Marquez (41), Angela Vicario was believed to be a virgin and had no previous fiances, having grown up with her sisters under a strict mother.

Marquez's selection of Angela's name, Vicario, is a clever

reinforcement of the town's collective belief in her unremitting purity and virginity. The term "vicar" or "clergyman" echoes the religious and ethical values tied to Angela's last name. In a community with strong adherence to Roman Catholic principles and practices, engaging in premarital sexual activity is tantamount to committing serious transgressions. As Marquez illuminates, Angela's decision to don the veil and orange blossoms in spite of her lack of virginity is viewed as a profanation of symbols representing chastity. (Marquez 46)

Macondo's society places great significance on religion and purity, values that Angela directly defies. Marquez's naming of Maria Alejandrina Cervantes serves as another example of his characterization technique, as her first name, Maria, is a nod to the Virgin Mary and mirrors the irony present in Angela's name.

Despite not being a virgin, Maria is depicted with dignity and elegance by Marquez. The narrator describes her as the most elegant and tender woman he has known, highlighting her contrasting nature. This contrast is emphasized by Marquez's selection of her first name, Alejandrina, which carries the meaning of 'protector of mankind'.

In his work, Cervantes discusses servitude, as does Alejandrina who, like him, represents the role of prostitutes in Macondo's society. In Macondo, premarital sexual relations are not accepted for young girls, but are anticipated and even encouraged from men. Therefore, prostitutes serve a dual purpose of preserving the virginity of young girls in Macondo while fulfilling the desires of the male-dominated society. The narrator nostalgically recalls his encounters with Maria, remarking that "she was...".

According to the text, the woman referred to was the most useful in bed and responsible for taking away the innocence of

the author's generation. The woman taught them more than they should have learned, emphasizing the sadness of an unoccupied bed as one of life's bleakest experiences (74).

Marquez and Dostoyevsky both display exceptional use of the subtle literary technique of using names to provide insight into their characters. Marquez's selection of "Alejandrina Cervantes" effectively conveys Macondo's perception of prostitution, highlighting his mastery of stylistic method. Moreover, in translated literature, names are fundamental for decoding its mysteries, and they are thus indispensable in novel analysis as they remain faithful to the original author's text.

The significance of comprehending transparent names for a genuine grasp of literary works is emphasized through Crime and Punishment and Chronicle of a Death Foretold.