I never really thought about what my name means. I never thought of a name as
my entire reputation, complete with honesty, and integrity. I have always just
thought of my name as a word people address me with. I didn’t think I had a
choice in choosing my name; it was just something my parents chose for me at birth, something which can be
changed on a whim. Names are not entirely unique to a person either. A Google
search will discover millions of hits and most of these results (unless you are
uber famous) will not even be you!
Reading The Crucible, however, opened me to John
Proctor’s belief in the purity of names. The value he placed in preserving his
name, even sacrificing his own life for it, brought a whole new meaning to
“making a name for yourself.” Proctor determined his own name by his actions;
he maintained its purity with his honesty. Even though a name isn’t exclusive,
it still belongs solely to each individual, who as the ability to build a
reputation upon it and to take it even further and transform it into a global
brand or phenomena. So I guess names do have much more significance than how one is
addressed. They reflect one’s character and live on for eternity. So take care
and build it how you want to be viewed, once its lost, you will never be able
to get it back.
Hannah- insightful post! It makes readers ponder the legacy they want to leave behind. I also like the layout of your post: going from the simple, literal meaning of a name, to the ideas and components that make up someone's name.
ReplyDeleteExactly! When Ms. Valentino first gave us the naming motif assignment, I didn't understand why a person's name was so important. Your post is so close to what I was thinking when I learned the importance of names. I like how you connected the two--what you thought and what the names mean--in a simple, continuously shifting way.
ReplyDeleteI grew in my understanding of what a name means the same way you did after reading The Crucible, Hannah! :) Prior to reading it I was all like, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," agreeing with Shakespeare's view that a person's name does not matter because it may lead to preconceived notions about him that are untrue. But thanks to The Crucible, I realize that the things you do to create a legacy and shatter those preconceived notions are what cause your name to become important.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! We must work to build a name for ourselves. Our actions determine how others will view us! This post was very interesting and insightful! I wonder what people will say about us?
ReplyDeleteI liked your use of Google! Our names really aren't all that unique from a wider perspective. Proctor's staunch defense of his name, even in the face of death, was an eye-opener. Your closing statement is pretty thought-provoking too.
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