Why first names only.

[eggnostic]

I've been thinking. Why do we not know any of the character's last names in the book? Any ideas?

[beherenow]

My thoughts - It is our first names that we most resonate with and that are uniquely ours. Last names have more to do with our ancestry and/or what family we have married into. In the book, the main character does not even have a name, which I love! He is John in the movie - an average American name, an ancient name with variations in many different languages. I think it was a good choice.



Peace.

[eggnostic]

Yes, actually I think that referring to all the characters with simple first names was probably the most realistic element of the book.

[ceinvests]

Some of us look for knowledge.

Some of us look for knowings.

You may look at a tall oak and learn all of the specifics of its life.

I may look at it and feel its strength and beauty and energy.

You respect it in all of your knowledge, I respect it in all of my knowings.



I think the book gives us the opportunity to have more knowings by keeping certain knowledge to a minimum.

[mdoss2202]

I thought i remembered John for some reason from the book too? It has been awhile, i could be a little off.

I think the absense of last names was actually a literary tactic used by Redfield. I think he left the last names out to keep the relations between the characters more impersonal. Remember, the only person that 'John' received information from that he actually knew was Charlene. They state throughout the storyline that he would meet the person he needed to at the right time to lead him in the right direction or to further explain the manuscript, all of which were people he had never met before. Thus, i think Redfield left the last names out to show that it isn't always people you would expect, it could be someone you've never met, that your intuitions lead you to that could be of real help and importance. Just my thoughts.


On another note, this was my first post on this board. My name is Mike. I'll be around from time to time, look forward to speaking w. all of you at one point or another!

[aLx]

welcome here mike! we would be happy to add some more friends here.

please try to share to other threads also so that we can learn from each other...

thanks