Name Stealer
"'What's your name?' She asked in a drowsy voice. 'I don't know but only your last name.' His name was Harry Ashfield and he had never thought at any time before of changing it. 'Bevel,' he said. Mrs. Connin raised herself from the wall. 'Well ain't that a coincident!' She said. 'I told you that that's the name of this preacher!'" (O'Connor "The River" pg 26)
At first, I wondered why Harry changed his name to Bevel. I thought about this and realized that Harry/Bevel is on four years old. Young children normally copy what others say. However, there has to be more significance to Harry telling Mrs. Connin that his name is Bevel. Maybe, the preacher was once like Harry. Harry could be on the same path as Bevel. It could be foreshadowing for when Harry gets lost in the river. There seem to be many possibilities. I am just not sure what it could mean.
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Chelsea Oliver on Name Stealer: I agree with you, this part ma
Dennis G. Jerz on Name Stealer: If you were writing a story, w
If you were writing a story, why might you give two people the same, very unusual name?
I agree with you, this part made me stop and think to. I think all of your ideas on why he changed his name are legit and to respond to Jerz - I'd change his name to show just what Kaitlin says in her blog. It gives the reader that "hmmm, why would he do that" kind of feeling and they have to figure it out for themselves.
If I were writing a story, I would probably give two people the same name to show that they are similar. Also, I would make it an unusual name to set them apart from everyone else.