Pingo1387

The following informal essay contains spoilers for the manga/anime Parasyte. It is recommended that you read the manga and/or watch the anime before continuing. Hitoshi Iwaaki's Parasyte Names are mentioned several times in the manga Parasyte. The main character, Shinichi, has his arm replaced by a parasite. Not long after he and the parasite agree to cooperate in order to survive, he asks it what it wants to be called. The parasite states that it doesn’t need a name, for it is not a human or a pet. Shinichi points out that he doesn’t want to keep calling the parasite “you” or “it,” and so the parasite de

This informal essay contains spoilers for Miwashiba's RPG game Alice Mare. It is recommended that you play the game and get the ending "Recipient of XXXX" before continuing OR watch a playthrough. Miwashiba's Alice Mare The game Alice Mare’s theme of names is rather insignificant in comparison to the rest of the game, but interesting to look at by itself. This theme shows itself in the eccentric character Teacher, who refuses to say his name and insists on being called as such. Later in the game, he explains this is because “It’s a wonderful name, but I feel like I’m not living up to it.” In a certain ending, t

The following informal essay contains spoilers for J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter. It is recommended that you read or watch the series before continuing. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Although the theme of names is very minor in this series, I believe it still merits mention. The character which this theme revolves around is, of course, Lord Voldemort. “Voldemort” is an assumed name, the villain having been born with the name Tom Marvolo Riddle. He took on the name Voldemort due to his dislike of his Muggle (non-magical) name, believing wizards to be superior to Muggles. When Voldemort was at the height of his power, people di

The following informal essay contains spoilers for Naoki Urasawa's Monster. It is recommended that you read or watch the series before continuing. Naoki Urasawa’s Monster The award-winning manga Monster focuses on the theme of names several times throughout the series. Let us start with the mother and father of the twins. Their introduction states, “Their names are not important,” though we later learn that the mother’s name is Viera. In accordance with a government-run eugenics experiment, the two lay together and the mother became pregnant. They attempt to escape the facility they are held in, but the father of th

A look at the theme of names in various works of fiction and how important the characters consider names. “What’s your name?” This simple phrase is one everyone will hear almost their whole life. Some will give their name with an easy smile; some will refuse to say; yet others will be unsure of how to answer. Some people will take pride in their name and center their entire identity around it. Some will go only by a nickname or their middle name. Some almost never call others by name, only using names for emphasis or clarification. These informal essays examine the theme of names in various works of fiction, as well as t