Ahem. *Spoilers Ahead*
Major Spoilers Ahead.
In the movie, Anne Hathaway is about to marry a complete twit. Overbearing, controlling, and boring, he is definitely not the man for her. How do we as the audience know this? His name: Fletcher Flemson.Yes, Flemson. As in son of phlegm.
No romantic comedy hero is going to be named after a bodily fluid. Or, worse, be the lowly son of a bodily fluid. That rather puts the whole son of a tradesman thing kind of in perspective, eh Regency heroines? It's just not going to happen. Names in romances are, well, romantic. Heroes are always Colins, Rafes, or - sigh - Sebastians. Heroines have a little more leeway, but there are still thousands more Penelopes and Annabelles running about in novels than in real life. Rarely do we read about the saga of Egbert and Gladys.
Knowing this, it does make reading books and watching movies a smidge more difficult. Why worry about the happily ever after, if I know the heroine won't end up with Ira, the fleshy curate? I've already singled out that solicitor in the corner, if only because he's a Tristan and not a Francis. And, unfortunately for him, that Snidely Whiplash is already my prime suspect in Great Aunt Agatha's murder (Was there ever a better villain name?). Once you've picked up on the language of names (or over analyzed enough books and movies), plots are forever being despoiled.
But...at least I knew Anne wouldn't end up a Daughter of Phlegm.
What are some of your favorite names for villains and schmucks from past movies and books? Does the current antagonist of your WIP follow the naming maxims?
3 comments:
He he. son of phlegm.
I've done a few villains, but they're demons so the names can be a little bit out there. Like Mastema and Karnage. See? Weird.
oh I know what you mean about names. As long as I have been writing I owned and lost a few baby name books. I have to know the meaning of the name before it comes my character's name.
I love names, as you well know. The name definitely forms the character.
On a different note, how was Bride Wars? I am loathe to see it, because I feel like it's just going to be two best friend undermining each other & sabotaging each other for no good reason. I don't really want to support a movie where the women are shrews toward each other, it gives me a bad taste in my mouth. Women being crazy bitches should not be celebrated, I feel.
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