Analyses for On the Edge of Eureka:
This is actually an essay I had written for a discussion in symbolism in online works for my English class.
Thus far, the question of What's in a name? has been brought up by both novels in the series. On the Edge of Eureka features a cold, impersonal world where men are given numbers reflecting the "batch" of soldiers they were raised in. Women are given names, but there are so many people it's impossible to be unique, and their caste is always a part of it, being treated as if it's more important than a person's actual name in most cases. Enlightenment features a group of cousins named after characters from famous literature, with Anna Karenina, Jean-Louise, Cosette Esmeralda, and many more. In each case, names are meaningful to the characters and oftentimes symbolic and relevant to the plot as a whole.
In Eureka's case, there is no question that the lack of genuine names affects the themes of individuality versus a "greater good" that have been put in the spotlight throughout the series; the men given numbers and ranks are treated as faceless, expendable soldiers, existing only to serve in a war machine. However, from the individuals we've seen whose lives are meaningful in the context of the plot, they have quite literally made names for themselves: Ace and Tee, as soldiers who have joined a revolution and are just beginning o see the world as a place where they can make a change, have simple names made from their serial numbers. TB, a eugenicist who frantically searches for his own identity while trying to subdue an entire planet, has a similar name; however, his is marked by a desire for more grandeur, as he has repeatedly expressed disgust with it. Those who have firmly left the life of Eleutherian military behind have more ordinary names- or, rather, ordinary in the context of the story- such as David and Atlas. David's name comes directly from the myths of David and Goliath, symbolizing his struggle against an all-powerful and seemingly unbeatable government, while Atlas literally means a man who holds the entire sky on his shoulders.
Though women receive actual given names from their parents, their names are also symbolic. Dalia's name calls to mind questions of cultural appropriation and entitlement; though Eleutherians generally despise the Martians, they are also willing to name their children after "exotic" places for a feeling of otherworldliness. They do not care about the people of Mars or their culture, only what they can gain from it- Alestra does nothing to help the poor farmers, but names her daughter after their home to evoke feelings of exoticism. Names like Artemis and Athena represent Eleutheria's firm idolization of a bygone era due to their associations with ancient mythology and civilizations, while those of Carina, Estella and the family name Seren symbolize a yearning for the stars and the future, showing Eleutheria's duality: they both long for the Classical era in an almost Renaissance-esque way, and seek a futuristic lifestyle and change. Acidalia Planitia herself also represents this, with the ancient Greek Acidalia from the Acidalius Springs combining with the name of a Martian plain. Andromeda, Cassiopeia and Carina Nebula also fall into this category of representing a double-edged sword.
It is also important to note that Martian names are different in nature than Earthling names; while Earth has names like Acidalia and Athena, Mars has more ordinary and traditional names. While the Eleutherian system uses caste and titles rather than modern family names, showing their lack of family relationships and dependency on rank, the Martians use last names, showing they value family over title. They are also more traditional in general; David is Biblical and Cressida Shakespearean, as opposed to Earth's interstellar and Roman names. This emphazises Mars's connections to the "Platinum Age" of modernity, in stark contrast to Eletheria's focus on antiquity and rapid, unhealthy change.
In regards to modernity, Enlightenment's names are also vital to symbolism: the Davis cousins are all named after literary figures, representing the shoes they must fill- both the shoes of the people they're named after, and the shoes of their departed parents. Cosette's name is clearly meaningful in itself; the story pushes her into a position similar to that of her namesake in Les Miserables, where she is the youngest and a very sympathetic girl with no parents. Anna's name is clearly connected to Anna Karenina's struggle to maintain a strong outer appearance even as her life crumbles to pieces, much like Enlightenment's Anna's attempt to pretend her life is normal as she tries to raise a child and keep a family together on her own. Nearly every character is, in some way, connected to their literary counterpart.
However, the two names that stand out are Taylor and Katherine, or "Kate." Katherine's nicknames are given focus throughout the story. Her refusal to go by "Kitty," a name that would match Anna's due to both being from Anna Karenina, shows her refusal to be "ordinary;" she has a chance to fit in with her cousins with a similar name, but will not take it. This symbolizes her refusal to be a "normal" teenager- there is no way for her to be fully ordinary, but she could attend parties with Scarlett and Taylor or make friends, yet she abstains, choosing instead to focus solely on her research. Taylor's name also stands out as the only one with no connection to literature, emphasizing her character's "otherness." She is not a Davis and not related to them by blood, and she is by far the most well-adjusted member of the family. While the others ether engage in clearly self-destructive habits like Scout's laziness or Scarlett's partying and obsession with popularity, or focus intently on subjects teenagers would not be expected to care about such as Anna's intensive care of Cosette or Kate's nonstop inquisitiveness and search for answers, Taylor leads a relatively normal life. She has friends and a healthy social circle, and wrestles with inner demons far less than the rest of the family.
Overall, throughout the series, names play an important role in establishing characters and their relationships to one another and the world. While "odd names out" such as Taylor and Cressida show the characters' dissimilarity to the rest of the cast, the general theme naming establishes the values of authority figures and of society, showing the ideals the characters are supposed to embody versus what they actually accomplish.
