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That Might Not Mean What You Think It Means
Symbolism and meaning in art aren’t always there
I had a college professor who was very, very sure of himself. He was so incredibly sure of himself — and convinced he was absolutely correct — that he took a play by a well-known playwright and made cuts to it to fit HIS narrative about the focal character. Seriously, he took the best character in the play and cut 80% of the part because it didn’t fit his belief in a single focal character (and she had some of the best and funniest lines in the play, too).
One thing this professor pushed was that every name has meaning. He was adamant about this. Every character is given the name they’re given because it has a meaning/symbolism in it.
As a writer, I can tell you without a doubt that this is 100% Grade-A bullshit. Yes, I recognize that I’m not one of the greats or a writer of classic tropes. Yet I am absolutely, 100% certain that not every name even the most amazing and highly regarded author creates has meaning or symbolism to it.
This is true of lots of aspects of most arts. While there are many creations with incredible, hidden meaning and symbolism, often it is only in the eye of the beholder.
That might not mean what you think it means, my friend. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
