Lucy's name
Posted by Janette K on February 26, 1998 at 16:30:54:
In response to What about Lucy?, written by Bonny on February 26, 1998 at 04:08:42
]
] ] Several of the names in ARWAV are signficant: Miss Lavish, and Mr Eager, for example
]
] I mean when we're introduced to her, "Lucy Honeychurch" sounds like a nice, sensible, very English name. But her full name is Lucia, an Italian name with a kind of sexy sound(maybe what I mean is that a Lucia sounds more capable of passion). So does this indicate somehow that Lucy/Lucia is not all that she seems at first, or could be seen to represent by her name, nationality. Lucia- Here also is an Italian connection which predates Lucy's Italy visit. Does this connect with Mr Beebe's Fate versus Italy debate? Perhaps not. What's in a name? More, or less than this garbled version of my thoughts represents? Someone, please interpret.
] -Bonny
I'm not sure that Lucy's full name is "Lucia." I think Charlotte just calls her that because they're travelling in Italy, and it's the Italian version of her name. I read it as an affectation on Charlotte's part.
However, in Roman Catholic hagiography, Saint Lucy is the patron saint of music, so that is a tie to Lucy's character.
"Honeychurch" -- honey is sweet. We have to ask ourselves what is EMF's attitude toward the church to come up with any speculation about its significance as this family's name. When Lucy goes to church, Cecil rather sneers at it, but EMF regards her faith as something that grew upward naturally. On the other hand, view Mr. Emerson's strong atheisim. But we can't assume the Emersons speak EMF's own beliefs, although he seems so sympathetic to them. Maybe "Honeychurch" signifies something wholesome and sweet, with a touch of ordinary English folk.
I will post separately about JA's names in Emma.
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