In my second book "Tender Intimacies" there are characters that are loved and hated by my readers, as intended. But I always have some hidden messages and in this blog, I'd discuss the hidden messages I have in regards to the character names.
1) Peter: Meaning - Rock
Peter is the center character of Tender Intimacies, whose heart is breaking as his beloved is leaving him and all the inflictions she is causing him. But he is as adamant as a rock. He sticks with his heart and its emotions, regardless of what is happening to him, he still trying to hold on to something that is gone. The truth hit on him like a hammer on a rock. All the cracks eventually broke him.
2) Myra: Meaning - Beloved, Favorable, Admirable
Myra is Peter's beloved, who has done him immeasurable wrong, which broke his whole world. Her actions were so unworthy of her, and yet when readers would read the story, they would have a benefit of the doubt for Myra. They would still somewhere favour her. Myra is loved and pampered by all those people around her; her mother Polly, Peter, Peter's parents, and even his best friend Harry, who took her as his little sister.
3) Veronica: Meaning - She who brings victory, true image
Veronica's name was something that I had promised to keep in place of the actual name of the person who had inspired that character. My high school crush, who was the first person to say to me that I should become a writer. Her role in the story is so vital as both Peter and Veronica are connected again after years and they are talking about their lives and it is now unfolding their past life. After getting to know Peter's messed up life, all the inflictions his beloved Myra had left on his life, Veronica tries to be the person to bring a positive impact on his life by showing the true image of life. The letter that Veronica gives to Peter was actually written by real-life Veronica.
4) Harry: Meaning (American - Rules the house) (English - House protector)
Harry, in fact, rules the story and probably ends up being the most favorite character in the story. He's been terribly alone at all levels of life and his failure to build good relations always made him understand the importance of relations and people. He, who has lost his parents at an early age, connects deeply with Peter's parents and is part of their family, their house. Peter is his brother in bond, and he's been always so protective of the people who stayed with him always. When Myra's actions were causing harm to this house, he became the proctor and tried to find the right way, while still caring immeasurable for Myra too, his little sister.
5) Katherine: Meaning - Pure
Katherine is the most divine character in the story. Katherine Thompson, the soul of the Thompson family. So kind that even Harry and Santino would have her wishes as their commands. She ruled on the hearts of people around her with the purity of her heart. A concerned mother, not just to Peter but to Harry, Myra, Muffin (the little kid next door), and Santino. She is so loved that even the fiery Alan Thompson is softened by her love.
6) Alan: Handsome, Fair, Precious
Alan is a very proud character of the story. His vanity, who is academically speaking so bright and values knowledge and his profession a lot. But along with that, he has some really bad qualities like taking his family for granted and always undermining Peter's passion for other things than academics. A boy who went through terrible hardship in life due to poor education became known for his vanity and was softened by his beloved Katherine's love. Katherine was the only person who was able to empathize with Alan. A source of great relief in his life.
7) Polly: Meaning - Agreeable, a courteous or amiable person
Polly is Myra's mother, who knows that her daughter's actions are disagreeable yet, she is so amiable to try to protect the union of these two families, quietly with her efforts to convince her daughter over her choices. She had found a son in Peter which she never got, and thus suffered the worst situation to be stuck between her two children going in two opposite directions. Trying to hold them together and yet being courteous though she is hurt.
8) Santino: Meaning - Little Saint
Santino is a quiet and lonely boy, who never had any friends at school. Harry was the one friend who stayed with him for his unsung qualities. Santino is the character that stays with people in their difficult times, and his role in Peter's life, when he suffers a great loss, shows how he apt that name is for him. The little saint for Peter, who was there in his difficult times.
9) Hope: Meaning - A positive expectation
Hope character is actually inspired by one of my college friends, whom I have still not met in real. She was there when I had lost my father due to covid-19. Checking up on me while I suffered from the infection along with my father's loss. She had brought me a hope at that time, a positive expectation that my life would be better in near future. And, here I am with all the positivity surrounding me.
10) Muffin: Meaning - A small domed spongy cake
Muffin is actually a chubby cute kid from next door. Due to his appearance, he is called Muffin, sweet, spongy, and loved.
As an author, every name holds greater importance to me because for readers they are simply characters, while for me they are an idea, some inexplicable force that is colliding with other forces and creating something of a reality for me.
I've let enough cats out of my bag. I must zip it now. I hope, you liked this little piece of information, there are many hidden things in the book.
Very nice elucidation, Piyush!
ReplyDelete