Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Oct 17, 2010 10:50:16 GMT -5
We all know that Daniel Handler follows the idea of naming his characters (those appearing in A Series of Unfortunate Events, at least) after both literary and historical figures. I follow the same rule (or rather, try to; sometimes it's hard, such as when I'm writing a character who appears only once, and I'll prefer to save any "good" name I can come up with for a character I'm planning to have appear frequently).
Anyway, I've noticed that many of 667's writers - myself included - have named their characters - as well as canon characters lacking first names - after figures in literature and history. So, I thought it would be fun to list those characters, as well as the person/character/book that inspired them, as a way for us to learn more about one another's characters.
Here are mine:
Buddy and Seymour Squalor (Jerome's uncles on his father's side), and Eloise Squalor (Jerome's aunt, married to Buddy) - Inspired by characters appearing in several of J.D. Salinger works pertaining to the Glass Family.
Cora Squalor (Jerome's mother) and Vice Principal Steerpike (Nero's father) - Cora Groan and Steerpike of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast.
Phoebe Squalor (daughter of Maxwell Squalor - Jerome's father - and Geraldine Julienne) - Phoebe Caulfield of Catcher in the Rye.
Thomas and Linda Snicket (the parents of Lemony, Jacques, and Kit) - The Director (Thomas) and Linda of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
Edward Squalor (Jerome's grandfather on his father, Maxwell's side) and Jane (Maxwell's childhood nanny) - Edward Rochester and Jane Eyre of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.
Aldous Nabokov (Hector's father) - First name derives from the author, Aldous Huxley; last name derives from the author, Vladimir Nabokov.
Annabel Squalor Nabokov (Maxwell's sister and Aldous' wife) - Edgar Allen Poe's poem Annabel Lee.
Alexander, Ala, and Kosima Nabokov (Hector's and Isadora's triplets) - Alexander and Ala von Auersberg (son and daughter of Sunny von Bülow) and Cosima von Bülow (daughter of Sunny and Claus von Bülow).
Walter "Dalí" - The clock-sweater-wearing childhood sweetheart of Emma Squalor (the daughter of Esmé and Olaf, as well as Jerome's stepdaughter). Walter's last name - and fashion sense - was inspired by the surrealist painter, Salvador Dalí.
Davy "Foxworth" (the boy who bullies Emma) - His last name comes from that of the Foxworth family in V.C. Andrews' Dollanganger Saga novels.
Anna Widdershins (Fernald and Fiona's mother) - Anna Pavlova, the famous ballerina.
Captain "Jonah" Widdershins - Not my character, obviously, but I borrowed his first name from the Bible story, since it's just too perfect.
Jerome "David" Squalor - Yet another character I have no claim to, but I took his middle name from that of J.D. Salinger. It seemed to make sense, since the Squalors already reflect so many Salinger references.
Esmé Gigi Genevieve Squalor "Salinger" - Hmm...I think my explanation concerning Jerome's middle name explains the origin of Esmé's maiden name perfectly. ^^
Characters I've named after family and friends:
Andrew Squalor (Jerome's brother) - My favorite brother whose personality is similar to that of an older Andrew Squalor. ;D
Jenny (Esmé's friend and co-worker at Mulctuary Money Management) - My own friend and one of the first I made here at 667 after joining three years ago.
Those are all of the characters I can think of for now. Still, I'll probably come back and edit this post obsessively every time I think of someone I've forgotten.
Reason for Editing: Forgot to add a few characters...go figure. XD
Anyway, I've noticed that many of 667's writers - myself included - have named their characters - as well as canon characters lacking first names - after figures in literature and history. So, I thought it would be fun to list those characters, as well as the person/character/book that inspired them, as a way for us to learn more about one another's characters.
Here are mine:
Buddy and Seymour Squalor (Jerome's uncles on his father's side), and Eloise Squalor (Jerome's aunt, married to Buddy) - Inspired by characters appearing in several of J.D. Salinger works pertaining to the Glass Family.
Cora Squalor (Jerome's mother) and Vice Principal Steerpike (Nero's father) - Cora Groan and Steerpike of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast.
Phoebe Squalor (daughter of Maxwell Squalor - Jerome's father - and Geraldine Julienne) - Phoebe Caulfield of Catcher in the Rye.
Thomas and Linda Snicket (the parents of Lemony, Jacques, and Kit) - The Director (Thomas) and Linda of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
Edward Squalor (Jerome's grandfather on his father, Maxwell's side) and Jane (Maxwell's childhood nanny) - Edward Rochester and Jane Eyre of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.
Aldous Nabokov (Hector's father) - First name derives from the author, Aldous Huxley; last name derives from the author, Vladimir Nabokov.
Annabel Squalor Nabokov (Maxwell's sister and Aldous' wife) - Edgar Allen Poe's poem Annabel Lee.
Alexander, Ala, and Kosima Nabokov (Hector's and Isadora's triplets) - Alexander and Ala von Auersberg (son and daughter of Sunny von Bülow) and Cosima von Bülow (daughter of Sunny and Claus von Bülow).
Walter "Dalí" - The clock-sweater-wearing childhood sweetheart of Emma Squalor (the daughter of Esmé and Olaf, as well as Jerome's stepdaughter). Walter's last name - and fashion sense - was inspired by the surrealist painter, Salvador Dalí.
Davy "Foxworth" (the boy who bullies Emma) - His last name comes from that of the Foxworth family in V.C. Andrews' Dollanganger Saga novels.
Anna Widdershins (Fernald and Fiona's mother) - Anna Pavlova, the famous ballerina.
Captain "Jonah" Widdershins - Not my character, obviously, but I borrowed his first name from the Bible story, since it's just too perfect.
Jerome "David" Squalor - Yet another character I have no claim to, but I took his middle name from that of J.D. Salinger. It seemed to make sense, since the Squalors already reflect so many Salinger references.
Esmé Gigi Genevieve Squalor "Salinger" - Hmm...I think my explanation concerning Jerome's middle name explains the origin of Esmé's maiden name perfectly. ^^
Characters I've named after family and friends:
Andrew Squalor (Jerome's brother) - My favorite brother whose personality is similar to that of an older Andrew Squalor. ;D
Jenny (Esmé's friend and co-worker at Mulctuary Money Management) - My own friend and one of the first I made here at 667 after joining three years ago.
Those are all of the characters I can think of for now. Still, I'll probably come back and edit this post obsessively every time I think of someone I've forgotten.
Reason for Editing: Forgot to add a few characters...go figure. XD