Revolution: What's In A Name?

     

         I always love pursuing through names and their meanings when trying to come up with names for my characters. I find that most of the time a character's name either describes their role in the story, their personality or sometimes the meaning can be completely ironic. So what do our heroes' names mean?

A warrior through and through...

Miles Matheson: 

The name "Miles" has various meanings all of which seem to coincide with our old general's role:

      1. Miles:

• (English) "Merciful"; Miles didn't show himself to be merciful in the past but later in the future he became less brutal and a bit more noble.
• (Greek) "Destroyer"; This describes Miles in his days as General of the Monroe Republic. He's destroyed families, lives, etc. 
• (Hebrew) "Who is like God?" or "Gift of God"; A variant of Michael. We all know of the Archangel Michael who cast Lucifer out of Heaven and leads God's heavenly host. Miles is sort of a character who takes up the fight against an evil entity. He isn't like God but I do think he is a gift to humanity in his current stage.
• (Irish) "Servant"; Miles leads men but he also serves his family. He's willing to do anything to help the people he cared about.
• (Latin) "Soldier"; Miles was a marine. He was literally a soldier but he's a soldier in the figurative sense that he'll keep fighting and doesn't leave a man behind.

  

   2. Matheson: A Scottish surname mostly.

• (Biblical) variant of Matthew which means "Gift of God"; If you want to get poetic, the older Mathesons bear this name ironically as they ended the world and drove it headlong into chaos but the younger Mathesons (Charlie and Danny) were the gifts who sought to save the world and so repair their elders' past mistakes.

Always getting beaten down by life but always gets back up

Sebastian Monroe:

       Monroe's role was that of an anti-hero. He leads with passion but he always leads in the wrong direction, which when I found the meaning of his name I felt them to be ironic in a sense:

    1. Sebastian:

• (Greek) "Revered"; Bass was once revered by his inner circle and many of his foot soldiers but he wasted that reverence with his paranoia and brutality.
• (Latin) "Venerable"; I wouldn't say he's venerable. There were times when Bass did something that deserved a pat on the back and redeemed him a bit in our eyes. So I guess this meaning isn't so ironic.
• Sebastian is also the name of a Roman Catholic Saint. St. Sebastian was a martyr saint who once volunteered to be a soldier in the Roman army. He was promoted to the Praetorian Guard, the imperial body guards. During the times when the Christians were being persecuted, it was discovered that Sebastian himself was a Christian who not only comforted Christian martyrs but had also converted a few. Emperor Diocletian ordered Sebastian's execution by his archers. The reason why St. Sebastian is pictured alive with arrows sticking out of him is because of a legend that he did not die. His executioners left him for dead and St. Irene (a wife of a fellow martyr St. Castulus) came and healed him of his wounds. Since there is little known about St. Sebastian the tale of his supposed rescue from death could have been fabricated. Nevertheless, I see some similarities here with our Sebastian Monroe. Monroe is kind of a martyr but only when it comes to the people he loves and he has escaped death many times (always with someone's help).

    2. Monroe:

• (Gaelic) "From the red swamp"; Red is the color of love, passion, but also of anger and blood. Bass has spilled a lot of blood and he's a pretty intense guy. When we hear the word "swamp" we usually think of humid, filthy, muddy, and even dangerous place. Bass has waded through the mud and filth. Basically he's used to struggle but he always comes out okay.
• (Latin) "from the red marsh"; generally the same as I said above. "Marsh" is usually equated with "swamp" but nevertheless it further describes Bass as never walking through life easy.
• (Scottish) "from the river's mouth"; A river has a set course with little chance of changing. Bass, until the end, just kept making the same mistakes. 

What a martyr...

Rachel Matheson:

        Rachel is a real you know what in the you know where but her name in most of the meanings I found all said the same thing:

• (Biblical) "Sheep"; a stage in Rachel's life before the Blackout she just went along with the DOD nano project even though she knew deep in her bones that it would lead to no good.
• (German) "Lamb"; Rachel is no innocent but she is a "sacrificial lamb" so to speak. She let herself be taken prisoner by Miles and Monroe and for years endured the emotional and physical torture. She was even willing to blow herself up to take down Monroe. But being the "sacrificial lamb" had lead Rachel to make selfish decisions. She sometimes used her painful experiences to make people see her as a victim so she had an excuse for her wrong doings.
• (Hebrew) "Ewe"; A ewe is a term for a female sheep so like a sheep she followed the flock that lead to a slaughter.

Just one of the boys

Charlotte "Charlie" Matheson:

        Charlie is a nickname for Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles so this name would have the same meaning as the masculine:

• (English) "Manly"; From a Freudian and Jungian stand point Charlie is in fact more "man" than "woman". Charlie is more assertive and took charge. She saw what she liked and took it and had no problem with asserting her authority, which are seen as more masculine qualities. Charlie carries around a gun, which is considered a phallic symbol. So in terms of "seeing who has the biggest cock" Charlie shows hers regularly and in doing so she castrates other men. Another masculine quality is that Charlie prefers logic to emotion when it's needed where as women are believed to let their passions rule them. Charlie is one of the boys and sometimes the men have to run to keep up with her. She prefers jeans to a dress and prefers boots to high heels. Boots are more comfortable to walk in on those rough roads she traverses and also on the battlefield.

Crazy like a fox and just as crafty

Tom Neville:

         Tom is the nick name of "Thomas". Thomas was actually one of the names of Jesus Christ's disciples. Some may remember the phrase: "doubting Thomas"; Thomas didn't believe that Christ rose from the dead so Jesus asked Thomas to have a closer look and feel his wounds where he was nailed to the cross. Thomas believed in things he could touch and see rather than go on faith:

    1. Tom:

• (Aramaic) "Twin"; Tom is what you would call a two-face. He puts on the mask he needs to in order to rise to the top. You can also imagine it as before the Blackout where Tom was as you call it a person of "light" and then after the Blackout where Tom became a person of "darkness." 

   2. Neville:

• (English) "New Village"; Tom likes to reinvent himself when it suits him. He will leave his home but has no trouble with setting up a new one and when the need arises, Tom quickly recreates himself to suit his new boss.

Despite his parents, Jason's only concern was taking care of the innocents of this world

 Jason Neville:

         Jason was a noble soul. It didn't matter if it was Charlie in danger or just innocent people, Jason stood up for the little guy:

• (Biblical) "He that cures"; Jason isn't a doctor and I don't think he succeeded in curing anything but he did manage to make a difference. He helped the rebels in season 1 and he helped Miles and Charlie in Austin so they could thwart the Patriots' sinister plan. So he may not have cured anything but he did manage to help fight off injection.
• (Greek) "A healing"; It never sat well with Jason to hurt others without having a good reason. But sometimes his loyalty to his father hurt people. So Jason would go off and try to make up for his past mistakes. 

Aaron is like a new prophet

Aaron Pittman:

       Aaron didn't see himself as much use but his fierce loyalty to the Mathesons shows that he has an inner strength that keeps him from giving up. Aaron was also the name of the Prophet Moses's older brother. The Biblical Aaron followed his baby brother and helped lead the Hebrews out of Egypt:

      1. Aaron:

• (Biblical) "a teacher" "lofty" "mountain of strength"; Aaron's job was to teach. It was the only job available for a guy like him. And I suppose in season 1, Aaron believed himself mentally "lofty", surrounded by neanderthals. But being a "mountain of strength" yes certainly Aaron is that even if he didn't believe he was when he was with his wife Priscilla. Despite Rachel's repeated attempts to get rid of Aaron in season 1 on her journey to the Tower, Aaron refused to leave her behind. In season 2, Aaron stood up to the nano tech when they tried to take over his mind and he defeated them. Aaron even picked up a weapon to protect his new love Cynthia and even people from the town as they ran from the Hanover Clan. Even though Aaron knew that he would most likely die fighting someone bigger than him, he still had the inner strength to take up a sword in someone's defense. Even Miles could be surprised by Aaron. Aaron showed himself to be very courageous in Season 1 episode "Sex and Drugs". Aaron basically shot himself then shot Drexel dead.
• (Hebrew) "Exalted" "High Mountain"; I would make the same argument from the Biblical meaning. Aaron was "exalted" by the nano in a way because he created them and even though he created so many obstacles for them and has tried to hurt them, the nano refuses to hurt its creator out of some sort of "He is God" complex. Being on a "High Mountain" or being a "High Mountain" can also have some negative connotations along with some positives. In season 2, when Aaron was dealing with the nano threat I could see that he kind of felt isolated from his friends and family. He couldn't tell anyone that Priscilla was really the nano tech so he couldn't confide in anyone. But also mountains are where hermits are said to make their homes and hermits possess secret wisdom. You could say that Aaron possessed this secret wisdom; a deeper understanding of the bigger picture being the nano tech (who have proven to be more of a threat than the Patriots). Aaron possesses the intelligence and knowledge that could save everyone.

       2. Pittman:

• (Anglo-Saxon) "Ditch-dweller"; Aaron in the early days of the Blackout could have felt this way. He once sat in a nice fancy office but suddenly he was thrown into a constant war zone where he always seemed stuck in the muck and always has to hide.

Always so brave without thinking

Danny Matheson:

             Danny is a nickname for Daniel so the meaning is sort of Biblical in that it has to do with God. Also there was a prophet named Daniel who was thrown into a den of hungry lions but when his tormentors came back to see happy full lions they instead were shocked to find Daniel alive sitting and petting the seemingly tamed lions. From that Daniel you can say that Danny was thrown into a proverbial den of lions but he never wavered in his bravery:

• (Biblical) "Judgement of God" or "God is My Judge"; I would describe this judgement role as Danny being Tom Neville's judge. The entire time they spent together, Danny judged Neville to be nothing but a bully with deep insecurities and wasn't quiet about it. Yet just when we think God's harsh judgement upon the wicked is imminent, sometimes we are disappointed (yet a small part relieved to have a merciful Lord) to find that at the last minute God decides to give the wicked one more chance to make up for their wrong doings. Danny could have let Neville be crushed to death but instead he helped him.
• (Hebrew) "Attractive"; Being attractive isn't reserved for a person's appearance. Someone could present you with an attractive offer of more money or a better position or to make something look attractive like a cause. After Danny died bringing down a chopper with a missile launcher, many young boys joined the rebels against the Monroe Republic. The idea of dying a hero to serve a greater cause looked attractive to young men Danny's age.

The world weeps all the more for this snuffed light

Nora Clayton:

        Nora was a pretty great person. She wanted to make up for her dark past and instead of fighting for herself wanted to fight for others and serve a greater purpose:

     1. Nora:

• (English) "Light"; A variant of Eleanora which is a mix meaning of "Light" and "Honor". Nora sought to live her life in the light again and wanted everyone to see that there was hope for a better tomorrow. And Nora is also a woman of her word. Even when her sister Mia begged her to go with her, Nora was adamant in keeping her promise to save Charlie's brother. Also Nora was secure enough to admit that Miles loved Rachel instead of her and even told Rachel as much. Then Nora told Miles to choose Rachel over her as she lay dying but Miles refused to leave Nora behind. The Greek, Hebrew, and Latin meaning of Nora all have the same meaning of "Light".

    2. Clayton:

• (English) "Clay" or "Mortal"; Clay is a malleable substance that you can shape or mold into whatever you want it to be. Nora was a person who could start over, remold herself for the better. In a sense of being "mortal", Nora knew life was too short to live in regret. Her awareness of a short life led her to try and leave a change on the world better than when she came into it. 
• (Teutonic) "from the town on the clay bed"; As I said before, Nora was capable self change. She went through a sort of trial by fire when she suffered a miscarriage and decided to think of the fates of other children yet to be born into this world and wanted instead of a fascist regime she wanted any future children to be born in a peaceful democracy.

Gene let the wolves in to devour his flock...

Gene Porter:

         Gene is a variant of Eugene. Gene's names hold some irony but they also hold some redemption for him:

       1. Gene:

• (Greek) "Born to Nobility" or "Well-born"; Gene tried to do the noble thing. At the time he was in a vulnerable place and so the chance to save his town appealed to his sense of preserving life being that he's a doctor. Of course, Gene's sense of nobility lead him to his fall from grace. But Gene was a trooper and once he realized his mistake he tried to regain his nobility back by fighting against the Patriots.

       2. Porter:

• (Latin) "Gatekeeper"; Gene was a pillar of the community. He had influence but more than that, Gene felt it was his duty to protect the people of his town and so that heavy mantle he bore on his shoulders alone. Gene in a sense was the gatekeeper who let the wolves in to eat his flock.

Childish but she loved her family greatly over ambition

Julia Neville:

          Julia was Lady MacBeth if she were on a modern stage. Julia is also a variant of Julius, the Roman clan of Gaius Julius Caesar who was Rome's first dictator for life:

• (French) "Youthful"; Julia was a "youthful" person in the sense that she was materialistic and in some ways childish. She wanted her husband to wear the laurels but Tom in charge means she had power as well. In Season 1 she was not so subtle in her pushing Tom to think maybe he should be running the Republic (sounds like Caesar). Then in season 2, Julia was a bit upset that Tom couldn't do what they planned the way she planned a way to get her new husband to become Chief of Staff. She practically berated him like a spoiled teenager berated her parents. Julia was very careless as well in season 2. She was blinded by her, let's call it ambition, to have it all that she was careless in keeping her old husband and child out of harm's way. Julia wanted it all but didn't realize the sort of sacrifices she would have had to have made so in a way that fell in with her childishness. 

He prefers to be the Alpha Male of any pack

Connor Bennett:

             Connor was Monroe's son and he had big ambition that his father wasn't willing to fulfill on his terms. So Connor's name kind of fits him pretty well:

      1. Connor:

• (Irish) "Strong-willed" or "wise"; Connor liked to do things his way. He would butt heads with Bass on many an occasion, which is what Bass failed to grasp. Connor was willing to follow but you couldn't make him do anything he didn't want to do unless it served his own interests. As for being "wise" I would say Connor was calculating and always thinking of how something could serve his ambitions or goals. The name "Connor" also derives from the old Irish name "Coachuhhar" meaning "High Desire" describing Connor's determination to be top dog. And speaking of "dog" Connor also means "Hound-Lover". I guess you can say Connor would rather command the hounds than be one of them. So he likes giving orders. 

      2. Bennett:

• (English) "Right-hand son"; Perfectly describing Bass's view of having Connor as his right hand to inherit the Monroe Republic. 
• (French/Latin) "Blessed"; I think from Connor's point of view he wasn't so much as "blessed" as he was "cursed". He gave up everything for his father but when Bass chose to help Miles instead of him he felt that his sacrifices were for nothing. But I could argue that Connor was blessed to actually finding his father or having a father that does love him even if sometimes it felt that Bass cared more about Miles than he did Connor. 

Love conquers all, even insane nano tech

Priscilla Pittman:

            The meaning of Priscilla was hard to interpret but I think I got the gist of it:

• (Biblical/Latin) "Ancient" or "Archaic"; We all have read Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato and we still use their quotes of wisdom today. Priscilla wasn't modern in her thoughts about material possessions. She loved Aaron for himself and not his money. She had a sort of wisdom that love made up for money, a roof, and comfort; that love was all one really needed in order to be happy and that was worth all the money in the world. Priscilla loved Aaron for the man he was. Aaron wasn't some billionaire playboy with muscles or a guy who wears a suit, Priscilla knew the man who was noble, very attentive, and focused on others. 

Can't we all just get along?

Ben Matheson: 

       Ben is a nickname/variant of Benjamin. Ben's role throughout the series had been set to martyr that we have romanticized. Benjamin was the name of Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the United States of America. Benjamin Franklin was a scientist who discovered the power of electricity and that kind of contrasts our Ben who was also a scientist looking to create clean low cost energy and basically destroyed Franklin's discovery sending people back to a time when there was no light (like during the Revolutionary days of the Colonies against the British Empire):

• (English/Biblical) "Right-Hand Son" or "Son of the Right Hand"; Ben and Miles were blood related brothers. That being said like biological brothers they had similarities but many differences. Ben was considered the "good son", the one who was set on the right path while Miles was set on the wrong one. Benjamin was a character in the Biblical story of Joseph (you know the one with the pretty coat) where his half-brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy because their father favored him more. Benjamin was Joseph's full blood brother (they shared the same mother) and had become Isaac's new favorite son. Ben was more or less an innocent who played an unwilling role in his older brother's plot to get revenge on his half-brothers but then was spared when it was revealed that Joseph just wanted to test if his older brothers were repentant for their crimes against him. All that is interesting but the point is, Ben was a pawn; an innocent who played an unwilling role in his older brother's quarrel with the Monroe Republic. 

       If I had missed any names, please let me know. Otherwise I don't know about you but I found all of this fascinating. A character's name can tell you a lot about them even if some writers don't realize that. Sometimes in order to set a base personality for your character or their role in the story all you need is the right name.