Posted by Ai Samurai on September 19, 19102 at 19:14:52:

In Reply to: Ambrose his mark posted by John Jay on July 20, 19101 at 19:57:23:

Here are my theories on Ambrose's anonymity:

1.) Barth decided to stray away from the convention of the named protagonist. Lack of identity makes a character as unique as a particular name does. Maybe Barth did not intend it, but I see Ambrose as his own character because he does not receive a name until very late, unlike the others around him: Andrea, Conrad, Hector, Erdman, Grandfather, Rosa. Even without a name, he never whines excessively in his narrative.

*SPOILER*

Hey, the homunculus in "Night-Sea Journey" does not ever don a name, does he? He just swims on...Ambrose experiences the same; he just swims on... until destiny meets him.

2.) Leaving his name blank lets him take on various identities that depict the way others feel about him. Honey (or Honig) makes him seem like a sweet boy, a natural target for bees. Mother calls him "it" at times, showing the indifference his own mother feels towards him.

3.) It is often hard - especially with an indifferent mother - to choose the right name, and some people need some memorable incident to attach names to people.

~Ai Samurai

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup