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August 2, 2003
A curious literary technique
Periodically, I read books whose authors choose to eliminate certain character's names and replace them with single capital letters, presumably the first letter in that person's name: "On Friday I met K for dinner...we had pizza." Is there a name for this technique? I've seen it done in both modern books and much older ones, so I can't say it's a historical thing. It always throws me for a bit of a loop, because I can't figure out what the point is. Is the author downgrading the importance of the character because it's the scene that matters? Is it supposed to evoke an air of mystery? Is it a way of keeping real-life people anonymous whom the author fears would be embarrassed by his including them? Quite interesting. Well, I'm waiting in the office now for B to show up so we can go cycling, perhaps that will ease my mind.  Comments on this article:
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I remember a certain writer we both know (or knew at least) used to sign his emails with his one lowercase initial. Such a practice (excluding other identifying features) leaves room for only 26 identities, but enables something between a pronoun and anonymity. The function can be something like a cookie - you can track the person without knowing his identity. The law embraces this technique for minors, using the first name and last initial: "Mr. Smith molested Lisa S." That way one can talk about Lisa S. and the facts of a case (which are always important to disclose) without disclosing the victim's identity (which there is good reason to protect).
Don't know why writers do it though...
Posted by: Andrew on August 2, 2003 10:30 PM