Repeated Names in Harry Potter Books

[earendil_fr]

No: HPFGUIDX 96453

>  Earendil wrote:
> > If the last name isn't actually mentioned, then I think 
Trelawney's 
> > great great grandmother's Cassandra *is* Cassandra Vablatsky. 
> (snip)
> > Another possibility, if the name Trelawney *is* mentioned for 
> > Sibyll's ancestor: Cassandra Vablatsky could be actually 
Cassandra 
> > Trelawney, and could write under her maiden name (Vablatsky) or 
> > something of the like. She probably would have been known as a 
seer 
> > in the WW under the name Vablatsky way before her marriage, and 
> > might have already published books under that name. Then she 
kept 
> > using the same writing name.
> 
> 
> Rachael replied:
> I am also trying to catch up on posts, so I totally understand, 
and apologize 
> if someone has said what I am saying.  In OOTP US ed. when 
Umbridge is inspecting 
> Trelawney's class, she asks if Trelawney is the great great 
granddaughter of 
> Cassandra Trelawney. (I am paraphrasing because I don't have my 
book with me right 
> now.)  

Earendil:
Nope, no one has answered my post yet!
Anyway, in the meantime I had the time to do some searching so here 
is the scene:
(OotP, UK ed., p281)
'And you are a great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated Seer 
Cassandra Trelawney?'
'Yes,' said Professor Trelawney, holding her head a little higher.

> Rachael:
> I like your theory of Cassandra Trelawney writing under another 
name.  Or, 
> Cassandra Vablatsky could be another descendent of Cassandra 
Trelawney, which 
> would make her either an aunt or some cousin of Sibyll.

Earendil again:
I don't think Cassandra Vablatsky would be as closely related to 
Sibyll as an aunt or cousin. Here is why:

Quoting same scene as above:
'But I think - correct me if I am mistaken - that you are the first 
in your family since Cassandra to be possessed of Second Sight?'
'These things often skip - er - three generations,' said Professor 
Trelawney.

If Vablatsky really was an aunt or cousin of Sibyll, she wouldn't 
have replied so lamely that it often skipped 3 generations, and 
instead would have proudly reminded Umbridge she was also closely 
related to Vablatsky, another great seer.

Now back to my theory that good old Cassandra Trelawney could be no 
other than Cassandra Vablatsky.
I can really see the whole maiden name thing happening, in much the 
same way that in RL most actresses won't change their name / screen 
name when they get married (think Jennifer Aniston for example) 
because most people wouldn't recognize their new name (it's hard 
enough to have people remember your name).

Anyway, re-reading that scene made me wonder, if Cassandra Vablatsky 
= Cassandra Trelawney, why did Umbridge call her Trelawney if the 
seer was more commonly known as Vablatsky? Had it been Sibyll 
mentioning her celebrated ancestor, you can bet she would have 
mentioned Cassandra Vablatsky, and not Trelawney.

First thing that sprang to mind: it was Umbridge's way of belittling 
Sibyll's heritage (and thus abilities, since it's obvious Umbridge 
thinks she's a fake)

Any other idea, anyone?

Earendil.