Significance of Names: Ginevra, Hermione, the Weasleys in General
aboutthe1910s
aboutthe1910s at yahoo.com
Sun Jul 4 07:09:34 UTC 2004
No: HPFGUIDX 104258
I've been thinking a lot about the significance of names lately,
particularly the name Ginevra, as that's a relatively new piece of
information. Taking the name in context with the other Weasley's
names, I'm assuming that, if there is an allusion here, the allusion
is to Ginevra, the princess of Scotland from the opera Ariodante.
(The other only other real option I can think of would be the portrait
by da Vinci.) Anyway, while I hesitate to make too much of the
allusion, it seems like fun discussion. The story goes like this (I'm
copying and pasting a summary off the internet because I am lazy):
"The opera is set in Edinburgh, where Ginevra, object of Polinesso's
unwelcome attentions, is willingly to be betrothed to Ariodante.
Polinesso, meeting Ariodante, claims to be loved by Ginevra; in proof
he lets the latter see him enter Ginevra's room, admitted by Dalinda,
who loves him. Lurcanio, Ariodante's brother, who has overheard the
encounter, urges revenge, but Ariodante instead attempts to kill
himself. Lurcanio explains what he knows to the King, who disowns
Ginevra. Ariodante, who has survived, is told by Dalinda what has
really happened. In a tournament, Polinesso is killed by Lurcanio and
Ariodante appears, saving Ginevra from the death to which she has been
condemned and, with Dalinda, putting matters right."
Then there's Hermione, daughter of Helen (of Troy) and Menelaus, who
was abandoned by her mother at age nine, later promised by her father
to two men (Neoptolemus and Orestes), and ended up marrying
Neoptolemus, but was unhappy because she was jealous of his concubine
(Andromache). Then Orestes had Neoptolemus killed and married
Hermione. Thus far I see no connection, but I have heard a simplified
version of the story used to promote the idea of Harry and Ron both
being in love with Hermione.
Anyway, back to the Weasley's: It's been pointed out before that
there are an awful lot of allusions to royalty when it comes to the
Weasleys: Arthur, William, Charles, and George most notably. While
everyone already knows this, I just thought it interesting to bring up
in conjunction with the new title of book six (which it probably
already has been). Though as far as I can tell, the half blood
thing couldn't fit with any of the Weasleys. And anyway, Harry and
James both fit the pattern too.
a
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