Shakespeare once wrote that a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet; that the true essence of something lies beyond its name. Yet, few would deny the power of names. Naming something brings it to life in a way. It allows that thing to be talked about as itself, to be seen as separate and unique. And names have meanings; they have denotations and connotations. Perhaps names are not all that we are, but they are certainly a starting point, a diving board, from which our journey to understanding ourselves and the people and places around us can spring. Often times a name can actually tell us just as much, if not more, about the person that gave the name than it does about the person or place to which the name belongs. (How often have you or someone you know quipped, "I guess her parents were hippies," upon meeting a girl named Harmony or Sunshine?) Such is the case in Linda Hogan's novel, Solar Storms#. While not at all shy about speaking her mind directly and sharing her beliefs throughout Solar Storms, Hogan also whispers other subtle ideas throughout her novel through the names she chooses for the people and places. By looking closely at these names and examining their meanings, one is able to peel away at the beautiful, delicate layers of meaning and truth that Hogan so carefully laid down throughout Solar Storms.
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One reason that names are so important is because they are a type of beginning. And as Angel tells us, "beginnings [are] important to my people" (37). Since a person or place's beginning within the consciousness of others often begins upon learning its name or giving it its name, it only makes sense that if beginnings are important, names are too. So where then do we begin? I believe a good starting point is with place names, with the names of the land, for as Angel learns, "our beginnings are intricately bound up in the history of the land" (96). Although Dora-Rouge is from the land of the Fat-Eaters and Bush is from Oklahoma, the forging of the web of life which ties all of the main character woman together in the book begins in Adam's Rib.
