Names and Identity

The lack of names, or the shifting of names and identifiers, throughout the novel explain how the characters perceive themselves and how they feel about those around them. The author shows that names are not always as important as they might seem. Anna can never remember Luke’s name. Supposedly the love of her, Anna keeps calling him “Young Guy” throughout the novel. There are moments in the novel where his name is mentioned by a third character, and she repeats the name to herself in the hopes that she might remember his name this time, but she can never remember it. Even though she cannot remember his name, it does not take away his importance in the novel, nor his importance in Anna’s life. At the end of the novel, when Anna’s memory is bad, and Eve tries to help her...