«Nomen est omen»: the role of names in the novel Parade by Nikolay Kononov

Abstract

The author analyses the role of the main characters’ names — Lev, Lyuda and Arkady — in the novel Parade by N. Kononov. The multilanguage anagrammatic code is chosen as a research technique: anagramming (in some cases with a transition from one language to an­other) allows the author to identify hidden meanings consciously or subconsciously used by the writer. N. Kononov resorts to language game throughout his novel and shows the connec­tion between the name Lev and the semantics of physicality and personality traits. Describing his characters, the writer uses a number of images: the king of all animals, the cowardly lion, etc. The multilanguage anagrammatic code highlights the connection of the name of the pro­ta­gonist with the two key concepts of the novel — love (LEV = LoVE) and death. Similarly, this code works with the names of Lyuda (‘ludus’ as ‘game’ in Latin; Lev playing with Lyuda — ‘homo ludens’). The name Arkady is semantically associated with death in the expression ‘et in Arcadia ego’. The names of the characters in the novel are the key to the understanding of the threefold structure of the text. The short form of the name Arkady (Adya = Ad (Hell) + I) refers to Hell as one of the three parts of the Universe in the Catholic religion, followed in the text by Paradise and Purgatory. The author concludes that the names perform a text-generating function and reveal the encrypted information inherent in the text.

Keywords

• n. kononov
• language game
• anagrammatic code
• semiotic system