Dionisius & The Sword of Damocles
The famous proverb states that “A rose by any other name is still a rose”
By simply changing only the name, the beauty of the original is still clearly evident to all those who witness it… The name of the specimen has little or no influence on how we see the flower.
The same can be said of a character in a book.
Within the illicit world of the printed & published word; A rose (or a character in a book) by any other name is, well, anything you want it to be…
If using the real names of people, it’s necessary to be aware of the legal ramifications.
If characters are named in works it starts to open up questions of “permissions” for usage of names, slander, libel and a whole host of other lawyer type words start to pop up and infiltrate the world of the writer…
By removing the name, or using a pseudonym, for the character you have removed any incriminating evidence and left the subjects anonymity intact…
Or have you?
When I was aiming to use real names in the book, I had decided that the only people who should feature heavily and whose skeletons would be aired would be mine and my Mother’s, it seemed only fair. The work is a study of “OUR” relationship and our lives, other characters would be necessary to give the work depth and meaning but on the whole the book would “skirt” around issues that could embarrass, upset or, provoke legal action.
Now that some names are to be removed or altered, the above rules of restraint and censorship are thrown out of the window, changing the name, has in effect given carte blanche to write anything and everything that I desire.
Removing the name removes the issue of slander but it gives a freedom to delve as far into the lives of these people as I WANT or decide to.
It is in fact an access all areas pass. Topics and situations that were out of bounds to preserve certain individuals dignity and pride are now as equally accessible as the dirt that I will be dishing on myself.
So the removal of ACTUAL names is a double edged sword, whilst the characters actual name may have been removed, those close to the person in question or those that know them will still know who I mean whether I call them Jim, Sue or A1. ...It makes no difference.
Anonymity to the masses = Humiliation and hurt to those that know you
Those that wish to remain anonymous do so only in name and have inadvertently opened the literary “Pandora’s Box” where all subjects and circumstances are allowed. All allegations can be made without the fear of legal proceedings.
This all mounts up to only one thing…a much juicier book at the end of the day
And juicier books, sell more copies
The writer formerly known as
TheArtfulBlogger
(Now to be called Sue)
