The Dresden Files > DF Reference Collection
Harry Naming Things
Rasins:
This question has been asked of Jim and the impression I've always gotten is that Harry naming things isn't really a power so much as it's just human.
Mankind has always wanted to name things (just look at the "star registry" ads on late-night TV). When we name things we kind of control them, at least in our own heads.
I think Harry names things so that he can identify them for himself, when he doesn't know what else to call them. That and when he just want's to become more familiar with them.
Quantus:
This line below from Uriel is what makes many of us suspect otherwise.
--- Quote from: Ghost Story ---Names have tremendous power, Dresden. Yet mortals toss them left and right as though they were toys. It’s like watching infants play with hand grenades sometimes.” The ghost of a smile touched his face as he glanced at me. “Some more so than others.
--- End quote ---
If that isnt a blatant Cluebat I dont know what is.
--- Quote from: magnusth on January 02, 2014, 05:29:46 PM ---I'm pretty sure that harry hasn't got any such ability. It would be pointless, and more the the point, it would undermine the importance of names in the world. Sure, harry's habit of nicknaming things has certainly had metaphysical impact, but that, i think, is because names always have metaphysical impact, and in every case i can think of, the creature or thing impacted has accepted the name; see Ivy, lash, demonreach. But for those to be the result of some sort of naming ability undercuts the importance of names in themselves. And, for Ivy and Lash, it does something else: it undercuts the importance of the kindness harry shows. Everyone calls ivy the archive, but harry refuses to treat her in any way but as a human; and similarly, harry shows understanding, even friendship, to Lash, whom others would simply abhor. That makes them accept the names he gives them, and it changes them. For it to be some sort of super-naming ability renders that kindness and humanness moot, and, i'd claim, weakens the story.
--- End quote ---
I dont see how Harry having an unusual capacity for Naming would undercut any of that, anymore than his being a wizard or a Starborn undercuts his being a hero. Regardless though, I think the fear Uriel demonstrated confirms that it is not something that has to be Accepted by the one being (re)Named. Unless said person happens to be a Mortal, in which case they seem to have to actually agree to nearly everything; but that appears to be a exception rather than the rule.
Rasins:
Quantus - I guess my point is that Harry doesn't have any SPECIAL or MYSTICAL ability to name things. We all have it and it's part of our nature to want to label things.
Rwun:
--- Quote from: Quantus on January 02, 2014, 06:33:47 PM ---This line below from Uriel is what makes many of us suspect otherwise.
"Names have tremendous power, Dresden. Yet mortals toss them left and right as though they were toys. It’s like watching infants play with hand grenades sometimes.” The ghost of a smile touched his face as he glanced at me. “Some more so than others."
If that isnt a blatant Cluebat I dont know what is.
--- End quote ---
That... seems an awful lot like that bit where Uriel is talking about exercizing free will: all mortals can do it, but most don't.
I think that Harry is exceptional not because he can Name things/people, but because he does name them.
Then again, if we're talking about outsiders, all bets are off. Naming them is totally one way that the whole starborn ball of noodles can manifest.
Quantus:
--- Quote from: Rasins on January 02, 2014, 09:21:10 PM ---Quantus - I guess my point is that Harry doesn't have any SPECIAL or MYSTICAL ability to name things. We all have it and it's part of our nature to want to label things.
--- End quote ---
I get that, I was just presenting the counter argument since I dont agree but several others seem to both agree with you and not understand why other do not.
Granted Ive never seen an instance of Jim being asked this question, and so cannot gauge any impressions on the response.
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