Names - By Meghan Weik

Aurelia is a very superstious woman with many different beliefs. I feel that she had the talk with Marina while she was in the coma because the meaning behind water in their family is very powerful and she wanted to give Marina stregnth to come out of the coma and get better. In terms of the story, I feel she didn't call Marina her name until she was older and strong to shield her from death. She didn't want to name Marina and allow death to have a name to attach itself from and take Marina from her. After understanding Aurelia's character in this book, it makes perfect sense for her to do something like this and have the thoughts she has. She felt as thought death wanted to take Marina from her, and she was doing a motherly thing in concordance with her beliefs to protect her kin. I think many people would do something similar to this to protect their children or family. I've never used an alternative name. Also, I've never attached any real meaning to my name nor do I know what my name truely means. I've also never used a secret powerful name in situtions.