An Essay on the Importance of Names in "This Earth of Mankind" by Pramoedya Toer

"What's in a Name?"
What exactly is in a name? You're name is who you are; it distinguishes John Smith, from Joe Blow. There is much weight that is vested into a name; in the Native American culture a child is given a name that fits his character. In our society, the title of Doctor connotates respect and that he is a well-educated individual. In This Earth of Mankind, a name not only separates individuals by identifying who one is, it also defines him as a person.
A name with a generally negative connotation is not always bad. Minke, whose real name is never revealed to us, finds out that his name given to him by one of his earlier teachers was meant to insult him. …