A subtle aspect of the storytelling in The Ministry for the Future is the names of the characters. While Frank and Mary are both common names, the meaning of these names also reflects the role the characters play in the story.
One of Frank’s major contributions to the story is his influence on Mary. His search to contribute to the fight against climate change leads him to kidnapping Mary at gunpoint and confronting her about the Ministry for the Future’s lack of real change. He's brutally honest to Mary about the Ministry’s failures. “You’re not doing everything you can, and what you are doing isn’t going to be enough” (96), he tells her. These are thoughts Mary herself has had but has attempted to confine to her “insomniac whirlpools of thought” (96). Frank doesn’t sugarcoat his words or wrap them in the layers of bureaucracy that Mary often deals with. Even after this night, Mary continues to discuss political matters with him in this fashion, referring to later conversations as “falling back again into the pattern of their first night” (397). Frank, aside from being a name, is an adjective that denotes a person's ability to freely express their opinions; to be blunt, direct and forthright. All of these describe Frank’s role in the narrative perfectly. In a novel full of politicians, he’s one of the few characters who pulls no verbal punches.
Mary’s name isn’t as straightforward. There are many different ways of interpreting her name in relation to the narrative. The name Mary largely originates from the Virgin Mary from Christianity. The Virgin Mary is often used as a symbol of motherhood and maternal strength. As the head of the Ministry for the Future, Mary’s express purpose is to protect the people of the future. As such, she’s providing a maternal sense of protection towards entire generations of people. Additionally, the name Mary can also mean “bitter”. An article on the religious symbolism of the name writes that “[t]he meaning can refer to Mary’s bitter suffering at the cross and her many tears of sorrow” (Kosloski). Mary as a character suffers for her role, describing the worries as having “kept her awake at night, night after night” (96). She also expresses bitterness towards the bureaucracy she deals with, complaining that “[t]hey were only really doing things to try to ameliorate the situation... after it was too late” (295). Mary as a character embodies both meanings of her name; being both a protector who fights for those of the future and someone who suffers and feels bitterness because of the role she must fill.
Citations
Kosloski, Philip. "The Surprising Meaning behind the Virgin Mary’s Name." Aleteia, 12 Sept.
2017, aleteia.org/2017/09/12/the-spiritual-meaning-of-the-virgin-marys-name/.
Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.
Your blog centers on such a compelling topic! While reading "The Ministry for the Future", I never noticed the subtle but purposeful significance of Mary and Frank’s names.
ReplyDeleteAdding on to your discussion of the significance of Mary’s name in connection to the biblical notion of the Virgin Mary, it is important to point out that in Christianity, the Virgin Mary is a prime example of what women, especially mothers, should try to emulate. Essentially, the Virgin Mary was the first great mother, and she exists to inspire other mothers to follow in her footsteps. Similarly, in "The Ministry for the Future", Mary is a model and a mentor figure for female leaders involved in protecting the environment. For example, at Mary’s final meeting as the head of The Ministry for the Future, Mary expresses extreme pride for the female leader taking charge of environmental protection in China. Mary feels pleased that this leading and influential woman is unafraid to speak her mind with her male counterparts and to experiment with innovative and unfamiliar ideas. Like the Virgin Mary, who passes on her wisdom regarding motherhood, Mary is excited to pass her wisdom of environmental protection to another strong-willed and passionate woman.