Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alan Dugan’s poem "Nomenclature" offers a concise yet profound exploration of identity and the influence of familial and societal expectations through the lens of personal names. The poem navigates through the interplay between names given and identities formed, touching on psychological theories to probe deeper into the personal history of the speaker.

The poem begins with a reference to Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, which immediately introduces themes of psychological depth and the unconscious. "My mother never heard of Freud and she decided as a little girl that she would call her husband Dick no matter what his first name was and did." This opening reveals the mother’s innocent, yet assertive decision made in childhood, highlighting how early life decisions and assertions can profoundly impact one's life. The choice of the name "Dick," regardless of her future husband’s real name, suggests a desire to impose her own will or perhaps a playful assertion of control over her life—a theme that resonates with Freudian ideas about the subconscious influencing behavior.

He called her "Ditty," and they called their son "Bud." These pet names, or 'generic names' as described, offer a layer of familial intimacy and affection but also suggest a layer of imposed identity that each family member has to negotiate. The names serve not just as terms of endearment but also as roles or masks that each family member wears, perhaps obscuring deeper individuality.

The narrator’s analyst finds amusement and significance in these names, linking them to the "crazy times I had in bed." This line delves into how these imposed identities can affect personal relationships and self-perception, especially in the most intimate settings. The mention of "crazy times in bed" may imply struggles with sexual identity or performance, anxiety, or other deep-seated psychological issues, which the analyst connects back to the influence of one’s upbringing and the symbolic weight of names.

The poem then shifts to direct quotes from Freud: "Life is pain," "What do women want?" and "My prosthesis does not speak French." These iconic phrases not only underscore Freud’s influence on understanding human behavior and desire but also inject a sense of absurdity and existential pondering into the narrative. Each quote touches on fundamental human concerns—suffering, desire, and the limitations of the body and communication.

The reference to the prosthesis not speaking French can be seen as a metaphor for something essential that is missing or lost in translation in the speaker’s life, particularly in the realm of communication and expression. It might symbolize the personal and psychological gaps that the speaker experiences, gaps that cannot be bridged even by psychoanalysis.

Overall, "Nomenclature" is a compact but layered poem that uses the simplicity of family nicknames to delve into complex themes of identity, predetermined roles, and the psychological ramifications of both. Dugan cleverly integrates Freudian psychology to explore how deeply family dynamics and societal expectations can shape and even distort personal identity, suggesting a perpetual struggle between who we are named and who we truly are.

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