Being Nobody: Playing with the Words

(13/2/2007)

There is an episode in Homer's Odyssey where Ulysses and his friends are about to be eaten by a monster, a cyclops called Polyphem, who has trapped them in a cave. This monster had only one eye -and very bad temper. When he tried to kill Ulysses, this stuck a pole into his only eye (ouch!) and blinded him. Then Polyphem tried to catch the hero, but since he could not see, he was not able to get him. When he realised that they were getting away from the cave, he asked to know their names. Ulysses answered: My name is Nobody.

Now Polyphem was in very good relations with the gods. He called Zeus and complained: Nobody has blinded me with a pole!

And of course, Zeus did nothing to help him.

Do you know cases or stories where the name is used to hide your true personality? Please post a comment here and let us know.