Notes about Z for Zachariah
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The Meaning of the Name "Burden"
Posted August 13, 2008 at Teachnology

"His characters' names belie their final roles.  Loomis is sinister, a male representation of human demise, one who instigates disaster. Ann Burden is a girl sorely put upon."

There are much better interpretations of the meanings of these names. 

The  name "Burden" does not just refer to Ann but to the whole valley, Burden Creek, and Burden Hill. Rather than thinking that the name just suggests Ann has to bear difficulties, it makes more sense (and is backed up explicitly by the text)  to view the name as referring to the burden of responsibility borne by both Ann  and the valley for ensuring the continuation of life on Earth, including the  human species. As Ann puts it, "I was the one, or one of the two, who might keep  it [the planet] from dying, for a while at least" (96).  She sees herself as having this role.

The idea of the valley fulfilling this role also is  stated at various times, such as here by Loomis: "we've got to plan as if this valley is the whole world, and we are starting a colony" (152).

As for  Loomis's name being sinister and representing demise, that's a bit of a stretch.  Has it occurred to you that a looming threat is often an illusion, something  imaginary, or a threat that does NOT actually materialize? Check a dictionary!

LOOM: vi 1: come into sight in enlarged or distorted and  indistinct form often as a result of atmospheric conditions 2a: to appear in an  impressively great or exaggerated form b: to take shape as an impending occurrence.

LOOM: n: the indistinct and exaggerated appearance of  something seen on the horizon or through fog or darkness; also: a looming shadow  or reflection.

These meanings are certainly relevant to the story.  Consider that Ann THINKS LOOMIS IS A THREAT BEFORE SHE HAS ANY EVIDENCE OF IT,  and even despite evidence to the contrary (such as his obviously eager call when  he first enters the valley, yearning for human companionship).

From  Ann’s viewpoint, Loomis is often a LOOMING threat.  It is mainly her groundless  fear of him that makes the looming threat seem to manifest itself in his clumsy  attempt to make love with her; and her extreme reaction to this then results in  his desperate efforts to make her return home. 

During his sickness she  feels such strong affection for him that she thinks of marrying him, creates a  romantic atmosphere for dinners, prays desperately for him to live, and wants to  hug him when he starts recovering.  What changes her feelings is NOT anything he  does but simply the return of the  paranoid fear she has always had of being  "enslaved" by a physically stronger man. Added to this characteristic fear is  her growing distrust of him because she knows he killed Edward--even though she  also KNOWS he probably acted in self-defence. It is these groundless fears which  make her nervous with Edward as he gets stronger and tries to go further with  the intimacy they shared while he was sick--the feeling of attachment that was  also responsible for bringing him back from the brink of death.

If she  had not been unreasonably afraid of him, this story could have had a happy  ending. She would have continued feeling happy in his company, waved to him from  the tractor (instead of feeling oppressed), and read stories and played the  piano gladly (without wondering if he was listening, or fearing he was "creeping  up"). And she might have accepted him in her bed, or (at worst) scolded him for  being impatient and told him they would have to get married in church first; and  he would probably
accept such a demand despite its absurdity.

Admittedly, it is rather disturbing to think of the "incestuous commune"  that would have to result if
they made a colony together. But there is no choice  in the matter; it is better than letting millions of years of evolution go to  waste; and, for those who believe the Bible story, it's no different from the  way human history started the first time.

Anyway, Loomis is always mainly  a threat that LOOMS in Ann's imagination more than a real threat to her. Even  when he is at his worst, driven to desperate extremes, he is NEVER the insane  murderer she imagines, and he doesn't want to make a slave of her. He is just  insanely desperate to get her back.
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