Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to refer to someone's wife in the 19th century?
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In the Adventures of Tom Sawyer novel (chapter XXVI) we can read the following:
“You don’t know me. Least you don’t know all about that thing. ’Tain’t robbery altogether—it’s revenge!” and a wicked light flamed in his eyes. “I’ll need your help in it. When it’s finished—then Texas. Go home to your Nance and your kids, and stand by till you hear from me.”
In the Spanish translation the "go home to your Nance" part is translated as something closer to "go home with your wife", and we are trying to understand why. One of the reasons I thought about is that that maybe 'Nancy' was not the real name of the character's wife, but rather a generic way to refer to someone's wife, because the speaker says "you don't know me", why would he know the other character's wife's name? Besides the name "Nance" or "Nancy" is never referred again in the book. But in the dictionary I can only find that the word is used nowadays as a way to refer to "an effeminate or homosexual man".
I cannot find any similar texts, so "Nance" does not seem to convey the meaning I thought and the text is probably to be taken literally. Nonetheless, the work was written in the 19th century, so I wonder: Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to refer to someone's wife in America in the 19th century when you did not know the name of that person's wife? If not, can at least be interpreted so in the context of this work?
word-usage american-english
asked Dec 4 at 8:23
Charlie
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In the Adventures of Tom Sawyer novel (chapter XXVI) we can read the following:
“You don’t know me. Least you don’t know all about that thing. ’Tain’t robbery altogether—it’s revenge!” and a wicked light flamed in his eyes. “I’ll need your help in it. When it’s finished—then Texas. Go home to your Nance and your kids, and stand by till you hear from me.”
In the Spanish translation the "go home to your Nance" part is translated as something closer to "go home with your wife", and we are trying to understand why. One of the reasons I thought about is that that maybe 'Nancy' was not the real name of the character's wife, but rather a generic way to refer to someone's wife, because the speaker says "you don't know me", why would he know the other character's wife's name? Besides the name "Nance" or "Nancy" is never referred again in the book. But in the dictionary I can only find that the word is used nowadays as a way to refer to "an effeminate or homosexual man".
I cannot find any similar texts, so "Nance" does not seem to convey the meaning I thought and the text is probably to be taken literally. Nonetheless, the work was written in the 19th century, so I wonder: Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to refer to someone's wife in America in the 19th century when you did not know the name of that person's wife? If not, can at least be interpreted so in the context of this work?
word-usage american-english
asked Dec 4 at 8:23
Charlie
1,1051320
"Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to ... ?" Can you tell us something about background research to find any clues or even leads?
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:30
@Kris my clue is the part about the speaker saying "you don't know me" and the name "Nance" not appearing again in the book.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:37
I'm not sure if that counts for research. Let's wait and see what others may contribute, though.
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:39
Two points...1) Sam Clemens had a sense of humor, and 2) he warmed not to try to make anything out of what he wrote.
– J. Taylor
Dec 4 at 10:41
@Kris I've updated the question. I cannot find any similar texts to prove my theory is right, so by now I'm concluding that the name is to be taken literally. But the question remains.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:54
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
In the Adventures of Tom Sawyer novel (chapter XXVI) we can read the following:
“You don’t know me. Least you don’t know all about that thing. ’Tain’t robbery altogether—it’s revenge!” and a wicked light flamed in his eyes. “I’ll need your help in it. When it’s finished—then Texas. Go home to your Nance and your kids, and stand by till you hear from me.”
In the Spanish translation the "go home to your Nance" part is translated as something closer to "go home with your wife", and we are trying to understand why. One of the reasons I thought about is that that maybe 'Nancy' was not the real name of the character's wife, but rather a generic way to refer to someone's wife, because the speaker says "you don't know me", why would he know the other character's wife's name? Besides the name "Nance" or "Nancy" is never referred again in the book. But in the dictionary I can only find that the word is used nowadays as a way to refer to "an effeminate or homosexual man".
I cannot find any similar texts, so "Nance" does not seem to convey the meaning I thought and the text is probably to be taken literally. Nonetheless, the work was written in the 19th century, so I wonder: Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to refer to someone's wife in America in the 19th century when you did not know the name of that person's wife? If not, can at least be interpreted so in the context of this work?
word-usage american-english
asked Dec 4 at 8:23
Charlie
1,1051320
In the Adventures of Tom Sawyer novel (chapter XXVI) we can read the following:
“You don’t know me. Least you don’t know all about that thing. ’Tain’t robbery altogether—it’s revenge!” and a wicked light flamed in his eyes. “I’ll need your help in it. When it’s finished—then Texas. Go home to your Nance and your kids, and stand by till you hear from me.”
In the Spanish translation the "go home to your Nance" part is translated as something closer to "go home with your wife", and we are trying to understand why. One of the reasons I thought about is that that maybe 'Nancy' was not the real name of the character's wife, but rather a generic way to refer to someone's wife, because the speaker says "you don't know me", why would he know the other character's wife's name? Besides the name "Nance" or "Nancy" is never referred again in the book. But in the dictionary I can only find that the word is used nowadays as a way to refer to "an effeminate or homosexual man".
I cannot find any similar texts, so "Nance" does not seem to convey the meaning I thought and the text is probably to be taken literally. Nonetheless, the work was written in the 19th century, so I wonder: Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to refer to someone's wife in America in the 19th century when you did not know the name of that person's wife? If not, can at least be interpreted so in the context of this work?
word-usage american-english
word-usage american-english
asked Dec 4 at 8:23
Charlie
1,1051320
asked Dec 4 at 8:23
Charlie
1,1051320
edited Dec 4 at 10:52
asked Dec 4 at 8:23
Charlie
1,1051320
asked Dec 4 at 8:23
Charlie
1,1051320
asked Dec 4 at 8:23
Charlie
1,1051320
1,1051320
"Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to ... ?" Can you tell us something about background research to find any clues or even leads?
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:30
@Kris my clue is the part about the speaker saying "you don't know me" and the name "Nance" not appearing again in the book.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:37
I'm not sure if that counts for research. Let's wait and see what others may contribute, though.
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:39
Two points...1) Sam Clemens had a sense of humor, and 2) he warmed not to try to make anything out of what he wrote.
– J. Taylor
Dec 4 at 10:41
@Kris I've updated the question. I cannot find any similar texts to prove my theory is right, so by now I'm concluding that the name is to be taken literally. But the question remains.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:54
add a comment |
"Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to ... ?" Can you tell us something about background research to find any clues or even leads?
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:30
@Kris my clue is the part about the speaker saying "you don't know me" and the name "Nance" not appearing again in the book.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:37
I'm not sure if that counts for research. Let's wait and see what others may contribute, though.
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:39
Two points...1) Sam Clemens had a sense of humor, and 2) he warmed not to try to make anything out of what he wrote.
– J. Taylor
Dec 4 at 10:41
@Kris I've updated the question. I cannot find any similar texts to prove my theory is right, so by now I'm concluding that the name is to be taken literally. But the question remains.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:54
"Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to ... ?" Can you tell us something about background research to find any clues or even leads?
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:30
"Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to ... ?" Can you tell us something about background research to find any clues or even leads?
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:30
@Kris my clue is the part about the speaker saying "you don't know me" and the name "Nance" not appearing again in the book.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:37
@Kris my clue is the part about the speaker saying "you don't know me" and the name "Nance" not appearing again in the book.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:37
I'm not sure if that counts for research. Let's wait and see what others may contribute, though.
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:39
I'm not sure if that counts for research. Let's wait and see what others may contribute, though.
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:39
Two points...1) Sam Clemens had a sense of humor, and 2) he warmed not to try to make anything out of what he wrote.
– J. Taylor
Dec 4 at 10:41
Two points...1) Sam Clemens had a sense of humor, and 2) he warmed not to try to make anything out of what he wrote.
– J. Taylor
Dec 4 at 10:41
@Kris I've updated the question. I cannot find any similar texts to prove my theory is right, so by now I'm concluding that the name is to be taken literally. But the question remains.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:54
@Kris I've updated the question. I cannot find any similar texts to prove my theory is right, so by now I'm concluding that the name is to be taken literally. But the question remains.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:54
add a comment |
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"Was 'Nance' used as a generic way to ... ?" Can you tell us something about background research to find any clues or even leads?
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:30
@Kris my clue is the part about the speaker saying "you don't know me" and the name "Nance" not appearing again in the book.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:37
I'm not sure if that counts for research. Let's wait and see what others may contribute, though.
– Kris
Dec 4 at 10:39
Two points...1) Sam Clemens had a sense of humor, and 2) he warmed not to try to make anything out of what he wrote.
– J. Taylor
Dec 4 at 10:41
@Kris I've updated the question. I cannot find any similar texts to prove my theory is right, so by now I'm concluding that the name is to be taken literally. But the question remains.
– Charlie
Dec 4 at 10:54