Gladys (Baby Name)
The Mission of Jane
From the old Welsh name Gwladus, possibly derived from gwlad "country". It has historically been used as a Welsh form of CLAUDIA. This name became popular outside of Wales after it was used in Ouida's novel 'Puck' (1870)[1].
One of the names Mrs. Lethbury wanted to give her adopted child instead of Jane. The name had a brisk rise of popularity from year 1880 and stayed at the peak of popularity between 1900 and 1910[2].
Mrs. Lethbury did not want her daughter to have an ordinary name and she found the name “Jane” dreadful. Mrs. Lethbury´s wish came true, and it was something special for her; therefore, she wanted the name of her daughter to be special too. In the conversation about other names Mr. Lethbury, who stays unyielding, says to his wife: “Well, we don´t know that she won´t be dreadful. She may grow up a Jane.” (Wharton. “The Mission of Jane”). There are two prophecies in this line: firstly, Jane will grow up “a plain Jane”, a bluestocking, who has no perspectives to marry despite of her not being ugly; secondly, Jane will be something “dreadful” for her parents and will cost them many deepened lines on their faces before she marries. This way, Edith Wharton sets a signal for the reader to be aware of the character.
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