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HelpDownton fans...
What are your feelings about the name chosen for Edith's daughter, Marigold? I feel like they could have done better, especially since it is so close to Mary, who obviously is not someone she would would want her daughter to be like given their constant battling. I find the choice frivolous compared to the other names in the story, which strike me as pleasingly dignified and sedate. There have also been an almost tedious amount of botanical names in the show (Violet, Daisy, Ivy, Rose), to the point where it is annoying and distracting me considerably. During scenes where the child appears, all I can do is think about what an awkwardly chosen name it is. Maybe it will suit her character later in life, and she will be some kind of cutesy Shirley Temple type. I don't care for it.
Did anyone consider any alternatives? Also, are there any other comments on this choice anywhere else that I missed?
Did anyone consider any alternatives? Also, are there any other comments on this choice anywhere else that I missed?
This message was edited 3/21/2015, 11:38 AM
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Wasn't that the name of Winston Churchill's daughter who died at the age of three?
I bet that's where they got it from.
I bet that's where they got it from.
This message was edited 3/24/2015, 5:28 PM
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I don't bother with the series, so I can't comment on what name suits or doesn't suit a character. But botanical names were fashionable from about 1890 to 1930, so why not? It doesn't sound like Mary, so only the spelling is close and a TV audience probably wouldn't think about that.
If I remember correctly, Winston Churchill had a daughter named Marigold who died very young - aged about 4 - and after her death their last daughter was born and named Mary. I would be very surprised if there was any link between Marigold and Mary as far as their names went, but clearly they were both being used by upper-class parents.
If I remember correctly, Winston Churchill had a daughter named Marigold who died very young - aged about 4 - and after her death their last daughter was born and named Mary. I would be very surprised if there was any link between Marigold and Mary as far as their names went, but clearly they were both being used by upper-class parents.
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I don't find it odd that Edith, who has suffered from middle child syndrome most of her life, would choose a more unusual name for her child. I don't know why she gets pegged as unimaginative either - she wrote a column at some point, and while stating the facts is all rather well, if she didn't have the artistic inspiration to embellish her writing, she might as well have written telegram news.
Also, she might have hoped a name like Marigold would have made the child easier to find in the future, or perhaps marigolds had some significance to her and Michael Gregson.
Sorry if I come across as a little snappy, but I'm a member of the Edith Defence Squad.
Also, she might have hoped a name like Marigold would have made the child easier to find in the future, or perhaps marigolds had some significance to her and Michael Gregson.
Sorry if I come across as a little snappy, but I'm a member of the Edith Defence Squad.
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I considered it being a significant name between her and Michael Gregson too, but couldn't come up with anything. Perhaps hypothetically it is. :)
Also I've contemplated Edith's creativity. They sure don't show it in her character, at least not obviously and I haven't watched anything more than once and analyzed it. So just recently I was even thinking about how odd it seemed that she was a writer. They don't give her a ton of depth, just a ton of sympathy!
But now I'm off topic, ha
Also I've contemplated Edith's creativity. They sure don't show it in her character, at least not obviously and I haven't watched anything more than once and analyzed it. So just recently I was even thinking about how odd it seemed that she was a writer. They don't give her a ton of depth, just a ton of sympathy!
But now I'm off topic, ha
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I agree that they don't give Edith a ton of depth. I think there's a lot more to her than we know. I'm still not convinced she would have chosen Marigold, but I am also not convinced that Edith was the one who chose the name.
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I never said I disliked Edith. I do like her, actually. But I adore Rosamund.
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Preach.
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Could you add spoiler alert to the title?
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I'm impressed you've managed to avoid spoilers for so long.
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Spoiler alert? I'm sorry you're that far behind. It's been at least two seasons, and frankly I don't care what I spoil for you or not.
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Aren't you a peach.
Its actually only been one season in the US and it just ended. Its really not that hard to put spoiler alert in the title. You don't have to be rude because I made a suggestion.
Its actually only been one season in the US and it just ended. Its really not that hard to put spoiler alert in the title. You don't have to be rude because I made a suggestion.
This message was edited 3/22/2015, 5:04 AM
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I liked it and I felt it worked. I always felt like there was a more spontaneous, creative, carefree side to Edith and that that's where Marigold came from. Marigold and Mary aren't too similar to me, either, and of course there are a lot of botanical names on the show, given they were very popular at the time.
Plus, as much as I like both, Marigold is a much more interesting choice than Mary's plain ol' George.
Plus, as much as I like both, Marigold is a much more interesting choice than Mary's plain ol' George.
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Yes, I found Marigold to be an odd choice. I found myself wondering which character was to have supposed to pick her name. The person in Switzerland Marigold originally lived with? Edith? The farmer and his wife (can't recall their names)? It does not seem like something Edith would pick; agree that the "Mari" part would turn her off.
I would have named her something simple and dignified. I think Jane would suit her nicely.
I would have named her something simple and dignified. I think Jane would suit her nicely.
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Agree
I also wondered if I'd missed who was supposed to have actually named her because I wouldn't have thought it a name Edith would've picked. But on the other hand I also have next to no knowledge of 1920s upper-class English naming trends. Maybe Marigold isn't really that out there.
I don't think it's so close to Mary at all, since the Mari- isn't pronounced the same.
That said, I think it's a super cute name. Just seemed a bit out of place in the show.
I also wondered if I'd missed who was supposed to have actually named her because I wouldn't have thought it a name Edith would've picked. But on the other hand I also have next to no knowledge of 1920s upper-class English naming trends. Maybe Marigold isn't really that out there.
I don't think it's so close to Mary at all, since the Mari- isn't pronounced the same.
That said, I think it's a super cute name. Just seemed a bit out of place in the show.
This message was edited 3/21/2015, 2:51 PM
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I don't know anything about the series, but I know quite a bit about 1920s upper-class English naming trends and Marigold is totally fine for the class & period. Also, 'Mari' doesn't sound like Mary in the UK.
This message was edited 3/22/2015, 4:45 AM
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You'd have to be an idiot not to see the similarity between Mary and Marigold. There is also no difference in the American and British pronunciations of either Mary or Marigold apart from slight regional vowel brightening, or lengthening or shortening of the r consonant, which does not change it discernibly enough to consider them separate pronunciations. We don't say "merry gold" in America, nor are we all deaf to the point where we cannot hear how things are pronounced on television to compare them.
This message was edited 3/22/2015, 5:02 AM
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Some people say "merry gold" in America, regionally speaking.
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Well, I'm clearly an idiot as it had never occurred to me until now that there was a similarity between Mary and Marigold! Written down together it's more obvious, but the two names have a completely different image/feel to me. Mind you, I found the last series of Downton so boring I didn't give much thought to anything the characters said or did.
And we don't say merry gold in Britain anyway. I say marry gold. Mary is mare-ee, so different enough in my opinion.
And we don't say merry gold in Britain anyway. I say marry gold. Mary is mare-ee, so different enough in my opinion.
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https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/88115/how-are-marry-merry-and-mary-pronounced-differently
Note how the person says, "When I listen to the recordings, they all sound the same to me." Hence my assumption, because if you don't have the separation, you often can't hear the difference. It's probably far more audible to a native Brit.
Note how the person says, "When I listen to the recordings, they all sound the same to me." Hence my assumption, because if you don't have the separation, you often can't hear the difference. It's probably far more audible to a native Brit.
This message was edited 3/22/2015, 6:10 AM
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In the UK, they're MAIR-ee and MAH-ri-gold respectively. There is a difference. Similarity, too, but only really in the first three letters of each. You are being a smidge rude.
This message was edited 3/22/2015, 5:04 AM
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I've just recently begun watching Downton Abbey, and I find the names uninteresting and typical of the time and place. I understand flower names were very much the fashion back then.
However, I do think Marigold is a silly, cutesy name, more befitting a cow than a person.
However, I do think Marigold is a silly, cutesy name, more befitting a cow than a person.
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