Pomona's Tom's age and lucky enough to be as pretty as her name-so dangerous, don't you think, giving romantic names to little scraps who may grow up as plain as doorposts.
In A.S. Byatt's "The Children's Book," the character Pomona is depicted with a duality that blends beauty and potential peril. Her name, evoking charm and sweetness, suggests a romantic ideal. However, the author warns of the risks associated with bestowing such enchanting names upon children, as there is a possibility that they may not live up to those expectations and could grow up feeling ordinary or unattractive.
This observation raises important questions about identity and societal pressures linked to appearances. Byatt seems to caution against the assumptions embedded in names and the burdens they may place on individuals as they navigate their lives. The juxtaposition of Tom's age and Pomona's beauty highlights the unpredictability of how human beings develop, both in looks and character, under the weight of expectations.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
