The Addams Family: Wednesday's Name, Explained | CBR

With the upcoming animated movie The Addams Family 2, the classic gothic family is getting a resurgence of popularity. Based on the comics by Charles Addams, the various adaptations of The Addams Family reveal a caricature of the American family with a touch darkness. No character embodies this twist better than Wednesday Addams, the daughter of Gomez and Morticia. She's an iconic character both for her memorable look and her witty and dark sense of humor.

Considering how the character is, it makes sense that her name's origin is creepy in nature as well -- it can be traced back to an old nursery rhyme that was first published in 1838 entitled "Monday's Child." Wednesday is an odd name, yet it seems to suit her perfectly.

RELATED: How Did the Addams Family Get So Rich?

"Monday's Child" is considered a fortune-telling song that became popular for children as a nursery rhyme. Though there are many different versions of the song, it generally tells a child's future based on the day of the week they were born on. Each day has a positive trait, like a child that's fair of face or loving, except for one -- Wednesday.  The line goes, "Wednesday's child is full of woe," and now the inspiration for the Addams' daughter's name becomes clear.

Even though "Monday's Child" was meant to be an easy way for children to remember the days of the week, it become the origin of one of the most iconic names in modern pop culture. It's certainly an apt description for the Wednesday character, because she is definitely woeful most of the time. Her appearance, which is always clad in the darkest of blacks, definitely gives a sad, gothic aesthetic that works well with the family. "Woeful" may seem like an insult to many, but to Wednesday, it would likely be a compliment.

RELATED: 1991’s The Addams Family Almost Had a Much Different Ending

It makes sense that Wednesday Addams' name originated from a slightly creepy nursery rhyme. Even though she acts very mature compared to other children her age, Wednesday is still ultimately a child, and this origin is a nice reminder of that. It also highlights the fact that Wednesday Addams is not a one-dimensional character and that time and energy were devoted to creating her. Her dark wit and morose sense of comedy are only emboldened by the tone set by her name. Now the name Wednesday is associated with darkness and gothic eccentricity - all because of Wednesday Addams.

Wednesday Addams is an iconic character that has transcended multiple adaptations and versions, by always sticking true to the spirit of Wednesday -- always witty, always morbid, and always woeful. And now that the origins of her name are made clear, it only serves to make her, and her unique name, more infamous.

KEEP READING: Every Addams Family Movie Ranked, According to IMDb


Post a Comment

0 Comments