Character Clues
Character Analysis
Names
Since Eric, Merle, and Tor keep the same root names across seven different lifetimes, you can bet what they're called makes a difference. Eric's name is probably the clearest example since its meaning and relevance to the story are straight-up spelled out for us in a couple places:
You must give him a strong name, instead. Give him a name from the old stories. From the sagas. A name of strength. A name of eternity. A name with powerful meaning. You should call him Eirik: Forever Strong, The One King, and that will be enough to protect him. Not only in this life, but in other lives yet to come. (6.6.25)
"You cannot kill me," he shouts hoarsely, and yet as loudly as he can. "You cannot kill me. Do you not know my name? I am Eirikr. The One King! Forever Strong, and though you kill my body today, I will live again! I will live!" (7.3.54)
Hey, the name worked. But Eric seems to forget the power of it in his later lives. There's a section when he tries to explain that the new name he's chosen for himself—Eric Seven—doesn't mean anything:
"They believed that names were shackles, and badges, and that they were full of meaning, and history, and were therefore weapons of prejudice and of snobbery. Anyone who joins the Church is invited to select a new name, one without meaning, without history, without prejudice. Numbers are common in the Church; they seemed neutral. Devoid of meaning."[…]
"But Mr. Seven," Tor says, "all words have meaning. Especially names. Even new ones. And as for numbers…" (1.2.28, 30)
Oh, we just hate it when Tor is right. And, of course, though Eric doesn't realize it, he's in his seventh life. We don't know it when we first meet him either, but we're still given a clue right away that this is the case, all thanks to Eric's last name.
Speaking of Tor, his name means thunder and it ties him to Thor, the Nordic god of thunder. He certainly rolls through each of his lifetimes like thunder—you know, loud and catching a whole lot of attention. And if he strikes you, you'll probably wind up dead.
Merle's name is probably the subtlest. It probably comes from a Nordic name, Merula, which means blackbird. Our best guess it that it's meant to denote her as a lady (a bird) who has a little bit of doom and darkness swirling around her. After all, nearly every time Eric meets her, he dies—that's not good. The bird component may also refer to Merle flying through lives; she keeps on keeping on.
Of course, characters aren't the only things with meaningful names. Blessed Island seems like a place that's been blessed—how nice—but we learn later that those blessings are from blood sacrifices. As Eric Carlsson says, the island's "name is written in blood" (4.11.11), and as we go back in time, the name gets closer and closer to its root word as we get closer and closer to the truth about this place.
Speech and Dialogue
Names aren't the only things that reoccur again and again in this novel. The author also uses repeated patterns of speech to clue us in on what's going on with the characters.
This is most obvious with the little catchphrases that Eric and Merle use. Check it out:
He's thinking about Merle. How something seems to wait in her eyes. How he felt calm, just standing next to her.
"Well, so it is," he says, smiling with wonder. (1.1.6-7)
Eric's always saying "so it is," no matter what lifetime he's in, while Merle's always referencing the devil:
Before she can say more, something distracts her and she looks over his shoulder.
"Forthwith the devil did appear"—she sighs—"for name him and he's always near."
"Pardon?" says Eric, but Merle does not reply. He turns to see Tor standing behind him. (1.7.20-22)
These little phrases are useful because they helps us ties these characters together across their different lifetimes. Eric from 2011 is the same person as Eric from 2073 because they use the same wording. It's got to be reincarnation, right?
But the catchphrases also tell us something about Eric and Merle. "So it is," fits with Eric pretty well—he's a guy who's being taken on a ride by fate and he's resigned to it in some ways. He doesn't whine or complain; he doesn't really even talk much. He just mutters a "so it is," shrugs his shoulders, and moves on to the next amazing coincidence that will alter his life forever.
Merle's variations on speak of the Devil also fit with her character, too. She's following Eric through all these lifetimes and he always seems to pop up. She might not be "speaking" about him, but he's always there in her subconscious. She's fated to see him because she'll always be connected to him—think of Eric and he will appear. If only everything in life were that easy.
Actions
Eric, Merle, and Tor don't do too much talking. Sure, there's dialogue and we get to hear their inner thoughts from time to time, but it's their actions that really reveal stuff about them.
Eric's big action is sacrificing himself for others. He doesn't need to ponder or talk too much before throwing himself into a situation where he gives up his life—if you need a sacrifice, Eric is good for it. Not sure what we're talking about? Hop on over to the "Characters"section to read up on Eric and his lifetimes-long habit.
Merle, on the other hand, has followed Eric since the beginning. She's fated to meet up with him in every life and she sometimes goes to drastic measures to stay with him. As Queen Melle, she sets their journey in motion, and this faithfulness keeps coming up in every single life she lives. While this shows serious loyalty and dedication, it also raises questions about how she's portrayed—for more on what it means that Merle's such a follower, though, please click on through to the "Characters" section and read her analysis.
Okay, so what about Tor? Well, this guy will always get someone to do his dirty work for him. That's right: Tor's favorite action is inaction. Not that Tor is lazy or doesn't participate in the story—he's just always hanging around the edges, letting other folks go first. As Thorolf, he heads up the execution of Eirikr; in the 10th century, he sits back and slowly causes total chaos in his village; and in 2073, Tor plots to kill Eric Seven so he doesn't have to stop drinking dragon orchid tea and living forever. Seriously, Tor's not a nice guy—his actions make this crystal clear.