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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Why I think it is called Wolf Hall

I read an interesting blog post about why Wolf Hall is called Wolf Hall.  That is the home of the Seymores.  Maybe it has to do with Cromwell's crush (?) on Jane Seymore, as has been suggested.  Although, I am not altogether convinced of that, as several times in the book he doesn't want to give the time to listen to a woman.  Maybe that time will come at Wolf Hall?  He doesn't seem too concerned with romance or passion in the book, so I am not sure that would be a cause for a title, unless there is a major character shift.

I think it could be called Wolf Hall because that is where Thomas Cromwell plans to take a break. Slate's podcast noted that Cromwell is not lusting for power, but he is fixated on it.   There is one scene that I just noticed in listening to the audio book that I missed while reading it.  Cromwell is growing increasingly stressed and looking for a place in his calendar to take a break.  He notes that he will have a few days as a break when they are at Wolf Hall. 
Maybe during the break his fixation for power will transform into something stronger, as Henry's own fixations transform.   Maybe it is called Wolf Hall because that is the point where he will stop striving and stop being "he" (the pronoun use bothered me) and start being "I".

What will the sequel be called? The Tower? The Block? The Axe ?  It would fit the pattern of titling it by future destination.

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