Is it wrong to reuse fictional names?

[Chilly]

Is it okay to use character names created by other authors (such as Thomas Gradgrind or Uriah Heep from Dickens) in my own fictional works?

I'm loosely basing some characters off of them (but I'm not taking the entire character), and I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to allude to where they're based. The majority of the population wouldn't pick up the reference until it was pointed out, after all. Is it leaning too much towards plagiarism?

[TheChilly]

Ah! Another Chilly!

I think you can... except for contemporary works. No, you can't use Nurse Ratched, though.

[MystyrMystyry]

You may be interested in 'Rozencranz and Guildenstern Are Dead'

by Tom Stppard

It's a play/movie where the author has taken two minor Shakespearian characters (from Hamlet) and given them their own play

[Chilly]

Yay, I'm not the only Chilly! Welcome to the Forums, TheChilly.

That play sounds very intersting.

And by the sounds of it, it's alright to do this then.

[TheChilly]

Thank you, thank you.

[HitlerProf]

I feel that unless you use the names of minor characters this technique would be distracting. Perhaps you could use initials?

[AuntShecky]

What an interesting question -- it's one that I hadn't thought of before, but it surely got my rusty ol' wheels going, as well as my clicking finger for online searches, via ask.com, "Google," et al.

The first thing I thought of was copyright infringement:


http://www.identitytheory.com/magicbullet/081806.php


On the other hand, some writers have built entire careers on writing sequels featuring --to use a term from the health insurance industry--"pre-existing" characters:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/sep/10/revive-another-authors-characters

We all know about how disastrous Hollywood sequels can be, but occasionally a literary sequel is both a critical and financial success:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven-Per-Cent_Solution


Speaking of movies and TV, the now-defunct but nonetheless wonderful* TV series, gleaned the name of one of its chief characters from a character in The War of The Worlds :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Clayton_Forrester_(Mystery_Science_Theater_300 0)

(I consider "MST3K" to be the first post-modern television series. Time Magazine included it in its "List of 100 Best TV shows of all TIME.")

And finally, some authors are so fond of their characters that they recycle them in subsequent books -- Updike had two and Roth has one: characters :

http://allanellenberger.com/book-flm-news/obit-john-updike/

http://www.ask.com/wiki/Nathan_Zuckerman

Genre writers, especially authors of mysteries, often use the same character for several books. Agatha Christie had several of these recurrent characters -- Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, etc. On the other end of the spectrum there was Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.

But my personal favorite recurring character -- always minor, always in the background, but always to great comic effect --came from the incomparable mind of Kurt Vonnegut:

http://www.vonnegutweb.com/vonnegutia/trout/index.html

My advice to you is it's probably okay to use a pre-existing
character from a work in the public domain; otherwise
steer clear unless you have a high-powered copyright attorney on retainer.

Best thing? Create a character who is completely brand-new! Maybe someday someone will want to copy yours!

[Delta40]

Fan fiction is interesting. They just don't use character names, they use the character and incorporate them into their own unique works. My daughter does it with some anime dude called Reno. Its supposed to be a very popular pastime for younger people. I think if it encourages people to write then go for it.

[Chilly]

Hmmm, well thanks for your replies. You have answered my question

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I feel that unless you use the names of minor characters this technique would be distracting. Perhaps you could use initials?

I was about to say the same. I mean, you don't want to use Captain Ahab, Tom Sawyer, or Don Quixote, or any names of main characters from other novels. But, legally, I don't think there's anything wrong with it, unless the name is used for the title of the book, or maybe as a franchise title.

I always wanted to use the name Rael for a main character in a fantasy story. I got the name from Genesis's album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, which chronicles the adventure of a man named Rael, but I think it's so esoteric it wouldn't matter.

[themiddleprince]

To stay away from copyright issues, use something as old as a Dickens character (like Uriah Heep of course). Don't pretend you invented them though, as that will anger readers.

Just think what's been done to poor old Dracula (the fictional vampire one) over the years...!

[howtowriteabook]

Is it okay to use character names created by other authors (such as Thomas Gradgrind or Uriah Heep from Dickens) in my own fictional works?

I'm loosely basing some characters off of them (but I'm not taking the entire character),

Leaving the issue of plagiarism aside, what would be the reason to use identical names if you're NOT basing the characters in your story upon the 'original'?

If you are leveraging on the name recognition of popular characters, then it might open up questions about infringing on intellectual property created by another author - but there, it would be because you're seeking to piggy-back on that established reputation.

You say you're only loosely basing your characters on those established heroes/heroines - so why not simply give them another unique name - maybe even derived from (or similar to) the 'original', but at the same time making them YOURS? :)

Just wondering aloud!

Mani

[StrangeAeons]

We all gather influence and inspiration from every facet of life. So long as you're not benefiting in any negative way, or boarding towards plagiarism.
I never want to see the fictional stories of any of my favorite fictional characters end, so it's fun to craft original content to expand upon them for fun's sake.
You seem to be on the right side of it all, so go for it. NOW, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

Oh, somebody beat you to it. Never mind :)

- joey