The Names

When Cora chooses Maia’s preferred name for her son, he grows up to fulfill his sister’s prediction that he will be “soft and cuddly and kind […] But also, brave and strong” (4-5). The most confident version of Cora’s son, Bear possesses a joyful and infectious appetite for life. His intellectual curiosity is expressed in his early career as an archaeologist. Knapp implies that Bear is relatively untroubled by anxiety due to his father’s absence. As Gordon is imprisoned for killing Vihaan when his son is still a baby, Bear grows up free from his toxic presence. Consequently, Bear reflects that “what happened when he was a baby feels so divorced from the life he’s known that sometimes he finds it hard to believe at all” (100).

Early in the novel, Cora’s choice of the name Bear seems to be the “correct” one. His character embodies Breaking Free from Generational Cycles as his warm, loving relationship with his mother and sister starkly contrasts with his father’s cold mistreatment of them. However, the unanticipated consequences of his name emerge as his global travels cause him to neglect Lily, his childhood sweetheart. When Lily almost dies in a terrorist attack, Bear realizes that he has felt the need to live up to the adventurous associations of his name, causing him to act “like some kind of idiot Indiana Jones” (210). As a result of this epiphany, Bear matures, settling down with Lily and nurturing their daughter Pearl. The loving atmosphere of their family unit is the antithesis of the abusive domestic dynamic created by his father. Bear’s unexpected death highlights how each incarnation of Cora’s son features a delicate balance of benefits and disadvantages. He lives a richly rewarding life, but his allotted time is brief.

Cora chooses the name Julian for her son because it means “sky father, ethereal, transcendent” (21). As Maia later explains to her brother, “It was her way of saying you’d never be like him. That you’d rise above him” (295). However, she does not anticipate that the choice will result in Gordon killing her when their son is a toddler. Consequently, Julian grows up motherless and is raised by his grandmother in Ireland. He identifies as Irish, and his nationality is reflected in his accent and the inflection of his dialogue. Julian harbors a deep hatred for England, perceiving it as “the land of his father; the land that failed to keep Julian, Maia, and their mother safe” (161).

Julian’s character illustrates the far-reaching impact of domestic abuse on family members. Although his memories of both parents are indistinct, he is haunted by the knowledge that his father killed his mother. The novel illustrates how inherited trauma influences Julian’s character, rendering him sensitive, introspective, and cautious. Above all else, Julian fears that he may have inherited his father’s violent nature. Anxiety over hurting others makes him solitary and wary of relationships.

Julian’s storyline illustrates the process of slow healing as he emerges from the dark legacy of his family history. His character demonstrates the therapeutic nature of art and creativity as he discovers a powerful means of self-expression in jewelry making. However, his marriage to Orla becomes strained due to his inability to let go of the past. Julian reaches a pivotal moment in his arc after almost losing his family due to his unresolved trauma. He overcomes this obstacle with the help of his sister Maia, ultimately realizing that “he is nothing like his father” (307). This epiphany finally allows Julian to fulfill Cora’s aspirations, rising above his father’s shadow and embracing “a big and fearless life” (307).

When Cora complies with her husband’s wishes and names their baby Gordon, the foreboding she feels about the decision adversely affects the bond between mother and son. Convinced that she has destined her child to become like her husband, she can only perceive Gordon Jr. through this lens. Her subsequent aversion to breastfeeding her son and impulse to “let Gordon deal with his namesake’s indignant howls” (39) conveys a sudden repulsion toward the child she formerly cherished. Knapp illustrates how his mother’s emotional detachment prompts Gordon Jr. to turn to his father. Consequently, his character is increasingly shaped by Gordon Sr. Gordon Jr. unwittingly contributes to his mother’s abuse as he learns that inventing lies about Cora is a guaranteed method of gaining his father’s approval. The reward he receives for misogynistic behavior and a lack of integrity is later echoed in his interactions with Lily Atkin. Charting a pattern where Gordon Jr. gains social acceptance by harming members of the opposite sex, the novel encourages readers to share Cora’s belief that her son is a replica of her husband.

Gordon Jr. undergoes the most dramatic character arc in the novel after crashing his car and losing his lucrative job in investment banking due to an alcohol addiction. He discovers it is “a surprising relief” (245) to lose everything, as he can no longer hope to meet his father’s expectations. Revealing the sensitive side he has suppressed in an attempt to impress Gordon Sr., he rebuilds his bond with Cora, demonstrating empathy and compassion. Knapp presents Gordon Jr. as Cora’s unlikely savior as he blackmails his father into liberating Cora from her abusive marriage. His transformation indicates that a name does not necessarily determine one’s character. By redefining himself, Gordon Jr. breaks free from generational cycles.

Cora and Gordon’s daughter, Maia, is nine years old at the beginning of the novel. Sensitive and empathic, she is “attuned to the undercurrents” (24) of the household, understanding the danger that her father represents. Maia’s character vividly illustrates The Effects of Domestic Abuse on children. Although her father has never physically hurt her, witnessing him abusing her mother has left her psychologically scarred. Consequently, Maia is mature beyond her years, modulating her behavior to placate her father while attempting to protect Cora. After Cora names her brother Julian, Maia’s suggestion that they have lasagna for dinner (a dish her father loves but that she dislikes) vividly illustrates how she imitates her mother’s behavior, ignoring her own needs and desires in a futile attempt to maintain harmony. Recognizing that she is unwittingly teaching her daughter subservience, Cora fears “this pattern will repeat unendingly, the destiny of each generation set on the same course” (28).

The novel illustrates how Maia’s life trajectory is profoundly affected by Cora’s choice of name for her brother. In all three narratives, commonalities emerge that underscore her core traits. For example, she recognizes she is gay in every storyline, but is reluctant to come out, due to the “disgust” she believes her father would feel about her sexual orientation. She also continues her role as a caregiver into her professional life, becoming a homeopath in Bear and Julian’s narratives, and a doctor in Gordon Jr.’s. Meanwhile, significant differences in these alternate lives highlight The Large Impact of Small Choices. In Bear’s storyline, she enjoys a close, loving relationship with her brother, contrasting with the resentment she feels toward Gordon Jr. In Julian’s narrative, Maia is the most severely impacted by trauma, having been present when her father murdered her mother. As a result, she lives tentatively, clinging to the safety of her grandmother’s home and familiar routine. In all three narratives, Maia’s character undergoes an arc. Although her life continues to be impacted by trauma, she gradually breaks free of its stronghold.