The reason epithets do or don’t work, in my opinion, has everything to do with POV.
It is— I assume!— common writing advice to avoid epithets when referring to a character. Especially if you’re using epithets to avoid using their name.
But why avoid epithets? You shouldn’t! Not wholesale. I’d just like people to think about why they are using an epithet.
A rule is often meant to be broken. More so when it’s given with no explanation, like an edict from on high. Never use epithets? Why? Because you said so? Well fuck you, I’m using them MORE now.
( For the record: There’s nothing wrong with using a character’s name. Use it! This is like the said is dead conversation. Said is not dead. Use said! )
So again— I’m gonna repeat this a lot— When you are going out of your way to not use a character’s name, think about why. All writing is intentional. You’re using words to communicate something to a reader. What are you communicating and why?
WEEE WOOO WEEE WOOO XEKSTRIN HAS OPINIONS ON WRITING!!!!!!!
An epithet is a way to communicate something important about a character. What is important enough to be communicated? What is important enough to be the defining feature of a character? The Man With No Name, The Alien, The Bride, The Monster <- all epithets from famous films specifically. These are definitions in lieu of a name because frequently these characters had no name. But you knew who I was talking about, most likely.
Let’s take it back to POV. How do you think of yourself? How would you describe yourself if not allowed your name? Would you use physical features? Your profession? Your passions? Your flaws?
Now let’s apply this to a character. Mira from KPOP DEMON HUNTERS is on my mind so let’s talk about her. How does Mira view herself? As a hunter? A popstar? A dancer? Someone dangerous?
How would Mira classify herself? Would she say “I’m the tall girl”? “I’m the one with pink hair”? Sure, maybe jokingly, or to someone with no other context as to who she is, or if she didn’t feel like getting into it. But those describe her, physically. Do they get across who she is? More than her name does?
(Now we get to the real bug in my ointment)
Would her friends (and frequently in fanfic, her lovers, soulmates) think of her as “the tall girl”? Is that it, really? I think that’s the source of my frustration when seeing epithets like this. Rumi does not think of Mira as “the tall girl” when Mira means so much more to her than that.
So again: Whose POV are you writing from? How do they see themselves and each other? Don’t use epithets to describe, use epithets to define.
And please…. Please….. please….. don’t call Zoey a ravenette 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 or Mira a pinkette PLEASSEEEEEE IM BEGGINNNNNGGGGGGGG IM SORRY PLEASE DON’T BE MAD AT ME
