Dear wonderful people:
Hello. I would like to alert you to a problem I'm having with my story.
Okay, obviously identity is a giant theme throughout both books, especially Sophie versus original!Sophie and Richmond versus alt!Richmond and that sort of thing. So this is what I'm thinking.
We know that Adélaïde calls Sophie "Zéphine." We also know that her full first name is "Joséphine-Marie." When alt!Richmond is introduced in my second draft (I'm hoping to get that far by the end of the weekend) he is going to call her by her actual first name. Julian and Richmond are repeatedly calling her "Sophie," as well you know, and it's been making her uncomfortable. No one else calls her that but her mother Virginie, her close family, et cetera.
So the narration shouldn't refer to her as Sophie either.
This is practically a name change. If I follow through with this--and I really should--I think I'll change her name from Joséphine-Marie Françoise to Joséphine Marie-Françoise and refer to her as Joséphine throughout the story. I'd leave it as is but I think Joséphine-Marie is a little clunky (which was the name's point initially). She'll only be called Sophie by Richmond and Julian and her parents (Virginie, because François is never actually around).
I'll still think of her as Sophie, but chances are anyone who reads the book and doesn't know me personally won't. It's sort of like me saying alt!Richmond when the character is never actually called that in the story. Though I'm thinking George might coin the phrase in the sequel.
So, thoughts on this? Should I leave it as is? If not, Joséphine or Joséphine-Marie? I really prefer the latter, but I feel like it's a bit much to see over and over in narration.
For example:
“I’m sorry-you want me to wear this?” Joséphine-Marie interrupted. She poked at the tiny chemise in her lap. “Just this? And nothing else? No, I can’t. I can’t do it. That’s disgusting. I can’t. I won’t. I’ll wear what I’m wearing now.”
“But- but Sophe! Sophie, come on. We’re going to New York. You can’t wear that dress in New York, Sophe. And I’m really hungry. Aren’t you hungry?”
The baroness frowned. She hadn’t eaten since her belated breakfast with Adélaïde, and then she had only had a hot cup of chocolate.
So? It's been bugging me for a while now. I don't know if I can just leave it.