The Mark Of Kane

[poliphilo]

Citizen Kane
Mahatma Kane Jeeves (a pseudonym of W.C. Fields)
Marshall Will Kane (The Gary Cooper character in High Noon)
The Caine Mutiny
Michael Caine (the screen name of the artist formerly known as Maurice Micklewhite)
Kwai-Chiang Cain (Keith Carradine's character in Kung Fu)

These are some instances. There are others.

Why does this name (in various spellings) keep cropping up in the popular culture of the mid-twentieth century?

When it occurs in "real life" Kane is usually an Americanization of "Cohen". But none of my Kanes appears to be Jewish.

My guess is that we're dealing with the romance of the Biblical Cain- the man branded and outcast by God. The name serves as a badge of mid-twentieth century alienation.

Any other suggestions?

Comments

[zephyrcrow.livejournal.com]

I have a baby name book which suggests that a good way to make your baby sound heroic or forceful is to give it a name with lots of hard sounds. Therefore I will name my firstborn Fisticuffs Cain Davis!

I added you to my friends list. My name was Poliphilo but I changed it because if there were two of us it might irrevocably damage the space-time continuum.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Are you my evil twin or am I yours?

Polia is mine. Mine, you hear!

Ha ha ha- he he he.

I have befriended you back.