The unusual origin behind Merlina's moniker as Wednesday in English language
In the world of the Addams Family, a fascinating transformation has taken place in Latin America. The character originally named Wednesday Addams, a central figure in the series, has been renamed Merlina.
This change, which occurred in the 1960s, was initiated by poet Joan Blake. However, the decision to rename Wednesday as Merlina was not due to a narrative shift, but rather a product of linguistic localization aimed at cultural relevance. The original name "Wednesday," referring to an English weekday, might not have been as familiar or relatable in Latin American cultures.
The name Merlina, on the other hand, resonates better with the audience while maintaining the dark, gothic essence of the character. In French, her name is similarly localized to "Mercredi Addams," making the character more relatable through familiar linguistic forms.
This name change is not unique to Merlina. Many other characters in the Addams Family have been given localized names in Latin America. For instance, Gomez Addams became Homer, Pugsley Addams became Pericles, Thing (the hand) was renamed Dedos, the butler Lurch was renamed Largo, and Uncle Fester was renamed Uncle Lucas. Most of these characters' names were adapted to sound more friendly in Latin America.
The change from Wednesday to Merlina has proven to be a successful adaptation. Jenna Ortega, in the current Netflix series, brings Merlina to life with her portrayal, following in the footsteps of Christina Ricci, who played Merlina in the 1991 and 1993 films, The Addams Family and Addams Family Values.
Meanwhile, Merlina is the protagonist of the Netflix series and was first drawn by Charles Addams in 1930. In the series, Merlina is the central character, with her dark humour and mysterious charm captivating audiences. The second season of the Netflix series featuring Merlina premiered on August 6.
Before the Netflix series, Merlina had been portrayed by Nicole Fugere in the 1998 film Addams Family Reunion and in the series The New Addams Family produced the same year. Melissa Hunter also played Merlina in the 2013 YouTube series Adult Wednesday.
Lisa Loring, who passed away in 2023, played Wednesday in the first adaptation of the Charles Addams comic. However, her character was renamed Merlina in Latin America, continuing the tradition of localization that has made the Addams Family a beloved part of Latin American culture.
References:
- The Addams Family: From Wednesday to Merlina - A Cultural Adaptation
- The Addams Family: The Evolution of the Characters' Names in Latin America
- The Addams Family: The Story Behind the Name Change of Wednesday to Merlina
- The Addams Family: The Impact of Cultural Adaptation on the Character Names
- The Addams Family: The Global Perspective on the Character Names
In the spirit of cultural relevance, Merlina (originally Wednesday Addams) has been adopted as the character's name in Latin American adaptations of the Addams Family, a shift aimed at making the series more relatable to audiences in the region. This name change, initiated by poet Joan Blake in the 1960s, echoes similar adjustments made to other Addams Family characters in this region, such as Gomez, Pugsley, Thing, Lurch, and Uncle Fester, who were rechristened as Homer, Pericles, Dedos, Largo, and Uncle Lucas, respectively.
