Tuesday, August 11, 2009

What's in a name ?

In the sales conference I attended, an incident in the form of a joke was narrated by the compere. It is about two salesmen, Tom and Joe, who missed their last train to their residence deciding to stay in the house of a beautiful widow. The widow had three bed rooms and offered two of them to the salesmen. After settling down in her house, Tom, late in the night found it irresistible and knocked at the bedroom door of the widow. His magic worked and he had a great time. However, he wished not to disclose his identity and when asked what his name was, informed her it was Joe.

Two years later, Joe received a letter from the widow wherein the incidents of that night were graphically narrated and how grateful she was for the nice time. Joe understood the game and confronted Tom who admitted to what happened that night and that he had given his identity as Joe. But Tom curiously asked Joe how he was aware, to which Joe replied that the widow had died and bequeathed all the property to Joe for the wonderful time she had.

Is that why Shakespeare had said “what’s in a name, a rose by any other would smell as sweet?”

10 comments:

Vancouver, Canada said...

Thy name truly is not an artificial or meaningless convention..not by any means :)

Kavi said...

A Tom, Dick or a Harry is the same. But a lucky Tom or a lucky Joe is a relative conclusions. Based on whats important to the Joe. Or to the Tom !

Some Joe. this one !

:)

nsiyer said...

Thanks Vancouver, Canada for your inspiring comments.

Kavi its a name game.

sujata sengupta said...

Luck was with Joe..the call could have been announcing the arrival of a baby too!!

Anu...:) said...

The title is apt....it can be read as sarcastic as to how a name change got the wrong person the right money :P
On a serious note..it may convey that we should not try to be any other person than whom we really are...(it MAY convey..I said :O)

Thank you for visiting my blog!Comments like yours' inspire to write more!

Vivek S Patwardhan said...

As far as my information goes these things happen only in stories!

Vivek

nsiyer said...

Sujata, that's wild but pragmatic.

Thanks Anu for your omments.Be what you are - a good comment.

Thanks Patwardhan Saab.Yes only in stories.Fiction, could be

Sylvia K said...

Well, whatever the story is or is not, I enjoyed a really big smile! And I thank you for that!

Enjoy!
Sylvia

Roshni said...

Gosh! What a story! In this case, however, the name was very important, wasn't it!!

Unknown said...

I sure have missed the action on your blog! Amazing articles...sure brought a big smile on my face..thanks!