Why do some stories have unnamed main characters?

Question

Why do some stories have unnamed main characters?

Answer 1

I've only read one book like that, Rebecca, by Daphne DuMaurier.  It was odd, because at first, I kept waiting to find out her name, but by the end, it really didn't matter.  I like the suggestion that it's to give the character an "it could be anyone" quality.  That seems plausible to me.  Or maybe to make you feel that you're hearing the story from a close friend, who wouldn't need to mention their own name.  In Rebecca, it was obvious the author had a name in mind for her character, since the character remarks that she was impressed her love interest spelled her name correctly, since it was an unusual name.  But we never find out what it is!

Answer 2

I've read only one book so far where one of the character - the protagonist's uncle- was left nameless. Every time the uncle is mention the main character would say "My uncle".

I think authors leave characters unnamed because they want to create an air of mystery or suspense. In the case the of the story I said above, that is true because the uncle is a police officer.

Answer 3

You mean like The Birds? I know, it's a movie, but they never name the girl, probably because she didn't really need a name.

Answer 4

i've never read a book with an unnamed main character

Answer 5

I've always kind of thought that authors do that for two reasons:

1. to show that the character has an air of mystery and anonimity (sorry, not sure how to spell that) about him

2. to point out that the character could really be anyone, it really doesn't matter what his specific name is.

Answer 6

maybe because the author couldn't think of any names?

i've never read a book without names for the characters, so i'm really not sure...