Why is it that in some stories the character's name is not named? They just say "the man..."?

Answer 1

It's different for different authors and stories. Sometimes it engages the reader in a different way. Using a name, a reader tends to get a sense of "knowing" the character, while saying "The man" might engage the reader as more of a witness. It can add a sense of mystery or a sense of danger. Describing a crime scene, a witness would say "The man". It is simply a literary technique that is used to engage a reader in a specific manner.

Answer 2

I use this quite a bit.

Firstly, it adds a sense of mystery to a character I want to be mysterious, I mean, as the author I can know every single character's name(and do, some characters that remain unknown in my book I know by name myself).

I mean, if the protagonist doesn't know a person's name, sometimes it's good to keep that from the reader as well, it helps you get behind the protagonist more easily, you only know what they know, even if the narration is omniscient.

Occasionally I don't use a name if that name isn't important, if the character is just someone there, or are defined by what they are, that serves as a more apt title than randomly calling them Fred.

Answer 3

The name is either not necessary to the story, or giving no name adds something to the story. For instance, in Rebecca, the new wife's name is NEVER told. This is a rather good plot device, because the first wife - Rebecca - is the overshadowing character in the story even though she is no longer physically present in the narration. By not telling the second wife's name but telling the first wife's name, Daphne du Maurier almost sinks the second into an insignificant role - even though she is telling the story. It makes the reader almost feel what the 2nd Mrs. De Winter feels about herself.

Answer 4

Usually, stories would label the protagonist "the man" if the writer would want the readers to reflect that the story is not only for a particular person but to the humanity itself. It is a way of showing how human nature works and how a human being would act in a particular situation...
Psychological and Political works were usually using the word "man" to indicate the humanity...

Answer 5

I have to say, everyone else had good answers!! Here's another thought:
Sometimes the author wants you to be able to picture the person yourself. So that we may all read the same book, but we all see the character differently (yes, names change the way we think of people). It allows the story to become personal.

Answer 6

Shakespeare says, "What is in Name!"

Some time the ca rector need a name then
a name have to be given to the ca rector. But some time the ca rector indicate to the community/society/humanity, then name not applicable.
According to Shakespeare "What is in name"
because you can call Rose by any name but it can not affect at all.

Answer 7

Sometimes the name isn't important to the character. In "The Layer Cake" the first person protagonist is unnamed, but "I", "me" and "you" (when addressed by another character) works quite well.