Aquatic Symbolism and Roman Mythological References in "Leave It To Beaver": An Evolutionary Analog

What's in a (Sur)name?
I just watched an rerun episode of the old sitcom Leave it to Beaver (1957-63) on TV Land. The aquatic symbolism and Roman mythological references are obvious. Before we get to those, we have to set the foundation. The family's surname is "Cleaver." A "cleaver" is a "heavy, broad-bladed knife or hatchet" that is used to "split or separate." As an intransitive verb, the word "cleave" is defined as "to penetrate or pass through something, such as water or air."


Ward Cleaver: The Guardian/Separator

A cleaver is also a broad-bladed knife that is used to split or to separate.

June Cleaver has a Beaver

In Roman religion and mythology, she was also the wife and sister of Jupiter. She and her husband were in an incestuous marriage. The types and degrees of mythological punishments are many. So, what better punishment for this incestuous relationship is there than to have progeny that is an an aquatic rodent commonly know as Castor canadensis Kuhle—a "Beaver"?

So, what do we make of Beaver's pudgy sidekick, Larry Mundello? His surname is very similar in pronunciation to "mendole," which is also known as a "cackerel," which is a word of Old French origins. The dictionary definition of "cackerel" is "a small worthless Mediterranean fish considered poisonous by the ancients." Again, the aquatic reference is evident. Saying that Larry is worthless and poisonous may be a little harsh. But after all, in one episode, he does manage to goad Beaver into smoking coffee grounds in Ward Cleaver's collectible, ivory pipe, which leads to the development of Beaver's monumental stomach ache. Larry's companionship is, in a larger sense, worthless and poisonous to Beaver's moral and ethical growth.

Another of Beaver's recurring friends in the television series is Hubert "Whitey" Whitney. He is always referred to by his nickname "Whitey," which is unmistakeably a reference to the common name of the Merlangus merlangus, the "whiting," which is a fish that is related to cod that is indigenous to the European Atlantic waters.

In keeping with the aquatic analogy, Beaver's sibling, Wally, is also an aquatic creature. His name is quite similar in pronunciation to "walleye," which is a freshwater food and game fish also known as Sander Vitreus.

If we were to search for an aquatic reference for Wally Cleaver's husky, and slightly dopey friend, Clarence Rutheford, we need only to look at his nickname: "Lumpy."

This nickname can then be seen as a reference to another aquatic creature, the lumpfish, which, by dictionary definition, is "a clumsy soft thick-bodied northern Atlantic fish," also known as Clyclopterus Lumpus.

 

Edward "Eddie" Haskell: The Contrarian

So what should we make of Wally Cleaver's mischievous friend Eddie Haskell. He seems to always encourage both of the Cleaver boys to engage in activities that are contrary to the teachings of their father, Ward. Speaking aquatically, what is an "eddy"? It is, by definition, it is "a current, as of water, moving contrary to the direction of the main current." This definition fits his character precisely. After all, young Mr. Haskell does, by his very nature, introduce an anti-establishmentarian attitude or "contrary" views and encouragement that the Cleaver boys must try to resist (but seldom do). His influence runs counter to the sense of morals and ethics that Ward Cleaver tries to instill in Beaver and Wally.

The Evolutionary Process: Shedding Marine Vestiges
At this point, we can introduce a bit of Darwinian theory. This is to say that all of the children of Mayfield are on an evolutionary path of sorts. Through the trials and tribulations of their youth, they are expected to evolve morally and ethically. This process can also be likened to the time when fish and other aquatic creatures crawled onto land, terra firma. The educational institution, the Mayfield School, that all of the children attended, there was a process for holding them in place, while providing guidance for them to shed their aquatic features and to evolve into land dwellers. Outside of their respective family settings, they received assistance from their school. Mayfield, which, when analyzed alludes to "may," which is a noun that means "the springtime of life; youth." The children of Mayfield are, in a sense, undergoing an evolutionary process during the "springtime" of their youth.

Miss Canfield: To Teach and to Contain

The actress, Diane Brewster appeared early in the show for the first two seasons, from 1957-1958, as Miss Canfield. Her last name is a compound word. The first component of her last name is "can." When we look at the etymology, we find that the word "can" originates from the Middle English word "canne," which is "a water container."  In addition to the aquatic reference, there is the realization that, as the teacher of Beaver and friends, her role was, two-fold: to "contain" and to educate them. She was responsible for their intellectual, moral, and ethical growth in the context of the educational institution, and she provided the proper environment ("aquatic") for them to thrive and to grow.

Sue Randall was the actress who played Mrs. Landers from 1958-62, the successor of Mrs. Canfield, in the previous seasons. If we look at her surname, we can see that it describes her role in the children's lives. A "lander" is "one who brings something (or someone) to land." In the children's later years, she serves as the force that promotes their evolution into a higher order of "land-dwelling" creatures.

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