Rozalin - Name

Rozalin's name is an interesting one. Here I will discuss it.

Rozalin vs. Rozalind

Rozalin's name in Japanese is written out in katakana as , which roughly romanizes to "Rozarindo". Understandably, people who are familiar with the Japanese Disgaea will also hear the last "do" in her name. It is unknown why Nippon-Ichi America did not include it in her name, and there was no reason not to. The amount of characters in "Rozalind" is the same amount as in "Yukimaru", and that was unchanged. In all honesty, it is a very minor change, and should not be debated. Her name was localized as Rozalin, and that's how I played the game, so that is what I'll use.

Literal Meaning and References

The name Rozalin can be broken up into two words. Those words are "rose" and "line". As a whole they can also be a reference to the Spanish name Rosalyn, which means "fair rose".

Rose

Roses are strong symbols in many works, and they're so commonplace in literature and culture that you'd be surprised who wouldn't know what a rose is. In general, roses have a very strong scent; you also either love it or hate it, and roses also tend to symbolize women in general. Also, rose bushes are nasty lil' buggers to get rid of; they're very resilient. Don't forget the beautiful roses also have sharp thorns.

The red rose also symbolizes love. Often roses are used as gifts on Valentine's Day and other occasions between lovers. Other meanings of the red rose include courage, passion, and respect. The term sub rosa, or "under the roses", is another term for keeping a secret well kept. It is also said that when a person dies, a rose is unable to sproute on their grave.

In history, roses were used to represent the Greek goddess Aphrodite, then the early Christians associated the rose with the wounds of Christ. After that, it then began to represent the blood of Christian martyrs, and then finally became to be associated with the Virgin Mary.

Apparently, roses are also subject to a few diseases including rose rust and black spots, which are both caused by fungus.

The Rose Line

The Rose Line may also be a reference to the Paris Meridian. If you've read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, you know that this place holds much meaning. This place was the original prime meridian for French atsronomers for over 200 years, until the world moved it nationally to the Greenwhich Meridian. To this day, some French cartographers still mark the Paris Meridian on their maps.

In the novel by Dan Brown, the Rose Line was the final resting place of Mary Magdalene.

So what does it all mean?

Rozalin's name carries a lot of meanings, and some of them may be true while others may not be. There is no certain way to know for sure unless somebody interviews Nippon-Ichi and asks them directly. However, as a fan of Rozalin, I can make a few observations.

Roses are a main theme in Disgaea 2, and it makes sense since Rozalin is a major character in almost every sense of the word. The theme song is called "Sinful Rose", Rozalin's attacks deal with roses, and her name has the word "rose" in it. Rozalin demands respect from others as she is of nobility, and also demands that she be taken care of.

Rozalin is also a very strong person, in many interpretations. Once she sees something that she believes should be rectified, she will go out of her way to fix it. She is also very hard to tame! Her thorns are sharp, and she will not hesitate to punish someone if they piss her off. And don't forget, she's also the gun-toting love interest,

Last but not least, remember that she is the reincarnation of Zenon. She is literally the resting place of an Overlord tired of fighting. It's a stretch, but it could be a reference to how Mary Magdalene was set to rest on the Rose Line.