Not only are these initials for Ana DeWitt, i.e. Elizabeth, but it's also "anno domini." (The year of our Lord) While probably obvious to some, it shows how Ken Levine went to great lengths to achieve his desired symbolism.
He named the "protagonist" Booker 'DeWitt', so that he could name the daughter 'Ana DeWitt', so that Booker's hand would read "AD." For me that really highlights just how important is was for him to signal "anno domini" in a strange pejorative context.
But then again...as a Dutch friend just highlighted to me "DeWitt" actually means "the White, or the Blond." A curious surname, since DeWitt turns out to be the villain Comstock.
The idea here is that in order for the world to be saved from Columbia (White America) 'drowning the mountains of man in flames' DeWitt (The White man) must be drowned by his own daughters in a baptismal font so that he never achieves any of this.
The theme of BioShock Infinite is essentially that there are "constants and variables." Some details change, but the White man always arrives at the same end. These people hate us with a dedication and passion that honestly breath-taking.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.