Question

What does the narrator mean when he says that men were "christened anew"? they became distinctly different people. their previous identities were forgotten. they went by names other than those they were born with. they received absolution for whatever they did before arriving?

Answer 1

They went by names other than those they were born with.

Answer 2

C. they went by names other than those they were born with.

The term christened anew is used to refer some people that after some event in their lifes changed their names, for example baptism with time the term was used to other events like changing cities, or going to america in the search for a new life.