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The two “Margarets” in the title refer, respectively, to a Gerard Manley Hopkins's sonnet written in 1880 and published posthumously in 1918, and to director-screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan's 2005 film. The latter could be described as posthumous as well, as its relatively unheralded late release (in ) to too few screening venues, post-dated the film's production by well over five years. In another sense, the “Margarets” refer to the two film versions currently available on disc: the 150-minute theatrical version and a more immersive, 186-minute extended version. The latter, somewhat like process notes in relation to a published case, not only includes scenes that illustrate character development and resolve provocative ambiguities in the theatrical release but also disjointed sequences that disrupt narrative continuity.
Hopkins's sonnet, “Spring and Fall: To a Young Child,” is often referenced by its first line:
Margaret, are you grievingOver Goldengrove unleaving?Leaves, like the things of man, youWith your fresh thoughts care for, can you?Ah! as the heart grows olderIt will come to such sights colderBy and by, nor spare a sighThough worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;