“…things I thought were mine and mine alone can be taken away much more easily than I would have imagined.” (pg.163)
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa contains a story within a story. The stories mirror each other, seemingly without the realization of the narrator/ novelist. In the main story, the narrator, along with others on the island, experience losses that are controlled by the Memory Police. No one protests the disappearances of objects or memories of the items forever erased for fear of being taken away. Their fear has left them with no “voice.” From the most insignificant to the what should be devastating, such as a leg or other body part, the people of the island accept and adjust accordingly, although they may have a brief period of mourning.
The novel that the narrator is writing contains a similar story. A woman has lost her physical voice inside a typewriter and then becomes her teacher’s prisoner in an old clock tower. She has no means to protest because all of the typewriters are broken, and there are no pens or paper to use to communicate. The student becomes accustomed to her new life of captivity. She becomes absorbed by the room and realizes she could never become a part of life outside the tower. She says, “When the voice that links the body to the soul vanishes, there is no way to put into words one’s feelings or will.” (pg. 166) Ironically, R is in a similar situation as the student, although he has agreed to live in isolation to provide some level of self-preservation from the Memory Police. R has retained his ability to remember and tries to encourage the old man and the narrator to remember things so their hearts will not decay. He says,” it’s about waking up your sleeping soul.” (pg.213)
Both stories are about the loss of self. As each memory is taken away, the heart is left with a cavity. When we, and other objects, leave this Earth, they become memories. With no memory, there is no purpose. “I’d like to leave behind some trace of my existence…” (pg.270)
How sad the world would be if we could not remember the things and people we once loved…”
I also saw the connection between the narrator and the character she wrote. I think the author incorporated the pieces of the narrator’s work because it was so important to her and was the last thing she did before she faded away.