Fragmented Memory And Psychological Breakdown: Navigating The Surreal Landscape Of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Unconsoled

Abstract

Various authors have explored the concept of memory in different contexts. The tendency to forget events often arises from being immersed in numerous activities. Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro highlights the significance of both remembering and forgetting in his novels. His novel The Unconsoled is a significant contribution to the field of Memory studies. In this novel, the narrative delves into the complexities of fragmented memory and psychological disintegration and explores the disoriented experience of the protagonist Ryder within a surreal landscape that mirrors a psychological breakdown. The novel also challenges the traditional narrative expectations through an analysis of fragmented memory, and surrealism, providing insights into the mind’s attempts to navigate personal and collective trauma. As such, the objectives of this paper are to explore the impact of the fragmented memory on the protagonist’s perception of reality in The Unconsoled; investigate how disruptions in memory contribute to the psychological instability and emotional distress of the characters; study the connection between memory and personal identity, focusing on how memory loss or distortion affects the protagonist’s sense of self and examine how repressed or fragmented memories in the novel lead to recurring anxieties and shape the protagonist’s actions and relationships.