By Melinda Carroll
I just read the YA paranormal novel The White Cat by Holly Black. I won't go into too many details for those of you who want to read it, but the story boils down to this: Are we the kind of people we are because of the memories we have?
So what happens if those memories get taken away? I know someone who was in a serious car accident during college. He lost much of his memory, as well as much of his cognitive ability. He appeared to change into a completely different person.
So what part of us is us, and what part of us has been formed by our circumstances (and memories)?
It's an interesting thing to think about while creating characters.
Interesting thought. I believe we are made of our memories. We use our experiences to communicate and interpert our understanding of what the messages are sent.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a great experiment to take away the expereince and see if the way we express ourself is different, or if the personality is the same or the relation to the message is different.
Great post and soemthing to really think about.
The answer is yes only because we build our self concept on what we see, hear or sense and those memories stay with us. If we can ever break that tape recorder in our heads, we are truly free to be what we really are. Funny I think that's going to be my sacrament talk in a few weeks.
ReplyDeletevery thought-provoking question. thanks.
ReplyDeleteI know of someone who was kicked by a horse and her personality changed. I don't know if it was because of loss of memories or not. Definitely something to think about.
ReplyDeleteIt does get me thinking because I have worked with young people that had head injuries older folks with strokes and Alzheimers and other dementia. Now I care for my elderly mother.
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