The text W, or the Memory of Childhood by Georges Perec, is multiple different stories that are woven together in which the reader has to make sense of the novel. To begin with, the novel itself was incredibly confusing for me. I found that while the novel’s content was interesting, I was left confused from most of the initial reading. The text relates to the concepts of childhood and memory to me. The notion that the text is about childhood and memory is reflected based on the title. The title itself states that the novel is about the Memory of Childhood; and thus relates to the themes of childhood and memory. An aspect of the story that drew my attention was the narrator’s stance on how they “have no childhood memories,” which struck me as odd (Perec, 6). The lack of childhood memories may be due to traumatizing memories in their adolescence or the fact that the main character was put into a situation in which they had to grow up and mature. Additionally, what struck me as odd was that the narrator also found “comfort in such an absence of history” regarding their childhood (Perec, 6). The reason as to why this struck me as odd is that I believe that the history of someone stems from their childhood memories, as they are memories that define a person and their actions in the future.
The lack of clarity that the narrator has on their childhood and their past may contribute to the confusion that the novel itself has. The initial confusion in the novel for me was from the title W, or the Memory of Childhood. The lack of clarity in the title reflects the different storylines in the novel, which the reader has to understand. Additionally, there is either a lack of clarity or a means to obscure information, but the naming of places with “K,” and “H,” also shows the gaps in the main character’s memory (Perec, 6). The obscuring of the name of the locations, while those add some anonymity to the novel, also confused me for the most part. As the characteristics were being listed for places, it seemed as though it was hard for me to follow what was occurring in the novel. Additionally, since these locations are based on the narrator’s memory, and as a narrator, as previously stated, they do not remember much from their childhood, I would question the reliability of the main character as a reliable narrator.
A question that I would ask the others about this novel is: based on the novel, does knowing childhood memories or knowing history seem an essential part of building a character?
-Muskan Shukla
I like the ideas you’ve brought up. Especially in relation to how loss of memory can be tied to trauma. I wonder if there is a commonality among war survivors not having such a clear memory of their childhood in later life. And to answer your question, I feel like with the right details that childhood memories are not necessary to build a character. In fact, we could maybe learn more about the character based on how they deal with this gap in their past.
I loved your blog post! It was also very confusing for me at the beginning until we read further along. I totally agree with your point about how memories are blocked from childhood trauma, I learnt about it in my psych class, and I thought it was cool to see this concept in a romance studies novel. I believe that knowing childhood memories can definitely help build character; however, I don’t think it is an essential part. I am so much different from who I was even a year ago today, and I believe that everyday experiences have more of an impact on shaping our identity or who we surround ourselves with in the present.
“To begin with, the novel itself was incredibly confusing for me.”
Great honesty, and don’t despair! Have you seen the conversation video that Jon just posted with Professor Gelaines-Lemaire? He begins with the assertion that it is normal to feel lost. I encourage you to check it out before class: https://rmst202.arts.ubc.ca/on-georges-perec/.