‘The Memory Police’, written by Yoka Ogawa, is a dystopian novel that follows an unnamed narrator in a world where objects are gradually forgotten. Ogawa explores the dangers that arise due to the constant disappearances of objects, demonstrating such dangers throughout the text. Ogawa highlights the loss of identity brought forth due to the disappearances. Furthermore, Ogawa portrays the phenomenon of forgetting to have the power to isolate people. In addition, Ogawa also demonstrates how the disappearances cause individuals to be more susceptible to obedience. Ogawa highlights the loss of identity brought forth due to the constant disappearances of objects. Throughout the text, Ogawa captures the importance of identity and the link it has …show more content…
To further her idea of the dangers of forgetting, Ogawa demonstrates to the reader how the loss of identity and connection can make a person more inclined to be obedient. This is first seen during the first disappearance the reader witnesses, which is the birds. During this disappearance the narrator explains how, “people. seem almost capable of forgetting anything.” before showing how owners of birds are able to just let their birds go and, “turn for home.” Ogawa does this intentionally during the first disappearance in order to give the reader a basic understanding of how the inhabitants of the area are able to listen to everything that the Memory Police say. To reinforce how the culture of the island had been altered to follow all instructions of the Memory Police, Ogawa demonstrates how during the train inspection the people thought the farmer “was insane,” for speaking back to the Memory Police. Ogawa also uses the setting to show the obedience shown towards the Memory Police’s actions. When the narrator visits the headquarters to see the old man she sees, “unexpected luxuries,” though she mentions how they are unexpected she does not question why the Memory Police have these in the while the regular citizens can barely find basic ingredients for food. This is once again done to show the ingrained culture within the island where the Memory Police are not allowed to be questioned on their actions. This culture is also what allows the Memory Police to take people away without bystanders giving a second thought, like when, “people dashed into alleyways,” to get out of the Memory Police’s way. Through this Ogawa demonstrates to the reader how the combination of a lack of identity and connection can cause people to lose their resilience and subside to an authoritarian