The Importance Of Memory On The Past In The Road By Margaret Atwood

It is of course known that humans compile thousands of memories throughout their lifetime. While memories often fade sometimes to the point of being forgotten over time, certain memories can have a lasting impact that does not fade no matter how old the memory becomes. The Road by Cormac McCarthy explains, “Just remember that the things you put into your head are there forever, he said. You might want to think about that.

You forget some things, dont you?

Yes. You forget what you want to remember and you remember what you want to forget” (McCarthy 12). In the novel, The Man has many memories that continue to haunt him but also provide him with an escape from the unfortunate reality that he lives in. On the other hand, in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the main character Offred has memories of what her life used to be like that she would like to forget because of the sadness they still bring her. Both of the novels The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood illustrate ways in which past memories have the ability to still impact the present, especially when circumstances have changed dramatically. In the novel The Road, memories play a significant part in the story. Many of The Man’s most

For some, like The Man in The Road, some memories continue to give one hope, even if it is in the slightest amount. For others, for example Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale, vivid memories of past events and people still have the ability to affect one’s emotions in a negative way. These two works of literature very well illustrate the significance of memories in one’s life and the lasting impact that they can have. While some memories fade throughout time and some remain vivid despite the amount of time that passes, the fact that they can continue to have an effect today and for a lifetime is indeed