Loss Representation in The Memory Police of Yoko Ogawa

Abstract

Since the dawn of time, Loss had, and still has; a tight relationship with mankind in all its aspects in creating a new beginning or an ultimate ending. Thus, this research has for a purpose, the examination of this complex concept and its treatment by mankind. Through this work, readers will enrich their knowledge about loss, gets some personal liaisons with it and even apply it in their respective lives. Central to this investigation, Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police, a dystopian, psychological fiction, that immerses readers in a world marked by uncertainty, mystery, and disappearances, was chosen for the development of loss since it tackles strongly its energy throughout the whole story with the incalculable number of losses that took place in her created reality. It is hypothesized that the Memory Police may symbolize the relentless progression of time and its impact on memory, authoritarian regimes' erasure of identities, or the collective trauma leading to a 'suicide of identity.' The profound understanding of loss by reflecting on personal experiences and fears is enriched by references to cultural and artistic works like James Leyland Kirby's Everywhere at the End of Time, Akiyuki Nosaka's Grave of the Fireflies, and Ogawa's The Memory Police. These works collectively highlight the pain of memory loss, the devastation of war, and the existential dread of being forgotten. The research shows that loss, as a nemesis of mankind, is an omniscient entity that takes control of the string of life throughout space and time, and its negative consideration should not be accepted due to its importance in keeping the balance of creation and destruction intact. Eventually, this dissertation contributes to the academic discourse on loss by fostering a deeper empathy for the human condition. It underscores the significance of addressing loss with compassion and understanding.