In order to understand the role of history and memory in
Boyne's work, I think that we have to go back to his closing words of the book. At the
end, Boyne offers a categorical statement that might allow a greater facilitation of
understanding the role of memory in the book:
...of course all this happened a long time ago
and nothing like that could ever happen again. Not in this day and
age.
History and memory are
linked in Boyne's mind. The reality is that Boyne understands clearly that as more time
passes from the Holocaust, the foggier it becomes. For Boyne, his novel is a reminder
that the Holocaust was real and that the suffering that happened as a result of both
political and personal cruelty should not be forgotten. Boyne uses his text as a
launching point for reflection in the reader. Essentially, he challenges the reader to
respond to his statement that the Holocaust could not happen, "not in this day and
age." It is a stunning reminder that to deny the Holocaust is almost as bad as saying
that it will never happen again. In this closing sentiment, Boyne's work is a reminder
that reflection about the Holocaust and all that it encompasses is the first step to
ensuring that individual rights for all are upheld and voices are not silenced. This
becomes Boyne's purpose and how his work relates to history and
memory.
No comments:
Post a Comment