Whispers of a Forgotten World; The Significance of Memory and Remembering in Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Worlds of Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale
Subject Areas : Journal of Teaching English Language Studies
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Keywords: Memory, Identity, Resistance, The Road, The Handmaid's Tale,
Abstract :
Abstract
In post-apocalyptic and dystopian literature, memory emerges as a powerful narrative device, bridging the past with the present and illuminating themes of survival, identity, and resistance. Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale explore the multifaceted role of memory in profoundly altered worlds. In The Road, memory serves as both a source of hope and despair, anchoring the father’s resolve to protect his son while offering glimpses of a lost world. McCarthy’s fragmented narrative structure mirrors the instability of a world devastated by catastrophe, where memory becomes an emotional lifeline and a moral compass. In The Handmaid’s Tale, memory functions as an act of rebellion for Offred, preserving her identity against Gilead's oppressive regime. Her recollections provide a mental refuge, a means of resistance, and a testimony to humanity's resilience. Both works depict memory as a double-edged sword, essential for survival but often a source of pain. This comparative analysis underscores the enduring role of memory in navigating desolation, sustaining hope, and affirming the human spirit.
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