History and Memory Essay Example for Free

History and Memory EssayThe interrelationship of story and memory show that each is individually control- memory presents limited perspective era invoice presents limited account- this conflicting nature ensures that without considering both(prenominal) we substantiate a less reliable history. This concept is portrayed in the prescribed text The 50th gate by Mark baker that involves an individuals journey into the past to reconstruct his p bents experiences. Bakers explores the idea that both history and memory atomic number 18 essential to validate, illuminate and add emotion and colour to the other in order to ultimately form a honest representation of history. Through the study of this text one can come to understand that the ultimate role of history is to find self-identity and unlock the barriers of the past. Memory is influence by and composed of individual emotions and self-reflections as a result it is influenced by bias and is highly inhering. Therefore memor y alone provides one bias and subjective perspective of history, making the representation of history to be less reliable and limited. This is portrayed in the line It was cold, winter, we had winter boots on, the ones with money sewn inside. He says it was cold. Winter. scarcely it was warm. Autumn.Here the use of direct speech engages the audience into Yossls situation. The audience is then able to authorise that the experiences of fear, torment and paranoia that Yossl went through in the final solution has shaped and influenced his memory. As a result his perspective of history is less reliable and thus highly limited. This is portrayed in the line I guess this exactly like yesterday there was a church with some hillscan you see my legs through there? Here through the use of a narrative device, an interview, Baker engages the audiences attention through the use of first person linguistic process and direct speech.This then conveys the idea that memory is limited in represen ting history because it is influenced by individual experiences that will change their perspective of history. In addition the spontaneous responses add a personal sense to pass on emphasize the limitation of memory that it can fail at any time. History is shaped by collective memory, providing a common representation of an event, nature or situation. As a result the representation of history is less reliable because it does not account for the views and perspectives of those that are a minority or have been forgotten.Baker uses a wide range of textual features to communicate to the audience how documented evidence paints a picture of the past. The use of archival documents, letters, school reports, council reports and Yiddish and German lullabies engage the reader but also adds a sense of authencity and historical presence. However through Bakers self-journey in the book, the audience is able to realise that documented evidence cannot account for all stories, this is especially s een with Genias story of the holocaust. This is explored in the line does history remember more than memory?I only recognise suffering in numbers and lists and not in the laments and pleas of a human being, of a mother, screaming for acknowledgment The use of a rhetorical dubiousness builds suspense as the audience realises that the persona has come to a stage of realisation where Baker has understood that memory is just as important as the documented evidence that validates it. Documented evidence is able to validate as well as illuminate memory, while memory adds self-emotions and reflections to fill the gaps of documented evidence.In collaboration they create a more reliable and unfeigned history. Baker uses archival documents, school reports, lullabies, council reports and letters to illuminate hidden fragments of his parents memory. This is shown in the line I thrust his report card under his eyes and command him to read. He obeys, like an intimidated school childHe smothers an driven laugh, hiding the thoughts that lie behind it. Baker through the use of a simile compares his father to a child.This conveys the idea that the documented evidence has allowed Yossl to step digest into his youth and bring forward the significant memories of his past. In addition the use of emotive and descriptive language through Laughing and intimidated creates a warm and personal atmosphere to emphasises the idea to the audience of how memory can add emotions to documented evidence, and thus together to create a more reliable and truthful history. Together both documented evidence and memory allow for an exchange of pasts to create a more reliable, valid and truthful history.Through this Baker has shown the interplay of history and memory. Baker has shown that the importance of the interplay of history and memory is to create a reliable history allowing one to explore the recreation of the past to buzz off sense of who they are, where they are and the journey they hav e gone through. In The fiftieth gate the journey into the past of his parents has allowed Baker to undergo a self-journey of learning. At first Baker notice the past of his parents with an historian point of view, seeking documented evidence to validate and make true his parents memory.However the experiences with the past of his mother, made Baker realise the importance of memory in the representation of history. This is shown in the collocation of the line His was a past written on a page of history shared by other survivors. My mother could not point to anyone with the line What are these papers anyway except echoes of the past, dark shadows without screams, without smells, without fear. The juxtaposition of the lines shows the change in attitude of Baker as he realises the importance of memory in the representation of history.The use of emotive language such as dark shadows creates a dark atmosphere to emphasise the anger and torment he feels because of his ignorance to listen to his Mothers story of the holocaust. Baker has used a circular coordinate to convey the idea that the journey into history and memory is a circular one. This is demonstrated in The fiftieth gate through the repetition of the line It constantly begins in blackness, until the first light illuminates the hidden fragment of memory at the beginning and end of the book.This conveys the idea that the journey will allow for greater cortical potential and understanding of your past and yourself. This will further inspire a self-journey of change and understanding. This has been shown through the changing attitude of Baker himself in the novel. This is demonstrated through the juxtaposition of the lines His was a past written on a page of history shared by other survivors. My mother could not point to anyone with the line What are these papers anyway except echoes of the past, dark shadows without screams, without smells, without fear.This conveys that at first observed the past of his p arents with an historian point of view, seeking documented evidence to validate and make true his parents memory. However the experiences with the past of his mother, made Baker realise the importance of memory in the representation of history. The use of emotive language such as dark shadows creates a dark atmosphere to emphasise the anger and torment he feels because of his ignorance to listen to his Mothers story of the holocaust.