Soldiers’ Pay · Question
How does Soldiers’ Pay develop the theme of Memory and Forgetting?
Answer
Soldiers’ Pay by William Faulkner develops Memory and Forgetting across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Donald's amnesia symbolizes a broader struggle to reconcile past and present; other characters are haunted by memories of the dead or try to forget, while the town selectively remembers the war to suit its own narratives.
The imagery of 'tideless golden seas' and the hush surrounding the homecoming suggest a suspension in time, where memory and forgetting intertwine.
Emmy's detailed recollection of her past with Donald contrasts with Donald's current inability to recognize her.
Emmy remembers Donald's head against the sky long ago, but he no longer remembers her.
Evidence in the book
- Soldier
The imagery of 'tideless golden seas' and the hush surrounding the homecoming suggest a suspension in time, where memory and forgetting intertwine.
- Chapter VIII
Emmy's detailed recollection of her past with Donald contrasts with Donald's current inability to recognize her.
- VI
Emmy remembers Donald's head against the sky long ago, but he no longer remembers her.
- IV
Donald's detachment and repetition of 'Carry on, Joe' contrast with Mrs. Burney and Margaret's vivid memories.
- IV
Cecily's wakeful night suggests a struggle with memory or anticipation, as she observes the relentless passage of time.
- II
The writer clings to the memory of a kiss and the feeling of connection, using it to sustain hope across the distance.
- II
The passage of time causes local gossip to fade, and Donald Mahon forgets even the dogwood, highlighting how memory erodes and the past is left behind.
- Chapter III
The quiet garden walk and the mockingbird's song evoke a sense of moving forward while still carrying the past.
