My question is what effect do our memories have on the people we become/ or the people we aspire to become? Self-analysis is constant, and now more than ever since we graduate at the end of the year, we are finding ourselves and realizing that we need to decide who we want to be. The future is almost in full focus right now as we decide what we want to do after high school, and our memories are part of who we are so at times we want to mimic what we once had in those memories. This question also interests me as I begin to think of my senior essay because I could not explain myself without explaining the places I have been or what I have been through. Two years ago my best friends dad passed away, and I would not be the same person I am now if I hadn't faced that adversity. I want to see how memories like this effect other people too, and I think that if you can see where a person has been you have a better glimpse into why they are the person that they are.
Oedipus exemplifies this dwelling on memories through his avoidance of the truth. His memories of his life include his father as Polybos, not Laios. This is why he doesn't believe the prophecy has come true, because his memory serves that this is not his family. He also has such a respect for his adopted parents that he would never purposefully do that to his family.
My independent study novel The Poisonwood Bible is a perfect example of an answer to my question because it shows the effect Africa and the loss of a family member has on the whole family. They each become totally different people and two even end up living very opposite lifestyles within Africa. No character can spend a day without a memory of what has occurred or what is to happen next.
