THE ROLE OF MEMORY IN THE BURIED GIANT

Abstract

Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant (2015) explores memory as both a personal and collective force that shapes identity, morality, and history. Set in a post-Arthurian Britain afflicted by a mysterious mist that causes widespread amnesia, the novel interrogates whether remembering the past—particularly violent and traumatic events—is necessary for justice and authentic relationships, or whether forgetting can serve as a form of mercy and social stability. This paper argues that Ishiguro presents memory as an ethically ambiguous phenomenon: while memory is essential for personal identity and moral accountability, it also threatens peace by reviving hatred and vengeance. Through the experiences of Axl and Beatrice, the symbolism of the mist and the dragon Querig, and the broader political implications of collective forgetting, The Buried Giant challenges readers to reconsider the value of memory in both private life and national history.