It is clear that the power of memory influences the behavior and identity of a character. In the novel Station Eleven, survivors in the post-apocalyptic world rely on their memory from the fallen world as a source of comfort and hope. Kirsten for an example, strives to collect gossip magazines when raiding abandoned houses to refresh the image of the world alive in her head. Due to that, the importance of gossip magazines prompted her forward to find more magazines when breaking into another house. In modern movies, it is shown that memory can heavily impact the character just like Kirsten in Station Eleven.
In the 2019 Marvel Film, Avengers: Endgame, half of the population of the world was wiped out due to Thanos’s snap including Peter Parker (Spiderman). When Steve Rogers (Captain America) and a few members of the Avengers seek Tony Stark (Iron Man) for help regarding the possibility to travel back in time and bring everyone back with the Quantum Realm, Tony refused to help. Later that evening, Tony relented when finding a picture of himself and Peter. The picture gave him a flashback prior before the snap. He remembered that he was a fatherly figure for him but failed to protect him against Thanos. Just like Kirsten’s memory with her gossip magazines in Station Eleven, the picture motivated Tony to rejoin the Avengers to bring everyone back including Peter Parker.
In Guardians of the Galaxy, Peter Quill’s Walkman was significant to him because it was the only thing left of his mother. In a scene when he and members of the Guardians escaped from prison, he did not leave until he got his Walkman back. That is how much the Walkman means to him because it was a symbol of his mother. In Station Eleven, Kirsten values her Station Eleven comics as it was a memory of her childhood with Arthur Leander. Just like Peter Quill’s Walkman, the Station Eleven comic was one of the only thing left of her connection with Arthur Leander. Between both characters, they value a significance object as a memory of someone important.
Overall, memory in both Station Eleven and modern movies are treasures for a character. Memories can motivate a character forward such as Tony Stark or can develop meaning in a character’s life such as Peter Quill. Either way, memory help shape a character.
Importance of Memory 