“For what good’s a memory’s returning from the mist if it’s only to push away another?” Memory and Guilt in Joseph Delaney’s Wardstone Chronicles (2004–2014) and Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant (2015)

The idea of forgetting one’s previous life in order to start anew has been present in literature and mythology for a long time – the Greek river Lethe or Chinese Meng Po Soup drunk before reincarnation are just one of few examples. Fantasy as a speculative genre is a perfect vehicle to discuss different topics, it also introduces many means of wiping one’s memory – magic concoctions, spells; and consequently invites a discussion of repercussions of such an act. Both Joseph Delaney, the author of The Wardstone Chronicles and Kazuo Ishiguro, the author of The Buried Giant use forced forgetfulness as factor in a romantic relationship – Delaney’s Spook keeps his lover Meg under the influence of a memory-wiping tea to make her forget her identity, while Axl and Beatrice in Ishiguro’s work are both influenced by a magic mist that takes the hurtful memories away. Both couples have to face both their memories and their guilt associated with said memories; they have to decide whether forgiveness and communication are still possible. According to J.R.R Tolkien in On Fairy Stories (1937) fantasy has three main functions – Recovery, Escape and Consolation. The last aspect is based on invoking the belief that a happy ending is possible and achievable. However, both works discussed stray from Tolkien’s ideals. Despite the reader’s anticipation of Consolation, neither provides a happy ending – Ishiguro’s offers an ambiguous ending, allowing the reader to decide whether forgiveness is possible, while Delaney claims that reconciliation is out of reach, despite the love shared. This marks both the change in fantasy in twenty-first century, as well as interesting commentary on love – it cannot exist without both parties aware of their identity and without working through their respective past.