This week, I read Georges Perec, W, or the Memory of Childhood a story about two characters, alternating between chapters. I found this style of narrative interesting because we can better compare the two. I expected the book to be confusing with two narratives, but Perec did a great job of making it clear and easy to read. While reading the second narrative of Gaspard Winkler, I sensed that some of the conditions being told had an underlying meaning that related to the first narrative of Perec. It was clear both the characters are going through their separate journeys but share a lot in common by witnessing similar conditions.
It was sad to read about the narrator trying so hard to remember his childhood memories. I felt a strong sense of displacement that the narrator was feeling from the impacts of the war. With the narrator being born in 1936, he spent many of his developmental years in the fear that being impacted by the second World War brings. Living in those circumstances and growing up in that environment has left him shattered as he tries to pick up the pieces and form memories from vague moments and photographs. This story could be one of many children at that time losing their parents, living in fear, and being too young to even understand why.
In the book, the narrator takes us to the island W where a similar competition like the Olympics takes place. This island W reflects the Nazi’s organized death camps. In the narrator’s interpretation of this island W, the competitors who win get awarded with food, the competitors who lose get nothing and starve, making them weaker. This creates a continuous cycle of the strong getting stronger and the weak getting weaker. It is a game of luck and misconduct that reflects the treatment of those suffering at the hands of the Nazi takeover.
I was unaware and found it shocking that the summer Olympics were hosted in Berlin in 1936, known as the Nazi Olympics. I was shocked when I searched it up and found out that such a huge event like the Olympics was held during these horrific times, especially in Germany. For this to occur, it showed such a lack of humanity and no recognition of the injustices.
My question for the class is: How do the two narratives compare regarding the two men witnessing and being a part of injustice in their environment?
Hi Diya, I like the research you did into some of the context here. Remember, the events of WW2 did not begin until 1939 (ending in 1945), so these olympics in Berlin preceded the death camps. What is interesting about these summer games, in my opinion, is that Berlin beat out Barcelona in the bid, and had Barcelona won, Spain would have been hosting these games at the start of their own war (1936-9), in Barcelona, no less... a city which has been the subject of a number of novels we have read (Nada, The Time of the Doves). How much this would have changed both history and literature here, one can only begin to imagine...
ReplyDeleteHi Diya, love that you were able to express what I felt too but couldn't put into words when I read the text: "It was sad to read about the narrator trying so hard to remember his childhood memories. I felt a strong sense of displacement ..."
ReplyDeleteOn the 1936 Olympics: absolutely! I was surprised to find that out too. My understanding is that the 1936 Olympics were an attempt by the Nazis to build a positive image of Germany and gain a bit of soft power. Quite interesting how history shapes.
Hi Diya! Interesting post. I like that you did your own research, following your reading of the novel. I also appreciate your statement, "This story could be one of many children at that time losing their parents, living in fear, and being too young to even understand why". There is heartbreaking truth to that. In response to your question, I found the overview of W wasn't coming from a specific character's mind; it was more so like something you'd read from a textbook with all the general facts. The alternating narratives didn't come together for me until the the larger allegory revealed itself, around page 140 onward.
ReplyDeleteHi Diya, I enjoyed reading your post this week. I was also unaware that the Olympic games were hosted by Berlin in 1936. It's interesting to wonder what significance this holds for this reading.
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