The Pianist Text Analysis

The idea that the purpose of a text, or representational medium, enables a deeper understanding rather than an ultimate truth is highly reflected in Mark Baker’s 1997 biographical novel The Fiftieth Gate and Roman Polanski’s 2002 autobiography-adapted film The Pianist. Both texts explore how the objective of history and memory focuses on the interaction between these two notions and their limitations rather than the ultimate truth. The deeper understanding gained of these two texts have shown that history is objective but lacks the personal, and memory is subjective and fragmented but complements history in developing the spiritual and psychological effects on the witnesses. Baker attempts to recount and validate his parent’s stories and expand on the memory of the Holocaust of WWII. Similarly, …show more content…
The rejection of the linear narrative of traditional history enabled Baker to explore the relationships between history and memory by incorporating elements of the Midrash (part of the Jewish oral tradition), Talmud and a variety of forms and styles to acknowledge the multitude of perspectives that make up the memories of the past. In addition, Baker demonstrates the fragility of memory through Genia - his mother’s - account. The Polish family which sheltered Genia during the war ‘do not remember the blackness’, however, Genia remembers a ‘little girl hiding in a dark cellar’. The repetition of the image of darkness indicates the void of memory and secrecy which is the gap of the unknown. The family’s memory of Genia looking out of the window differs from Genia’s perception, and it also reflects her mindset of the traumatic past, this contrast furthers the understanding of memory being fragmented and the psychological effect on victims who over time have forgotten these