History and Memory

History is not an indisputable collection of absolutethis, it is not always a positive feeling. In The
truths. History can be seen as the documentationFiftieth Gate we see that the traumatic nature of
of the past, however there will always bean event such as the Holocaust has a lasting
contrasting perspectives and interpretations ofeffect on its surviving victims. Baker employs
any one event. In order to truly understand thesensory imagery in his memoir in order to reveal
past, we must fuse our knowledge ofmemories to be reality, as opposed to the often
documented evidence with the personalmeaningless impression given by history, and to
experiences and memories that fill the gaps leftshow the eternal power of memories of personal
by history. These concepts are effectivelyexperiences; "Can you hear, or do the screams
portrayed in Mark Bakers work The Fiftieth Gate,from the mass grave drown out the sounds and
an exploration of the ability of history to validatemelodies of Wierzbnik in its innocence?" (pg 59).
memory and the power of traumatic experiencesThe negative connotations of this extract are
in shaping a person's life. Memory and Witness,repeated later in the text "Jews do not
Jerry Fowlers interview with Nobel Peaceremember with mirrors but cover them with a
Laureate Elie Wiesel not only deals with the rolecloth during the first seven days after death; as if
of remembrance in history, but questions itswhat we see in our reflection is what we are." (pg
reliability.114). This is a prime example of collective
History and memory have an innate and complexmemory, and the integration of the past into the
bond; one cannot exist without the other. Memorylifestyle of the present. Baker uses metaphoric
forms the basis of history, whereas history canlanguage here to present the readers with an
be used to clarify the fragmented and oftenunderlying theme in The Fiftieth Gate; that looking
selective aspects of memory. In this way,into oneself is to look into the past.
throughout The Fiftieth Gate Baker delves into hisThe Fiftieth Gate and the interview Memory and
parent's past and uses his historical resources toWitness can be seen to share a similar theme;
confirm their experiences. As the textthe function of memory in history. A further
progresses, we are shown that both conceptsparallel to Baker's autobiographical study is the
have their flaws. Through the juxtaposition of hisrealisation of the importance memory to be its
father's shared experience with his mother'scapacity to humanize, or as Wiesel articulates,
miraculous lone survival "His was a past written on"...humanize history, humanize destiny, humanize
a page of history shared by other survivors. Myhumanity...we are responsible for it and to it". Once
mother could not point to anyone" (pg 136), weagain our interviewee uses repetition, in this case
are shown that Baker favours the exactness ofto associate history with destiny and humanity.
history over the indistinct and elusive nature ofThis has the effect of suggesting that history is
memory. Conversely, later in the chapter historyan integral part of the human experience.
is characterised as cold and colourless "What areFurthermore, through the discussion of
these papers anyway except echoes of the past,anti-Semitism, Fowler and Wiesel come to focus
dark shadows without screams, without smells,on the fake document called "The Protocols of
without fear" (pg 138). The use of accumulationthe Elders of Zion". In his reasoning of this
and repetition of "without" emphasises that one of"historical prop" to be false, Wiesel says that
the crucial faults of history is its lack of emotion."Some lies have a long life because there are
Although Memory and Witness is an entirelysome people who believe in it."  Here he uses the
different text type, it manages to be equallyliterary device of personification to characterise
successful in questioning the accuracy of memory."lies" as enduring only if we remember them as
Elie Wiesel asserts that it is our responsibility totruth. This is also an exploration of the power of
"bear witness", that is, to tell the truth. He utilizescollective memory, which is essentially what
rhetorical question and inclusive language whenhistory becomes.
asked why we need to remember the truth "IfThrough the examination of personal experience,
we are not bearers of truth, then what are we?"memory and documented evidence, it can be
This has the effect of connecting with theconcluded that each individual aspect is a
audience and empowering them to examine theirfundamental component in a complex relationship.
own authenticity in remembering. In addition toEach one has its own specific role, be it to
this, he concludes that it is inherent in the humanpersonalise history or to validate memory. These
psyche to "reduce the truth to comfort". This useissues can be successfully conveyed in the
of a negative tone of voice is vital in therepresentation of a historically significant event
representation of fictitious remembrance assuch as ‘The Holocaust'. Through the analysis
destructive.of language and stylistic devices in Mark Baker's
The preservation of the past through bothThe Fiftieth Gate and the interview between
personal recall of earlier experiences, and theJerry Fowler and Elie Wiesel Memory and Witness,
documentation of these experiences as evidence,the lasting impact of this traumatic incident is
is without doubt indispensable to humanity. Despiterevealed.