The Main Conflict In Memento

How often do you lie?

In the 2001 movie Memento directed by Christopher Nolan, the character Leonard Shelby is physically disabled as he cannot remember anything for longer than ten to fifteen minutes. This major detail helps establish the conflict in the film; Leonard is trying to seek revenge on the person who he believes raped and murdered his wife. However, he does so with the help of polaroid photos, tattoos, and notes to guide his decision making while the film’s non-linear scene sequencing and the distinctive narrative style helps to characterize the character even though he fails to characterize himself.

Initially, the film succeeds in begging the question: do we lie to ourselves just to make us happy? As human beings, we often times lie to ourselves in order to falsely benefit us. There are many reasons as to why we might find it acceptable

Some reasons can include “fear of loss, conflict, rejection, Self-preservation from negative feelings such as jealousy, anger, sadness, rage, fear, inadequacy, shame or guilt.”(Why do we lie to ourselves?) This idea that people lie to themselves to create some sort of false happiness can be seen as the main conflict in the movie. Otherwise known as the conflict between Lenny and himself. In Lenny’s mind, the conflict is non-existent but as the film starts to come to its climax the viewers start to understand that the majority of Leonard’s long term memory has been altered to give his life meaning. As he can’t make new memories, the only memories he has left are the ones of the past. He remembers things such as his wife, his old job and who he used to be. Leonard doesn’t know who he is, his wife is