THE NARRATIVE FUNCTION OF MEMORY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TIME IN THE WORKS OF KAZUO ISHIGURO

Abstract

Abstract. Memory and psychological time play a central role in Kazuo Ishiguro’s fiction. Rather than presenting the past as a fixed and objective reality, Ishiguro shows how characters reconstruct their past through personal memories, emotions, omissions, and changing interpretations. As a result, the boundary between past and present becomes psychologically unstable. This thesis examines the narrative function of memory and psychological time in Ishiguro’s fiction, with particular attention to ‘The Remains of the Day’, ‘A Pale View of Hills’, and ‘Never Let Me Go’. The analysis shows that memory is not simply a way of recalling past events. It is a narrative mechanism through which characters construct their identities, justify their decisions, and gradually confront suppressed emotions. Psychological time also allows Ishiguro to connect different stages of a character’s life and to reveal meanings that are not immediately available to the narrator. Thus, memory and psychological time contribute significantly to characterization, unreliable narration, emotional depth, and the reader’s interpretation of the past.