Did the lead character kill his wife in memento - Essay Example

Did the Lead Character Kill his Wife in Memento? Leonard who is the main character in the movie Momento did kill his wife. The fact that he pretends to have lost his memory happens to be a mere plot to escape from the reality (Basting, 2009. P. 43). My argument is supported by a number of points. First, the fact that he is very determined to find his wife’s attackers is a vague reason so as he can escape guilt. Despite his pretence of loss of mind, he continues to act like he has the zeal to find the people who are responsible for the death of her wife.

He tries to create an artificial memory to enable him achieve his objectives. This is through snap shots, notes, memos as well as tattoos (Botz-Bornstein, 2011. P.19). All these had information that could help him trace his wife’s killers. The efforts are meant to blind people in believing at some attackers killed his wife. In addition, it is a way of escaping guilt and reality on his side (Sobczak, 1998. P. 61).The second point that supports my argument is the fact that Leonard relies on information from Natalie and Teddy who are in a mission to ensure that Leonard murders people for their selfish gain.

This is evidenced by the plans of Teddy to have drug dealers as well as other people killed by Leonard (Basting, 2009, P. 72). Teddy wants all these people out of her way for his own reasons. It is surprising that Natalie arranges for teddy’s death because he was responsible for killing her boyfriend. This also was meant to be executed by Leonard (Botz-Bornstein, 2011, P. 31). According to Teddy and Natalie, they are controlling and directing Leonard. However, it is not in their knowledge that they are only managing the plans already set by Leonard.

In a keen study of all these twisted events, it is certain that Leonard killed his wife.The third point that supports my argument is the fact that memory is both physical and psychological. It enables us to hold down things that we are trying to escape. Leonard narrates to us a story of Jankins which helps us distinguish between physical and psychological aspects of memory (Basting, 2009, P. 101). Leonard places himself in the physical category while he places Jankins in the psychological category.

However, a closer look at this movie reveals that Leonard is in fact Jankins. The truth is that the final memory that Leonard has of his wife is that of injecting her with an overdose of insulin, hence, killing her. However, Leonard claims that the final memory of her wife is of the attack and rape by unknown people (Sobczak, 1998. P. 103).Finally, Leonard lives a lie both to himself as well as other people. He is a puppet of the true Leonard. He is a man who is detached from the real life and has an identity that he has created over a long period of time.

The notes and memos he directs to himself are about him. This creates a cover up for the real Leonard who is a victim of circumstances created by him. However, the real Leonard finally can be identified at the back the curtain (Botz-Bornstein, 2011. P. 12)Work citedBotz-Bornstein. Inception and Philosophy: Ideas to Die for. Chicago, IL [etc.: Open Court, 2011. Sobczak, A. J. Cyclopedia of Literary Characters. Pasadena, Calif: Salem Press, 1998. Basting, Anne D. Forget Memory: Creating Better Lives for People with Dementia.

Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009.