Week 16 Analysis: Close Reading of “The Rememberer”

"Even before I saw the eyes notice how she says "the eyes" and not "his eyes", I knew it was him but she continues and says she knew it was "him" the speaker is creating a separation of the ape or and the person she knows to be her lover . And once we were face to face, he gave me his same sad look and I hugged those enormous shoulders I found it interesting that although she referred to "the eyes" as if they did not represent her lover, but in this sentence, she states she recognized him through the look on the ape's face, "same sad face" . I didn't even really care, then, not at first; I didn't panic and call 911. I think the speaker is intrigued at this point. She is in a place where she doesn't quite believe it is real.  I sat with him outside and smoothed the fur on the back of his hand. Instead of freaking out, she is comforting him. When he reached for me, I said No, loudly, and he seemed to understand and pulled back. I have limits here I don't think reality hit until he reached out to touch her. This is where she drew the line, she wanted to have control. " (Bender 4).

"I review my memories and make sure they're still intact because if he's not here, then it is my job to remember" (Bender 4). I really liked this quote. It is a quote relevant to when you lose a loved one. When we lose someone we love, no new memories of that person can be made. It then becomes our job, as survivors, to keep that person alive through sharing their memories and therefore, it is our job to remember. While her lover did not die in death, he was no longer human and no longer a person the speaker could share her life with. 

Bender, Aimee. The Rememberer.