To answer questions about
Piranesi,
please sign up.
Shima
I don't read it so much as another personality, but more so as a question of how much of what makes us "us" is just the collection of our memories.
The way I read it was that once he was in the House, he lost all of his autobiographical memories, later he learned of them again, but they were no longer autobiographical to him. He was a new person because he'd been living in a new environment without any of his previous experiences and learnt characteristics, so he'd formed entirely new memories and learnings and became another person.
In essence, I think Matthew died when all of his memories were gone, and another person took his place. But that's because I'm equating Matthew with his "mind", whereas his brain and genetic material remained living. It really comes down to what you believe makes a person themself.
The way I read it was that once he was in the House, he lost all of his autobiographical memories, later he learned of them again, but they were no longer autobiographical to him. He was a new person because he'd been living in a new environment without any of his previous experiences and learnt characteristics, so he'd formed entirely new memories and learnings and became another person.
In essence, I think Matthew died when all of his memories were gone, and another person took his place. But that's because I'm equating Matthew with his "mind", whereas his brain and genetic material remained living. It really comes down to what you believe makes a person themself.
Ellen
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more
Oct 27, 2021 06:47PM · flag