Question 5: Time (After Time)

[Ashley]

Murray uses the following quote from Albert Einstein as a chapter opener: “People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion” (p. 220). How is the theme of TIME portrayed in the novel, particularly (if you’re game) as it relates to physics?

[Lauren]

Professor Ashley, are we allowed to include the portrayal of history in our answer? Because I'm not sure you can answer one without the other ...

[Ashley]

You're allowed to do anything you want. In fact, that's pretty much what I was angling for with that question.

[Carol]

Not smart enough and not too proud to admit that I'm not smart enough to answer this.

[Julie]

I need my girl EMILY to help me with this one! Remember in AP Physics when T-Rob did that relativity lesson with the tennis ball? And "time" was different whether he looked at us straight on or walked in a line?

It reminds me of the idea of time in Slaughterhouse Five- every moment in time is always happening simultaneously, and some people can move back and forth throughout moments in their lives because those moments are always happening.

Perhaps it is similar with Skippy- these moments, these indecencies and coverups are always happening, no matter what point in time you are in. So the idea that time is concrete and continuous is an illusion because past, present, and future are all intertwined and interchangeable.

[Ashley]

Oh, Jewels, I love your response. And the WWI stuff and even Howard's own history reflect this idea of time as interchangeable, right? Because it's all going on now. But also then. And in the future.

[Meghan]

Julie.Bravo ! your description of time and its interchangeability was eloquent and spot on.