Whose reality

Ability to recount a truthful story is influenced by the dislocation of time and the realities experienced at different stages of an individual’s life. Reality is never constant- it is always changing and this is especially true when comparing childhood realities to those perceived in adulthood often change has the ability to shift one’s perception of reality. After becoming used to this change, the individual’s initial perception s distorted due to the separation in time. The manner in which the dislocation of time can shift the perception of realities is evident when Robert describes Melbourne just as he eaves for Perth. ‘Ordered Melbourne world of frost lawns and trimmed hedges, of grandparents and shoes and socks and winter overcoats.’ However, after some period of time Robert’s view on Melbourne changes- ‘We’d be dragged away from our friends, torn out of Western Australia and sent to austere new schools, to live among pale , citified Easterners with no appreciation of the casual coastal life.’ It is clearly evident that over time an individual’s perception is distorted once they become subjected to and accustomed to a new reality and in this way, it is impossible to recount a truthful story.

The past of an individual and the memories experienced during their past plays a significant role in the recounting of the story. Often, past events, feelings or thoughts are filtered in the present reality due to the selective memory of an individual. The perceptions of reality when considering memories can become overshadowed by what people most cling to. In the memoir, ‘The Shark Net’, Robert constantly bears the guilt of his mother’s death and of course it is evident that due to the guilt he carries, there is a shift in his perspective of reality as her writes the memoir as an adult looking in hindsight of the event. ‘Weren’t death, murder and birth enough? Now I had to deal with guilt as well. The Robert looking at hindsight of the death of his mother is very guilt-ridden this can be due to the memories he is faced with; whether they are a reconstruction or the ‘reality’ of the event. Of course Robert Drewe has selected thee memories of his childhood that could have been an exaggeration or simply a subjective perception of what happened to him later in his life.

Though we may experience the same event, there are many perceptions of that reality and the recounting of that story will never cease to differ between every individual. Every single individual is brought up differently – different environments, views, moral values and of course different memories. The perceptions created by one’s experience may be a complete reconstruction or can be influenced by the passing of time where reality is a shifting concept. It is always changing course and is never constant. Selective memory comes into play when someone feels it necessary to shield their past or present perceptions from the judging eye of the external world. Hence a ‘truthful’ story- whatever that may be is simply a figment of our imagination.