Trauma, Memory and History in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Fiction

Abstract

Though Kazuo Ishiguro is not labelled as a writer of historical fiction, most of his writings until now are set against the backdrop of World War II, particularly the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, the postwar decline of British empire, and Japan’s invasion to China. These historical scenarios provide Ishiguro with a context to explore the emotional and psychological trauma the war has inflicted on the protagonists, thus reminding the contemporary reader of the significance of remembering the past. His fiction also presents a picture of how individuals cope with their personal loss and how they go through the painful process from self-deception, to self-denial and last to self-redemption. And Ishiguro always ends his fiction with a hopeful note, giving the reader a sense of optimism toward the life ahead.