Solaris Memory and the Past Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph) Note that chapters aren't numbered, so need to be numbered manually, 1 to 14.

Quote #4

"I have the feeling that I've forgotten something," she went on, "that I've forgotten a lot of things. I can only remember you. I… I can't remember anything else." (5.68)

Kelvin's memory of Rheya's memory is not what it should be: She only remembers him. And since he thought her up, you could see this as meaning he only wants her to remember him. Welcome to the Kelvin show.

Quote #5

"No," she said at last, "be quiet, don't talk like that. It's no good, you're not the same person any more." I started to protest, but she went on: "No, you don't want me." (8.13)

You could understand this as Rheya recognizing that something really weird is going on (like she's some sort of phantom projection made of neutrinos, for example), but you could also see it as Kelvin running through fairly standard-issue relationship-falling-apart conversations from his past. It seems possible that Kelvin and Rheya have had this exact dreary discussion before. They're doomed to repeat their breakup over and over inside Kelvin's head.

Quote #6

"It… it didn't work," she stammered. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Then she screamed out loud: "Why are you looking at me like that?" (9.123)

This is what Rheya says after she drinks liquid oxygen and then regenerates. She keeps trying to get rid of herself and keeps coming back, like a memory you can't forget.