It's no surprise that memory and the past are a big deal in a book that's largely told through flashbacks. Without Gabriel's memory, the book would pretty much consist of him lying in a hospital bed, sick—Surrender definitely wouldn't be much of a page turner, then. The only problem with relying on Gabriel memory? We're not sure whether we can trust it. Memory is a fickle business, even for the most honest of us, so mix in Gabriel's deceitfulness and manipulation, and we've got a recipe for disaster.
One of the most mysterious aspects of the novel is figuring out which parts of Gabriel's twisted, intertwined memories are real, and which are just in his head. Yeah, he's one unreliable narrator.
Questions About Memory and the Past
- Gabriel tells us that he's been "remembering" all day. Why do you think he phrases it like that? Is his memory something that comes naturally to him, or something that has to be forced?
- Is Gabriel driven by a memory of the past, or is he all about the future? Why are his memories so important to him?
- Do we believe Gabriel's memories? Can we trust that he is telling us the truth about what happened? How do you think the story would differ if it were told from someone else's perspective?
- If Gabriel truly doesn't care about the past or his life, why does he spend so much time replaying it in his mind? Is he merely sharing his story, or trying to prove something?
Chew on This
Gabriel is unable to live in the present and confront what he's done, so he constantly lives in his memories of the past.
Even though Gabriel claims not to care about his life, he cares about preserving his memories because they're all he has left.