The Role of Family and Memory in The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (2018)
The Role of Family and Memory in The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (2018)
Expanding the Roles:
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin follows four siblings who learn the dates of their deaths from a fortune teller, and the novel explores how this knowledge impacts their lives. The story centers on themes of fate, mortality, family relationships, and the power of memory. Literature students can explore how the novel examines the tension between fate and free will and the ways in which family dynamics shape individual destinies.
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Family Bonds and Their Influence on Personal Choices:
The relationships between the siblings are central to the novel, with each character navigating the impact of their death dates in unique ways. Literature students can analyze how Benjamin portrays family dynamics, both supportive and strained, and how these relationships influence the characters’ choices throughout their lives. -
Memory and the Weight of Knowing the Future:
The knowledge of their impending deaths creates a profound psychological impact on the characters. Students can explore how Benjamin uses the theme of memory and foreknowledge to discuss the nature of life’s unpredictability and the ways individuals respond to their own mortality.
What We Learn:
The Immortalists teaches literature students about the role of family in shaping individual identity and the importance of memory in understanding one’s place in the world. The novel’s exploration of fate and mortality provides rich material for discussions on the psychological effects of knowing the future and the complex interactions within family units.
