The Structure and the Literary Devices in The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

Now that we have been introduced to the novel and its characters it is time to crack down on the structure of the novel and the literary devices that were used in order to develop the main ideas of the novel. Let’s take a look!

The author of the novel, Kim Edwards, uses a unique yet powerful structure in her novel that helps develop the relationships between the different characters. The novel itself is split up into different sections that are divided up by the date in which that chapter or section takes place, this allows for more concentration on specific details and events because the chapters are narrowed down to a specific year. Although breaking down the chapters by date was helpful, the fact that Edwards shifted between the life of David and Paul and the life of Caroline and Phoebe showed how much David’s decision to give Phoebe away really affected the lives of everyone around him. The negative effects of David’s decision are most heavily seen with the ones he is closest to, Norah because a work centered woman who is no longer the happy woman that she used to be and Paul is angry and guilty for all the events that are occurring around him. The structure of this novel not only develops the relationship of the characters but it helps develop the theme which will be talked about in a later blog post!

Now that we have touched on the structure of the novel I think it is important we talk about the motif in the novel which is photography. Photography is used as an outlet for the protagonist David Henry and it is used as an escape from the reality that he has created for himself. When David takes a picture he is freezing time, capturing the moment that is around him and showing it for what is truly is. Photography for his shows the beauty of everything around, however, it is used as an outlet because he uses it to try and cover up the moment that he gave away Phoebe. The moment that he gave away Phoebe is screenshotted in his mind, forever captured in picture form in his mind and is an image in a moment that he regrets and wishes he can take back. David uses photography in hopes that all the new beautiful moments that he captures will outweigh and cover up the moment where his life changed forever. I love the use of this motif, the symbolism and the reasoning behind it gives it more meaning and really develops who David is as a character.

Going along with the idea of capturing a moment and moments forever being imprinted in one’s mind, there are so flashbacks that are used throughout the novel as well. The main purpose of these flashbacks is to show the sadness, regret and in some ways guilty for everything that has taken place and how unfair it was too many people for Phoebe to be taken away from her real family. I think that the flashbacks are important because they provide more background and more emotion to the stories revolving around each of the characters.

Join me next time where I’ll talk about theme and how that theme relates to me and my life!