Forgiving and amnesia.

The article explores the relationship between memory, identity, and historical amnesia through the lens of two novels: Yaa Gyasi’s *Homegoing* and Naguib Mahfouz’s *Palace Walk*. It discusses how identity is rooted in memory, using the philosophical paradox of the Ship of Theseus to question whether a culture can retain its identity without its past. Gyasi employs elemental imagery of fire and water to illustrate the destructive nature of forgetting and the preserving power of memory, while Mahfouz focuses on the dynamics of authority and silence within familial relationships. Both authors emphasize that true forgiveness involves acknowledging the past without erasing it, highlighting the importance of cultural heritage in maintaining identity amidst historical erasure. [Extracted from the article]