In "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel, the theme of memory plays a crucial role in how characters navigate a post-apocalyptic world. The quote "the more you remember, the more you've lost" reflects the profound tension between nostalgia and survival. As survivors grapple with their past lives before the collapse of civilization, their memories serve as both a comfort and a source of pain, highlighting what has been irrevocably taken from them.
This stark realization shapes their identities and relationships in this new reality. The act of remembering becomes a bittersweet reminder of lost comforts, loved ones, and a world that can never return. In this way, the novel explores the fragility of human connection and the enduring impact of memory on the psyche, illustrating how the remnants of the past influence the journey toward rebuilding and hope in a devastated landscape.