Whispers of Time: Memory's Journey in Elif Shafak's 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World

Abstract

This paper investigates the theme of memory in Elif Shafak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, which narrates the final moments of Tequila Leila, a woman whose brain is still active during her last moments of life. Memory serves as both a narrative device and a link between the personal and the collective, stitching together strands of Leila’s identity and her relationships. The fragmented structure of the novel evokes the human mind's non-linear process of recalling events, underscoring the complexity and selectivity of memory. By analyzing the construction of memory in the novel — its mutable nature and its function of preserving personal history — the study demonstrates how Shafak uses memory to serve as a repository for resilience, legacy and connection. The paper explores the relationship between sensory stimuli and memory, demonstrating how taste, smell, and touch inspire vivid memories that transcend time and space. It also examines the communal aspect of memory, specifically how Leila and her surrogate family’s shared experience breeds their solidarity and collective identity in light of their societal rejection. Shafak dualities memory — both an anchor to the past, a possession to be held tightly from a source of strength, framing that duality as the center of the transformative power memory has in »outlining adversity. Drawing on close reading of the novel, this research explores the complicated relationship between memory and the passage of time, the symbolic meaning of sensory signals, and the collective nature of memory in friendships. Shafak’s work positions memory as a powerful force in the construction of selfhood while also revealing its fragility in the face of mortality. This research contributes to contemporary literary discussions on memory's transformative power, offering insights into its representation in literature and its broader implications for understanding identity, resilience, and human connection.