“We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” and “Total Recall”

I honestly am completely torn between whether implanting or altering one’s memories would be a good idea or a terrible one. Overall I think the technology to change someone’s memories would be dangerous, especially if it was done without a person’s consent or knowledge. In the story and book Doug’s memory is erased and replaced by the government agency he was working for, and basically everyone around him was fully aware, watching his every move just waiting for him to make a mistake and take him out. It’s absolutely terrifying to imagine myself in that same situation, but I wouldn’t even know, I would be living a lie. It honestly makes me question my life now, as I know it. I wouldn’t feel 100% safe if that technology existed and was readily available. It’s basically brain washing. On the other hand, I think the Recall Company had good intentions; they were simply sales men selling a dream, trying to make a profit. Realistically we all have dreams and ambitions that may never happen, as badly as we wish it should. So why not get a false memory? But, going back to the cons of altering and inserting memories is memories make us who we are. If given the choice to adjust a memory or change the past most would choose to rewrite a bad incident but we learn from our past and more often than not our worst memories have lead to better life lessons in the end. You will still be who you truly are even if you constantly modify what you want to remember because just like in the story the truth will eventually surface.

As for the connection between “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” and “Total Recall” I think the adaption into the movie was done very well. I know it’s almost impossible not to decide which one is better but I feel like an open mind is very important so the reader/viewer can grasp the fact that they are two different pieces. The original storyline and plot remained throughout the whole movie but since Dick’s story was so short it made it difficult to follow exactly while making a whole 113 minutes worth of footage. Dick’s story left me with a lot of unanswered questions like how did Douglas hear about Recall? Was his wife involved? Has she too been a victim of the government? I was left wondering even when I finished the story but I think that was Dick’s intention, to make the reader think, leave us daydreaming about the effects of such a program that could be in the future. These opportunities for thought were perfect for the blockbuster film, they made their own interpretations and added their own details, showing you that his wife wasn’t even his wife; his friends weren’t even his friends. Everyone was just waiting for him to crack. Arnold being cast, as Doug seemed fitting to me, for the type of film they created, he had the physical physic id imagine a trained assassin to have and had a calmer demeanor when needed. His wife was completely different than she was portrayed in the books; she seemed loving, doting, and happy. That makes me think maybe Kristin didn’t know about Doug’s adventurous past because she didn’t care to keep an watchful eye on him, she seemed more annoyed with his talk then concerned where as his wife in the movie was probing him for questions and playing the roll of a caring wife. All in all I enjoyed both the story because it gave you the chance to explore other options, where you can make your own assumptions and connections throughout the story and then the adaption into the “Total Recall” movie played out one of possible scenarios you could’ve possibly imagined.   

“Sorry, Quaid. Your whole life is just a dream.” -Lori