In addition
to all of the above, life is, among
other things, a narrative. Every time we tell others about
our past
experiences, dreams, purposes, or mindset, we are telling a story, since we do
not
reproduce dialogue or thought directly, but use reported speech and
cohesive devices to connect
the parts.
One interesting
thing that happens in the case of past experiences
is that two or more people
who have lived the same event and then retell it will probably render
it in a
different way. This is due to two main reasons. One is that parts of the event failed
to
get stored in long-term memory, and the narrator unconsciously bridges the
gaps with fictional
material that makes sense within the parameters of the
story. The other is that those who shared
the experience focused on certain
details and overlooked others, so their memory, even if
truthful, is
dissimilar.
Why do we tell these particular stories? Because
we
may be seeking confirmation, approval, sympathy, and/or opinion. For
human beings, the only
species endowed with language, the need to share
-i.e., to tell- seems
compelling.
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