Solipsism

In Memento, Natalie asks Leonard if revenge is what he really wants, and if his revenge will continue to matter even if he can't remember it. Leonard responds by saying something along the lines of, "Of course it will matter. The world doesn't just disappear when you close your eyes." This reminded me of a poem I read ("Soliloquy of the Solipsist", in case you want to check it out) in which the narrator does believe that the world disappears when she closes her eyes. A depressing outlook, I know, but I can't help but think that to a less extreme extent, it might be an accurate reflection of Leonard's reality. Periodically, the world as he knows it erases itself and restarts. Obviously, the rest of the planet goes on around him, but that's not exactly relevant to the smaller, contained construction of his personal reality. We could relate this back to Timothy Treadwell or the citizens of San Lorenzo. They perceive the world in a way very different than most people would say it "actually is." In that sense, everything exists only in their heads, and their version of reality will disappear when they close their eyes.

And after all, revenge is for the living. It won't bring Leonard's wife back. It would bring a sense of justice for most, but I can't see that happening for poor Lenny. He will never have the concrete knowledge that he actually carried out his mission, just the vague notion based on some tattoo or scribble on a photograph. That can't be substantial enough to bring any consolation, really, or any sense that his damaged life has been worthwhile. I know I can't speak for a fictional character, but it seems to me that now that his revenge has been carried out, it'll be far more difficult to find any meaning in a life without new memories. While it might make him feel better to reject the solipsist view now, I think he'll regret it in the long run.