Analysis of Memento
Leonard Shelby, the main character of the movie and former insurance claims investigator, began to suffer from anterograde amnesia after an injury to his brain while he was attempting to stop two intruders from raping and killing his wife in the bathroom in their home. He shoots and kills one of the murderers. He can remember memories before and during the incident, although he can not make new memories. His life mission thenceforth is to avenge his wife's brutal death by locating and killing the second perpetrator. He overcomes memory limitations by writing important details on his body with ink, writing notes on paper, and taking Polaroid pictures of people and locations. The movie begins with Leonard shooting Teddy in reverse order. Leonard stays at a local hotel, where the phone rings repeatedly. He picks up the phone and is greeted by someone who claims to be a cop, and who has a lead on John G. Leonard takes a picture and writes “Teddy” on it, following the undercover cops suggestion. Teddy drives Leonard to a warehouse and tells him that John G. will be arriving soon. The man who shows up is named John G., but it's not the person who raped and killed his wife. Leonard kills him nevertheless and takes his car and suit. A note in a suit-pocket reads “Meet me after.” Leonard meets a bartender named Natalie at the bar she works at. While staying at her house, Leonard discovers that she is helping him because she has lost someone also. The John G. that Leonard killed was her boyfriend, but of course he doesn't know this. Teddy tells Leonard to avoid Natalie at all costs because she is attempting to use him. After discovering her boyfriend is dead, she insults Leonard and his wife. She leaves, comes back crying because someone named Dodd beat her up. Leonard kidnaps Dodd and beats him up. Leonard meets Natalie at a diner.