Response 2

"Think/Classify"

Questions

1. What is meant by the statement"small forgettings make big rememberings"?
2. If the order of the letters in the alphabet is completetly arbitrary or neutral, why is the letter A considered superior to the letter B in several aspects (grades, class designations, etc.)?
3. Is is possible to completely organize and classify objects or are these ideas unattainable due to the continual additon, subtraction and evolution of the things to be organized and classified?

Response - Question 1

Perec presents several aphorisms pertaining to remembrance and forgetfulness in his essay “Think/Classify”. One that I find to be both interesting and true is the suggestion that “small forgettings make big rememberings”. This statement applies to many different aspects of life. For example, if one forgets the date of a special occasion such as a loved one’s birthday or an anniversary, he may consider it a “small forgetting”. However, the loved one whose birthday or anniversary was forgotten will most certainly remind him of his mistake in several ways and on many occasions. This reaction will produce “big rememberings” of that occasion in the future by the individual who once forgot.

Additionally, if one forgets to remove his car keys from inside his car before locking it (a “small forgetting”), he may face rather unpleasant consequences including paying a locksmith or damaging his vehicle. These unpleasant consequences will most likely remind him to remove his keys from the car before locking it in the future.

One’s small forgettings may not only provide unpleasant consequences for one’s self, but also for those slighted by his forgetfulness. One’s small forgettings can cause pain and hurt among those he cares about. Unintentionally inflicting pain upon those one loves based upon one’s forgettings serves as a large deterrent from making that mistake again.

This “small forgettings” aphorism relates to a basic principle that many parents and teachers employ in raising or educating children: one must often learn from one’s own mistakes. It often takes small forgettings or wrongdoings on one’s part to realize the magnitude of such a mistake. One often can not realize the importance of completing or remembering to complete certain actions until those actions have been overlooked or forgotten. Once these actions are forgotten, however, the impacts of their absences become more clear.

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