do you think emma forgetting her memories affects her life onward deeply? like sometimes forgetting her own name? or copying the actions of others (norman & ray) because she doesn’t know how to act herself?
My interpretation of the last few pages of the epilogue is that it isn't a complete resolution to Emma's doubts, fears, grief, and guilt regarding her lost memories in the present, but a general trajectory of where she ultimately ends up.
Borrowing from this previous ask:
I think [the trio] all have good and bad days at first [after reuniting]. A balance of being grateful they defied the odds to have a chance of creating a future they can be proud of together at all, of Emma being alive and well and living happily with Alex, of being reacquainted with all the things big and small that made them fall in love with her and having the opportunity to love new ones. Of reconnecting with these two boys who for reasons her mind can't explain but her heart knows without a shadow of a doubt feel like home.
(Chapter 180)
Of perceived selfish grief over wishing Emma would regain her memories when a confused look is thrown their way after they reference something from their childhood (isn't it enough that she's there?). Of self-doubt that she'll ever be able to live up to the Emma everyone loved or relearn the language she sees the boys communicate without words, of seeing what she believes is a brief flicker of hope die in everyone's eyes when she reminds them of all the little ways she's not her (is it more cruel they found her instead of being able to believe their Emma lives on somewhere in distant lands?), of anger over having those memories just within her reach only for her dreams to deny her each time.
But as the days turn to months and the months turn to years, things get better. The sentiments Emma shares in chapter 180 hold true.
Only now today and tomorrow is by their sides.
(Chapter 181 Volume Edition | @salsae’s "(so what am I defending now?)")
There's a sense of loss that doesn't ever fully go away, especially if she catches the wisps of those memories in her dreams of the family she'll never see again (even if her mind can't remember Isabella's face her heart does), but it's not all-encompassing, all-consuming. She's committed to moving forward even if it's just for a chance at a brighter tomorrow.
Do you think Emma forgetting her memories affects her life onward deeply? like sometimes forgetting her own name?
I don't think she forgets the name Alex gave her nor the name the children reveal to her
(Official VIZ Translation of Ch181.4/the series' epilogue | Fan Translation)
But she does have some difficulty adjusting to Emma, mostly just from it being new but also some guilt over not sticking with the name Alex gave her, even though Alex reassures her from the start that it's fine, they both knew she had a name before they met. And there can be something special and intimate in him being the main person to use the name he gave her.
or copying the actions of others (Norman & Ray) because she doesn’t know how to act herself?
Love the specific mention of Norman and Ray here for reasons lol. She definitely copies the actions of others when she's feeling off-kilter though, and with the bond they share there's that comforting subconscious pull toward them. Her core personality remains the same, reflected in how she carries herself, so I see this occurring more between friends and family than outside the cattle children. Things like recognizing when someone in their group is having a bad mental health day and the care and reassurances they provide them from their choice in words of comfort to physical affection, or the minute gestures Norman and Ray offer each other, the gentle grasping at each other's wrists to rub soothing circles over pulse points and knowing how to craft the other's preferred beverages as it's offered and taken without a need for exchanging words.
It's a bit of a mixed bag because while some actions are virtually identical between all three of them, there are others that Emma had her own spin on. Norman and Ray would never even think to disparage her when she does this, but she's still able to tell she made a deviation from expectations, and on a bad day her focus will be on that rather than on how she was able to decipher their reactions to know she deviated to begin with or how the boys remain at her side.
AND HER MEMORY IS WHAT MAKES MOST SENSE ACCORDING TO HOW SHE SAID THE PROMISE
Damn damn i wont end like this right? But we have only one chapter left
Is the manga ending with her without memories??????
That panel with then all with normal clothes and so happy im gonna cry
WITHOUT A MASK??? WHAT IS GOING ON?????
WHAT THE HELL NORMAN THE PIC NORMAN THE PIC HE ISNT IN THE PIC ANYMORE HOW GEEZ FUCK DANM THE PIC
THE PIC WITH EMMA AND NORMAN NORMAN ISNT THERE ANYMORE HOW COULD
That demon god is just so powerful to erase him from the pic wow
JUST NOW I REALISED HER NECK
THE TATOO IS GONE
it’s really a demon god huh
ONE MONTH DAMN
THE MEMORIES THE MEMORIES
Ok I’m crying
Damn Emma
SHE CRY I CRY WE ALL CRY
Wait, what’s her new name????
THEM
THEM
The chapter ends like this how unfair
Ok now let me give my theory
Maybe she actually doesn’t get her memories back BUT
She will reunite with her family and make new memories
And even though they are still sad she can’t remember anything from before they live happy and together creating new memories everyday and being happy and safe and have I said happy?
Thank you The Promised Neverland for existing. For making me laugh, for making me cry, for letting me be part of a family that truly cares about living. Most of all, thank you for the memories and for giving me a point to bond with my sister with. It was a good run (2016-2020).
