Marty's Memory
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Back to the Future Part III
tfarr83 — 9 years ago(August 09, 2016 07:08 PM)
My question is how does Marty retain the memory of Clayton Ravine?
When Marty was stuck in 1955, Doc had already caused a chain of events in 1885 which saved Clara from going over into the Ravine (as established before Marty went to 1885). The Back to the Future Universe seems to set up the rules in a fashion that the time traveler retains their memories in line with their original timeline. If this holds true, it's understandable that Doc would remember Clayton Ravine.
In BttF pt I, Marty returns to the Lone Pine Mall version of 1985 but still remembers the Twin Pines Mall version as well, where as that Doc who lives, has only lived in the Lone Pine version of 1985. This brings me back to my original point, since Marty was outside to the changes the 1885 Doc created, how would Marty have any memory of Clayton Ravine? As for that matter how would the 1955 Doc have any memory of Clayton Ravine (if he had any)?
Would love to hear people's input. -
TxMike — 9 years ago(August 10, 2016 05:51 AM)
My input? It is a fun, fictional time-travel movie, it is impossible to reconcile every point that seems like an inconsistency, so why try to?
In the many years since the three movies came out I am certain that "fans" have dissected and analyzed every point a lot more than Bob and Bob ever did when they wrote the scripts. Which is a great tribute to how much fun they all are. But still all implausible fiction.
.... TxMike ....
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes not. -
buddyboy28 — 9 years ago(August 10, 2016 09:35 AM)
You said it yourself, in the BTTF universe the time traveller retain their memories. I don't see anything that contradicts that.
Marty remembers both situations at the mall because he experienced them both but with the situation with the ravine, he didn't.
His 1985 self was stuck in 1955 so he still remembers Clayton ravine, the tale he's heard at school.
Don't know what the 1955 Doc knows the ravine has because in the changed 1955 where the tombstone appears, we never find out if the ravine is called Shonash (obviously Clara doesn't go over even before Marty goes back because Doc picks her up at the station in that timeline), or if it's still called Clayton because she may have become so depressed that she threw herself over after Doc was shot and killed and the town may have still named it after her. -
sanddragon939 — 9 years ago(January 09, 2017 01:07 PM)
Marty remembers the original timeline BEFORE any time-travel took place. So he will always remember Clayton Ravine. In any case, when Doc was hit by lightning and sent back to 1885, the timeline literally transformed around Marty. So, for instance, if Marty at the moment was at Boothill Cemetary, he would literally see Doc's tombstone appearing there; if he was in the Delgado Mine he would literally see the buried Delorean appear; if he was further down the road he would literally see the Western Union guy's car appear etc.
Also, while its not brought up at all, logically, 1955 Doc would remember the ravine as being called Shonash Ravine (assuming again that Clara didn't commit suicide in that timeline leading to it still being called Clayton Ravine).
Formerly sn939 -
mikeyg24 — 9 years ago(January 11, 2017 02:56 PM)
You should watch The Butterfly Effect. It's an unusual take on time travel but it deals with that directly. The main character
not only remembers his original timeline but his head starts to fill with the life time memories of every reality he experiences through continuously changing things such that he starts passing out.
We have to show the world that not all of us are like him: Henning von Tresckow
.