However, the film’s climax (or chronological midpoint) reveals the tragedy of this logic: facts are only as honest as the person recording them. Leonard actively chooses to manipulate his own "system" to create a never-ending cycle of vengeance, giving his life a purpose that his biology can no longer sustain. Identity as Narrative
In traditional noir, the detective is a bastion of logic. In Memento , Leonard is the ultimate unreliable narrator—not because he is intentionally lying to us, but because he is lying to himself. He relies on "facts"—tattoos, notes, and Polaroids—claiming that memory is an interpretation while notes are objective. 8 : Memento
Leonard’s identity is built entirely on a mission to find "John G." Without that mission, he is a blank slate. The film suggests that human identity is not a static thing but a narrative we constantly rewrite to make sense of our actions. Leonard’s tragedy isn't his memory loss; it’s his refusal to accept the purposelessness of his existence without his grief. Conclusion In Memento , Leonard is the ultimate unreliable