Memento - Characters & Cast

His stated motivation is to find and kill the man who murdered his wife, thereby achieving justice and avenging her death. However, his deeper, subconscious motivation is the need for a purpose. Without the ability to form new memories, his life lacks meaning. The hunt for John G. provides him with an identity and a reason to exist. As Teddy reveals, even after finding the real killer, Leonard continues the hunt because he needs the puzzle, not the solution.

Leonard's journey is not a traditional character arc of growth, but a cyclical one. He begins and ends in the same state: hunting a man named John G. His development is an illusion constructed for himself and the audience. The true 'arc' is the audience's understanding of him. We initially see him as a tragic hero on a righteous quest, but by the end, we understand he is a man who actively chooses self-deception to give his life a purpose, trapping himself in a loop of violence. He doesn't change; he perpetuates his own condition.

Teddy's motivations are a mix of pity, greed, and frustration. He was the investigating officer on Leonard's wife's case and genuinely helped him find the real killer a year prior. Afterwards, he began using Leonard to eliminate criminals like Jimmy Grantz and take their money. He seems to believe he is giving Leonard a purpose while also profiting from his condition. He is motivated by a cynical pragmatism, seeing Leonard as a tool to be aimed at 'bad guys.'

Teddy's character is revealed in reverse. He is initially presented as a suspicious and potentially villainous figure, whom Leonard's notes warn him not to trust. As the film moves backward chronologically, we see him acting more like a frustrated handler or even a friend. The final revelation casts him as a corrupt cop who initially pitied Leonard and helped him get his revenge, but then began using him for his own gain. His arc is a peeling back of layers, from antagonist to a complex, morally ambiguous figure who tells Leonard the truth he doesn't want to hear.

Natalie's primary motivation is self-preservation. After Leonard kills her drug-dealing boyfriend, Jimmy Grantz, she finds herself in trouble with Jimmy's partner, Dodd. Her goal is to use Leonard as a weapon to eliminate the threat Dodd poses. She is driven by a cynical understanding of human nature, recognizing Leonard's condition as a tool she can use to survive in her dangerous world.

Natalie embodies the classic femme fatale archetype, a woman who is both alluring and dangerous. Initially, she appears to be a sympathetic victim, grieving her boyfriend Jimmy and wanting to help Leonard. However, the film's reverse structure quickly reveals her manipulative nature. In a key scene, she deliberately provokes Leonard into hitting her, knowing he will forget, so she can exploit his guilt and use him to get rid of Dodd. Her character doesn't change, but our perception of her does, shifting from ally to a self-serving survivor who is adept at using Leonard's weakness to her advantage.