Chances Are . . .

In Chances Are…, Russo creates a vision of the past as a subjective and flawed reconstruction, suggesting that recovering a definitive version of events is often an unrealistic and unattainable goal. Through the conflicting recollections of three old friends and the unresolved mystery of Jacy’s disappearance, the narrative repeatedly shows that memory itself is a “porous,” inaccurate personal archive distorted by guilt, desire, and the simple erosion of time. Confronted with the question of which aspects of their memories are based upon facts, fears, or wishful thinking, the three protagonists must ultimately find an imperfect form peace by accepting their uncertainties.

The reunion on Martha’s Vineyard therefore serves as a catalyst for the men’s individual decisions to confront the past. Lincoln, acting as the group’s reluctant historian, struggles to piece together key events from their college years, and his efforts soon reveal the full extent of the gaps and inaccuracies involved. When recalling the night of the 1969 draft lottery, for example he remembers vivid details about his friends’ reactions but cannot recall his own, and he admits that his memory is “increasingly porous these days” (23). Similarly, his recollection of an altercation at a fraternity house is a jumble of partial scenes and secondhand accounts, making it clear that even dramatic shared experiences can degrade into a collage of individual impressions.