The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity centers on the high-stakes, perilous journey that Bourne undergoes to recover his memory and discover who he is. He is shot, stabbed, chased, and nearly killed multiple times while a ruthless and seemingly omnipotent assassin pursues him across Europe and the world. Bourne survives largely because of the relationships that he develops with the people he meets on his journey.

At the start of the novel, Dr. Washburn plays a key role in helping Bourne survive his injuries and adapt to his new reality. Washburn performs surgery on Bourne, literally saving his life, while keeping him hidden away so that Bourne can heal. At the same time, he helps Bourne emotionally, instructing him on how to exercise his mind, engage with his lost memories, and begin to heal his psyche. Even after Bourne leaves Washburn, Washburn’s words continue to infiltrate his thoughts, reminding Bourne to be patient and engage with his memories to help the healing process.

After leaving Washburn, Bourne meets Marie, who becomes his most valuable ally throughout the novel. In many ways, Bourne and Marie serve as foils to each other in the text. While Bourne is strong, well trained, and highly competent, he also behaves brashly and overreacts to each new piece of information that he gets.