Understanding the Time Being

     I think it is fitting that the word 'being' is both disengendered and removed, by definition, from nearly all social constructs. A being simply is; a being exists. Thus, the purpose of the time being or perhaps the purpose for defining the Time Being would be to finally remove time from any constructs as well. The sensation of time, the effects of time, and, of course, the passing of time weighs on all beings. While the experience is undoubtedly unique, as individuals we can still all share in the phenomenon as Time Beings. 

Ozkei, throughout the book, plays a "language game", akin to theory, with her definition of Time Being. Nao will introduce a character, human or otherwise, as "also a Time Being." What a Time Being is, is what it is not. Therefore understanding the universality of the Time Being becomes an integral part of its definition and employ. Ozkei's experiments with time by disembodying its passing and treating as indepent from the being, where, of course, the being is always dependent on time. She does this throughout the book. Notably, in the beginning and into the middle with Jiko's experiences. While they are relative to time passing, they are not necessarily accurate enough for Nao or Ruth, who in turn must take those stories and apply them to their own lives. Which, in another paper, may as well have been their intention. The timely sensation is only attributed to time itself, while every character's experience remains unique while still sharing in the same event. 


The complexity of this technique continues to build, and I believe comes to a most powerful end towards the climax: Nao's "death". Ruth and Nao become inextricably connected, and their thoughts often to tend to bleed into each other's as their accounts progress. One of their final parallels, which I suppose was a theme Ozkei had just kept alive since the beginning, is their collective self-awareness or, rather, lack thereof when a mirror enters the mix. Ruth and Nao can dissociate themselves from their own reflection, and therefore, briefly from time. Rather than experience the same moment separately, by mimicking time Ruth and Nao can experience the same moment simultaneously, but as different people. For both Ruth Nao, the manifested other is an unrecognizable reflection of themselves. 


For example: 

Ruth:

"She looks for Nao in the mirror, a logical place, but only sees a reflection of herself she does not recognize." (Ozkei, 348)

Nao:

"I hugged myself and the girl did, too. I started to cry and we couldn't stop." (Ozkei, 336)

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