Part Two: Chapter Twelve, A Matter of Identity Summary and Analysis

Dr. Sacks walks into a room to meet with William. When William sees Sacks, he identifies him first as a customer in the deli William used to operate, then as an old friend, then as Hymie the butcher next door, and finally as a doctor. The progression from one identity to the next is rapid fire, but the result is that William becomes scared at his inability to correctly identify who he is with and where he is. As soon as correct recognition begins to take hold, William begins the series all over again, assuming once more that Sacks is a customer in his deli.

William Thompson suffers from Korsakov's but does not realize it. He dances from one fantasy to the next with the ability to...