Never Let Me Go is an Ishiguro novel that addresses issues about the ethics and morals of technological advancements, including cloning human beings. A thirty-one-year old girl named Kathy uses her recollection to illustrate the inevitable loss at a preparatory school for humanclones. Through the novel, ideas are presented and recalled. The story explores time passing in an era of progress. Never Let Me Gone is an emotional journey where readers are able to recall childhood memories and experience unfulfilled desires.
Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go shows the passage of time through Kathy’s nostalgic eyes. The story is set in a dystopian England in the late 1990’s. The citizens of society are governed by clones organs, which extend their lives. Clones are raised in institutions that are not accessible to citizens. Care is provided by “carers” who are chosen to care for “donors”. Clones that haven’t yet started the donation process are called “carers”. The story follows Kathy, a 31-year-old carer. She is nearing “completion”, which euphemistically refers to death after donating three or four organs. Kathy “attends Hailsham,” an institution for clones. The novel does not explain cloning and donation. Kathy spends much of the story reminiscing about Hailsham. She says she can still recall the Juniors and their pleas with guardians for lessons to be held in a pavilion. She fondly recalls her time in Hailsham. As each character, Kathy, Tommy, Ruth is explored, readers can follow their emotional journeys. This allows them to share different perspectives and ideas.
The novel is divided into three parts, which cover Kathy’s childhood in Hailsham, her time in Cottages, as well her time as carer. Kathy’s story is intimate and observational, so readers can follow it as if they were being told directly by her. Ishiguro uses Kathy to keep the suspense alive and foreshadows a sad and dark future. Kathy’s narration shifts constantly, adding to Kathy’s already chaotic perception of time. It also shapes Kathy’s recollection. Sometimes, she may state that she is unable to recall certain events. However, readers can see the connections between past/present blurred. Ishiguro uses this technique in order to show how intentional weight cloning is interpreted for humans as well as clones. It almost seems like he is trying to hide the truth from the audience: the horrors and fear of reality for the Clones.
Kathy is a real character with a realistic voice. Her narration gives readers complex thoughts to follow while she tells the story. Kathy’s narration has a significant impact on the plot as well as the construction of key themes such time travel. Readers learn little about Kathy’s life as it unfolds. Because Kathy relies on nostalgia to provide comfort, looking back at the past is her only way of coping. “There have been several times when I tried leaving Hailsham behind. But I’ve repeatedly told myself to stop looking back. Then I realized that I couldn’t resist. Kathy finds it comforting and reassuring to think back to her time at Hailsham. However, it is not unusual for readers to only hear about her present. She is remembering her time with Tommy, Ruth and all the people she loved and cared for have passed away so she is keeping their memories alive and adding to the story.
Kathy is a clone and has limited time. Kathy is limited in time and unable to make plans for the future. It is possible that this is because her dreams of becoming a clone is less real than her reality. Kathy uses her past to recall the people and events she loved, keeping it close to her heart so that she can never forget them. Kathy has lost everything and everyone in her 30s. She is now reliant on her solitude as her companion. Kathy is left with nostalgia. She holds onto every precious memory from her past.
Kathy withholds some details, building up towards her unfulfilled desire for a delay. This creates tension and stress for the readers, manipulating Kathy’s dreams with her desires. She says that she doesn’t like being pushed out of her daydreams and takes refuge in daydreaming. Kathy’s failing to see and daydreams are a result of her caregiving time and her inability to face her fate. Death is defined as either “completion” or failure to face her fate.
David Palumbo Liu has written “The Deliverance to Others”, a book that examines the nature human organization in relation to daily human life. “The human will to operationalize and the various actions it takes in the world is meant to accomplish something. It’s meant to bring about change in the world and the lives of all people. Palumbo Liu declares that humanity is human in its actions in the world. He says that the transformation of the world to suit our purposes and make it ‘us’. Institutions and discourses are the means by which such actions can be manifested. Never Let Me Go portrays Hailsham institutions and discourses as characters who “codify and justify” thought and the process that leads to understanding.
Kathy is determined to have a life with Tommy and Ruth. Part two of the novel features Kathy’s thoughts about her time at the cottages with friends. Kathy’s realized broken dreams and hopes can be seen in the words, “In fact,” she said. Kathy recalls Tommy telling Kathy that the love triangle she was having with Tommy caused conflict. Kathy lost her friend and lover. Although she tries to live more in the present, she still has a lot of memories from the past.
Kathy is seen looking depressed in this scene of the novel. She said, “Once my life is quieter, in whatever center they send me, I’ll still have Hailsham safely in me, and that will be something no-one can take away.” Kathy is able to find peace within her own self, despite not questioning the ethics behind cloning. Ironically, she uses a variety of tenses to communicate her emotions but does not use perspectives. Ishiguro uses Ishiguro to express feelings about Kathy, and also to indirectly portray the humanity of being an clone. The lies of delusion are what create hope, which cloud Kathy’s judgement and makes her feel more isolated and emotional.
Ishiguro’s characters are daydreamers who reflect on the past and their memories while trying to foresee the future. Despite being happy and seemingly able to think for themselves, the novel misrepresents creativity. As time passes, it becomes clear that creativity and art are only used to show the outside world that clones have souls. As they try to hold on to the hope of love, Tommy and Ruth are unable to see the truth. Ishiguro depicts characters who are forced to keep silent and ignore matters that may hurt or disagree with them. Ishiguro shows characters who are willfully ignorant and self-deceived because they are clones.
Kathy’s attitude toward the past is interconnected with her attitudes towards the present, which affects the impressions of humankind upon the clones seen in the novel. Ishiguro uses Kathy’s emotional story to recollect his thoughts on technology advancement and ethical implications. The novel explores the meaning of human existence and how it feels to have a heart worthy of love and longing in a normal world with genetic engineering. Ishiguro offers a dehumanized view of technology and its purpose to humans in discussing ethically compromising situations among human beings.
