Klara and the Sun Flashcards
What is the premise of Klara and the Sun?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
Klara and the Sun is set in a slightly more futuristic world and follows Klara, an AF (artificial friend), who forms a bond with a girl named Josie. Josie is frequently ill, possibly due to artificial gene editing, and Klara becomes determined to help her by appealing to the Sun for a cure.
How does Klara’s perceptiveness differ from Rosa’s?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
Klara is highly perceptive and sensitive to emotions, whereas Rosa, Klara’s friend, is more cheerful and seemingly ignorant of subtle signals. Klara often notices conflicting emotions in people’s expressions and actions, while Rosa tends to miss these cues.
What is Josie’s relationship with Rick?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
Rick is Josie’s closest friend and confidant. They share a deep bond that goes beyond friendship and frequently discuss a loosely-conceived plan to stick together through adulthood.
How does the novel explore class differences?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
The novel highlights the disparities between those with money and those without. Rick and his mother, who are not part of the lifted class, live in a less affluent environment compared to Josie and her mother. Rick’s future prospects are significantly affected by not being lifted, and the story touches on how underprivileged individuals are forced to compromise to improve their circumstances.
What mysteries are present in the story?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
The novel introduces several mysteries, such as the state of the world, Josie’s illness (linked to gene editing), and the death of Josie’s sister Sal. Ishiguro doesn’t provide all the answers, leaving these mysteries open-ended and compelling, driving the reader’s curiosity throughout the story.
How does Klara’s role resemble Mr. Stevens from another Ishiguro novel?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
Klara’s position within the family is reminiscent of Mr. Stevens from Ishiguro’s novel “Remains of the Day.” Although Klara serves the family differently, she considers it her mission to be the best friend she can be to Josie. She develops a heliocentric religion, drawing power from the Sun, hoping to appeal to it directly to cure Josie.
How does the novel touch on the theme of humanity?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
Klara and the Sun explores what it means to be human through the lens of Klara’s relationship with Josie and her quest to help her. It delves into themes of connection, understanding oneself, and the longing for human connection despite the futuristic setting and the presence of artificial beings like Klara.
What is the function of the AFs in Klara and the Sun?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
Children only attend school online, so many kids have robot friends like Klara to try and make up for the lack of socialization.
How does Klara feel about her life at the end of the novel?
Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro
At the end of the book, when someone asks Klara if she thinks she succeeded at her objective, she says, “Yes, I believe I gave good service and prevented Josie from becoming lonely.” In a world filled with stories about killer machines, it was refreshing to read about a future where robots make our lives better—even if they complicate things along the way.
