Moment 5 - NORFOLK Flashcards
“People were fascinated - obsessed in some cases”
“They reckon this person’s a possible.”
“fascinated - obsessed” - has to self-correct herself to reveal fully importance of idea to clones
“obsession” - all-consuming, unhealthy infatuation
“fascinated” - bewildered
Ironic almost as if they’re inspecting object as a specimen - “possible” categorises and relegates the individual for the clone’s own fantasy. Testing for their own interest and theories similarly to how wider society views and uses them.
DEV “possible” italicized to reveal importance to clone community.
Possibility but optimism.
“you’d get some insight into who you were deep down… you’d see something of what your life held in store.”
Demonstrates fundamental part of identity, but this idea is destroyed among all hopes in Norfolk.
“insight deep down” - clone’s seek affirmation identity and confirmation of their humanity. Not just empty shells
“insight” - require external validation to form their identity. Can’t self perceive this or discover their own internal character
Irony - nothing in store for them. “held in store” - implies available opportunity, something valuable to be achieved, but in reality nothing
if ….you were in love with each other, really, properly in love, and if you could show it, then the people who run Hailsham, they sorted it out for you.
Optimism and naivety of clone society. Desperate to escape fate, but passive in bringing about moral change - self-preservation. Largest hope it to delay their fate, not prevent it.
“they sorted it out” -
Use of excessive punctuation and extensive sentence conveys nervousness of Rodney.
Deeply personal subject to clones where all hope is built on this fantasy. Excessive use of conditional, “if”. Shows fragile base and hopes beyond reality
Inability to contend with truth underlying Clones emotions.
“watched her like they were hypnotised” (R&C defferals)
“hypnotised” - so much emotions tied to deferrals, overwhelm their reason. Prefer to live in false reality as want to believe this idea - absorbed by concept
Ruth uses supposed superiority as Hailsham student to elevate herself as authority about deferrals.
“noticed her eyes moving anxiously around the faces behind the glass”
“A bit of fun for you maybe…thank you for your profound contribution”
“behind the glass” - separation of 2 lives - contrast between life could have had - never reach and achieve this.
“anxiously” adverb - anticipation. Hopes rested on possible
Focusing on every detail - will her hopes into reality
Essential to part of identity, causing great worry
Sarcasm, deep frustration of Ruth.
“the woman was too close, much closer than we’d ever
really wanted.”
Paper-thin nature of the rumors and speculation that sustain the students’ hopes. These rumors hold up from afar, but crumble when scrutinized from up close.
“woman” represents truth. Clones desire to live fantasy, however the reality invades this. Truth uncomfortable for clones
Ruth hopes for some sign of her dream future working in an office, while Chrissie and Rodney hope to confirm the existence of a deferral process.
All three leave disappointed, resigned to becoming carers and donors.
Do you think she’d have talked to us like that if she knew what we really were?…she’d have thrown us out
Rhetorical question, doesn’t need an answer as all know their lack of worth in eyes of society.
“what we really were” - self-deprecating - dehumanises her identity and removes humanity.
Dev - trash “thrown” out. No value or worth, disgust and disrepute
“We all know it. We’re modelled from trash. Junkies, prostitutes, winos, tramps.”
The clones become fixated on finding their ‘possibles’ because they believe that it will offer them insight into their personalities and their futures.
They desire to defy their dreaded expectations to affirm their own individual identity and worth. Ishiguro also is raising questions of whether a person’s fate is determined by their birth or by their choices.
Language choice, lowest members of society.
Development point idea of free will - clones have less rights and are even inferior to lowest members.
Irony, these people have choice, clones no free will to be viewed so lowly.
“you Hailsham lot, you’re really lucky” “that’s Hailsham for you”
Delusion of Rodney. False-perceptions of superiority and opportunity
Ruth capitalises on Rodney’s vulnerabilities for her status.
“you’re really lucky”
Irony - all resigned to same fate and no luck. Inevitable equally
“look in the gutter. You look in rubbish bins. Look down the toilet”
Ascending tricolon reflects Ruth’s increasing frustration.
Very visceral images suggest intensity of her emotions. Very aggressive imperatives. Overarching idea that the clones are merely waste, rubbish and valueless.
Lashes out to relegate all clones to her misery. Rather selfish but may suggest Ruth is struggling alone and wishes others to understand her pain
“if we’re splitting, I’ll stay with Kath”. “Ruth glared at him furiously”
Ruth values her status over Kathy’s vitality, and this choice by Tommy undermines her. Importance of couples to show status
Ruth’s aggression towards Tommy reflects her attempts to control him, but this defiance shows a development in Tommy’s character as he can think for himself
I just said to myself, one day I’ll go to Norfolk, and I’ll find it there for her.
“like a fantasy land” “The lost corner of England”
I feel a warmth welling up through me…it was like suddenly every cloud has blown away and nothing but fun and laughter before us
we both felt deep down some tug, some old wish to believe again in something that was once close to our hearts (Norfolk)
“tug”
Repetition “some”
“ close to our hearts”
