Never Let Me Go Analysis Flashcards
what is the significance of Kathy being called ‘Kathy H’?
as the students at Hailsham are not given last names, this suggests they lack a true identity and familial connection. This immediately portrays the clones as ‘less than.
what kind of protagonsit is Kathy?
relatable protagonist
how is Kathy portrayed as a relatable protagonist?
through her characterisation - ‘okay, maybe I am boasting now’ (3)
analyse Kathy’s use of euphemistic language
Kathy uses euphemistic language, apparently created by the dystopian ‘they’ to make the cloning process more palatable to society, which refuses to acknowledge the bleak reality of the clones’ lives.
why is Ktahy’s use of euphemisms ironic?
The clones feel a sense of privilege for being carers and donors. This creates an irony as the ‘donations’ are actually involuntary (they are reared solely for this); therefore the euphemistic language conceals the clones’ lack of free will and makes the cloning process appear less horrific and morally questionable.
what is alluded to in these quotes? - ‘but actually they want me to go on for another 8 months’ (3), ‘they’ve been pleased with my work’ (3), ‘they’ve let me choose’ (4)
the dystopian ‘they’
why does Ishiguro place us, as readers, in the imagined future, in line with dystopian conventions?
In line with dystopian conventions, Ishiguro places us in the imagined future; this immersion allows Kathy to tell her anecdotes in a relatable way (the relatable protagonist).
what do these quotes suggest and what are their impact? ‘That sounds long enough, I know,’ (3) ‘If you’re one of them I understand how you might get resentful,’ (3) ‘I’m sure you’ve heard it plenty more’ (4) -
suggests Kathy is narrating the story to another clone; Ishiguro places us in the imagined future; this immersion allows Kathy to tell her anecdotes in a relatable way (the relatable protagonist).
what is the impact of Ishiguro’s use of verisimilute?
to encourage the reader to contemplate a future like this which raises the question of what happens when science goes too far, by creating the appearance of reality.
analyse this quote: ‘and his face beneath the blotches went into a completely new kind of grimace’ (5)
Ishiguro foreshadows the poor treatment of the other clones horeminding us that the experience of the students at Hailsham is not the norm; it is unique and special. This brings the treatment of clones in general into consideration, as there clearly exists no standardised procedure in ‘raising’ the clones.
how does Ishiguro present Hailsham?
in a minimalist way
analyse the quote ‘I might pass the corner of a misty field, or see part of a large house in the distance’ (6)
- Hailsham is described as being in a ‘corner’ suggesting that it is secluded and has been pushed to the side; Ishiguro presents Hailsham as hidden from society as this protects society from acknowledging the clones. It also makes it easier to control the clones, so benefits the guardians. However, this creates a barrier between the clones and humanity
- The pathetic fallacy of a ‘misty field’ suggests that Hailsham has been obscured and hidden
- Seeing only ‘part’ of a large house and never a full view is perhaps reflective of the clones’ fragmented identity. It also functions to keep readers in the dark about the appearance and location of Hailsham, perhaps mimicking the experience of the general public, or the clones. This may be in reference to society’s views on cloning at the turn of the century or a reflection of the dystopian genre (lack of knowledge; confusion).
- As Hailsham is described as being ‘in the distance’ this may suggest that it is not longer accessible as it is in the past. Emphasises the clones’ lack of a home.
analyse the quote ‘those pavilions […] little white prefab buildings with a row of windows unnaturally high’ (6)
- There is a juxtaposition of the minimalist, ordinary description of Hailsham and the bizarre, questionable, and memorable experience of the clones there
- There is a lack of distinction between the buildings associated with Hailsham, which acts as a parallel to the clones (or what we expect them to be).
- The mundane ‘prefab buildings’ contrasts the rose-tinted admiration of students from Hailsham
- The mundanity of the Hailsham buildings perhaps reflects society’s attempts to conceal its scientific transgression, creating a façade of normalcy as the verisimilitude suggests places like Hailsham actually exist (placing imagination next to reality).
- The buildings themselves perhaps reflect the stunting of the ambitions of the students - simply ‘prefab’ buildings - reflected in Ruth’s dream life
- The ‘unnaturally high’ windows perhaps reflects the unnatural cloning process, which goes against nature. Alternatively, it represents the unreachable and unattainable nature of normal life and ambitions for the clones; they cannot escape showing their separation from society. Moreover, they cannot see the world, reflective of their concealment and deception as the clones are controlled by the dystopian ‘they’; the prison-like descriptions are a reminder of the clones’ lack of choice and their poor living conditions.
analyse the quote ‘I think they built a whole lot like that in the 50s and 60s’ (6)
- Anecdotal, conversational tone reflects the presentation of Kathy as a relatable protagonist
- The uncertainty of ‘think’ perhaps reflects Kathy’s naivety of the real world and history, serving as a reminder of the clones’ limited knowledge due to the way they were raised - the clones know only what ‘they’ want them to.
- Suggests that the clones are pushed into spaces that are not purpose-built for them, and are pushed aside
ANALYSE the quote ‘flinging his limbs about, at the sky, at the wind, at the nearest fence post’ (10)
Tommy acts irrationally and is overdramatic, which actually serves to make him more human
analyse the quote ‘like a dog doing a pee’ (10) & ‘mad animal’ (12)
- Tommy is dehumanised as the animalistic language suggests he is ‘other’ and ‘less than’ because he acts differently, suggesting that the students are socialised into behaving the same way.
- The clones mimic society’s mistreatment of those who are different; it is easier to ignore/participate in discrimination than actively fight against it.
- The clones have been conditioned by the guardians at Hailsham into behaving a particular way; Tommy becomes an outsider by choosing to behave in a way that is different to them.
- Ishiguro suggests Tommy does’t conform in the same way as other students, perhaps hinting to the reader that the clones have more humanity than first expected.
analyse the quote It was like he was doing Shakespeare’ (11)
- Tommy mimics things he has seen elsewhere
- Furthers the sense of verisimilitude
analyse the quote ‘Tommy, who was in a stream coming down, had stopped dead on the stars with a big open smile that immediately irritated me’ (13)
- Ishiguro juxtaposes Tommy’s friendliness with Kathy’s hostility, suggesting that the clones have a dislike for open displays of weakness.
- Kathy’s analytical, critical, and judgemental tone seems out of place for a childhood interact, suggesting that the clones’ behaviour is learned and they act the way they think they should, not in line with their genuine emotions.
- Kathy and the clones are presented as unforgiving and conforming; The ‘stream’ suggests the clones move in a consistent, practiced flow.
- Tommy is willing to show genuine emotion; could be seen as an active choice not to conform, or as a childish lack of awareness, and innocence.
analyse the quote ‘good runner [who] would quickly open up ten, fifteen yards between him and the rest’ (15)
Tommy embraces his natural abilities/talents rather than his struggles with creativity; however, this creates a separation between him and the other clones, manifested in the ‘yards’ between them.
analyse the quote ‘watching the sun go down over the rooftops […] lots of aerials and satellite dishes […] a glistening line that was the sea’
- light functions as symbol of hope which the clones do not have access to; reflects their hopelessness and inescapable fate
- sun going ‘down’ reflects the downward spiral of the clones’ lives as they near their end
- ‘sun’ vs ‘aerials’ juxtaposes the natural world and the clones as symbolic of science
- dark irony present in the ‘aerials’ as the clones can see things that connect humanity together, but cannot access it - ‘othered’
- sea functions as symbol of freedom which sometimes feels within the grasp of the clones, but they never reach it
analyse the quote ‘the recovery rooms are small, but they’re well-designed and comfortable’
- ‘small’ rooms reflects society’s neglect of the clones’ freedom, futures, and dreams, which are all limited, along with their sense of identity
- hints at dystopian undertones - being small means they can fit a lot in and harvest more organs
- the unobjectively dire situation that Ruth is in juxtaposes with the matter-of-fact tone; dissociation and passive acceptance of the situation as they focus on the rooms not the end of life
analyse the quote ‘gleaming white tiles […] almost like entering a hall of mirrors […] pale shadowy movement all around you’
- sterile environment is parallel to a hospital which creates a sense of dark irony as hospitals are supposed to heal, but the donors are getting worse
- sterile environment serves as a reminder that the clones are a scientific creation
- ‘mirrors’ of the recovery centre emphasise how the centre allows Kathy and the clones to reflect on themselves and the past - also emphasises the clones lack of individuality and their warped/distorted identity
- the ‘pale shadowy movement’ may be a reference to dystopian conventions as Ishiguro reminds us of the dystopian ‘they’ who constantly survey the clones - however, in this instance, the ‘they’ is themselves, suggesting the clones are passive and almost operate under a system of self-policing
analyse the quote ‘she could get all the fresh air she wanted by stepping out onto the balcony’
- ‘all the fresh air she wanted’ implies that this is all she needs showing a lack of real concern for personal choice and freedom; the recovery centre doesn’t provide everything necessary for the full human experience
- suggests a false sense of freedom
analyse the quote ‘Kingsfield’
- ‘king’ has ironic connotations of royalty and prestige, but the centre is actually rundown and uncared for
- ‘field’ creates a sense of irony; there is no field, only ‘overgrown weeds’ - they have no freedom. Also creates the juxtaposition of natural imagery and unnatural cloning process.
analyse the quote ‘Ruth and I had to consult the map a number of times on the way’
Tommy’s recovery centre exists in a liminal space
analyse the quote ‘You can always hear traffic on the big roads beyond the fencing’
emphasises the barrier between the clones and society
analyse the quote ‘there’s a general feeling they never properly finished converting the place’
unfinished nature of the centre creates a liminal space, representative of the donors
analyse the quote ‘look more like wasteland’
a location where the clones are outcast in the space between life and death; liminal
analyse the quote ‘‘the field’ is a rectangle of overgrown weeds and thistles held in by wire-mesh fences’
- another barrier between the clones and humanity
- ‘overgrown weeds’ perhaps a metaphor for the clones, contrasted with the purity of humanity
- prison-like environment representative of the clones’ confinement and restriction
analyse the quote ‘six or seven shadowy figures underneath that roof’
- shadows also seen in Ruth’s Recovery centre
- a reminder that the clones are constantly being surveyed
- reflects the fragmented and unclear identities of the clones
- could describe the clones’ physical appearance - they are shadows of who they used to be, before the donations. Their fading life also becomes a liminal space.
analyse the quote
- A reminder that the clones can’t fulfil their personal purpose
- metaphor for the hopelessness of the clones, as their fates are sealed
- a reminder that the dystopian ‘they’ can manipulate the clones’ perception of their freedom
- ‘cement’ reflects the ultimate fate of the donors as a result of the donation process
why is the ‘lost corner of Norfolk’ referenced at the end of the novel?
as a reminder that the clones are outcast by society and are reduced to the same status as the rubbish abandoned in Norfolk; once used, the clones are cast aside and discarded
why does Norfolk come to be a ‘real source of comfort’ for the clones?
- means they don’t have to experience true loss
- it feels like a parallel to Hailsham (which is difficult, and has no pictures, reminiscent of a ‘lost corner’) so serves as a connection to Hailsham and their childhood for the clones; reminder of the security, innocence, and protection, that they no longer have
- even in childhood, Norfolk offered the clones a sense of belonging and identity which they did not have
analyse the quote ‘what I’d imagine was a woman who’d been told she couldn’t have babies, who really, really wanted them all her life’
- Dramatic irony; she also can’t have babies and she does not have a mother
- Ishiguro creates irony by having Kathy indirectly reference her own future, highlighting the inequality of the clones’ lives
- Ishiguro encourages readers to feel sympathetic towards the clones and warns readers against science going too far
why is it signifcant that the clones cannot have babies?
. Cut off from the basic cycle of reproduction, this is another weapon denied to them in the face of mortality
analyse the quotes ‘I hadn’t meant to play the tape’, ‘an impulse made me get the case’
- Kathy acts passively
- suggests Kathy has an inherent desire to attach herself to something; the tape is an outlet for a sense of belonging
- Kathy’s habitual reliance on, and sense of attachment to, the tape is because it brings her joy; perhaps due to the lack of possessions of the clones
- perhaps her tape allows Kathy to see her future and process and understand it, subconsciously; sees her future reflected in the outside world, creating a sense of belonging
- perhaps a subconscious desire for a maternal figure? similar to the knights and Ruth
how does Madame react to Kathy and the tape?
- Madame is both sympathetic to and repulsed by Kathy (deep-rooted fear of the uncanny)
- shows the naievety of the clones - kathy can’t understand
analyse the quotes ‘the downpour had started while we were changing […] but the rain kept going […] peering into the rain like she was trying to see right across the playing field’ (78)
- Ishiguro uses pathetic fallacy of the ‘downpour’ to foreshadow the overwhelming change that the clones are about to experience; it is all-consuming and will shift every aspect of their lives.
- The persistent rain - ‘kept going’ - reflects the clones’ bleak future as the constant donations will be relentless, inescapable and neverending.
- The rain creates a hazy, distorted atmosphere, reflective of the clones’ unclear future and both their, and Miss Lucy’s, uncertainty
analyse the quote ‘like a crouching animal waiting to pounce’ (78)
- Simile creates a sense of tension through the predator-prey imagery; Ishiguro suggests the information which Miss Lucy will deliver is dangerous and destructive.
- However, Miss Lucy is also prey, and the dystopian ‘they’ becomes the predator. This is ironic, as she is also then dehumanised, like the clones, and they are reduced to the same status, reflective of both her inability to help them, and their inability to help themselves.
analyse the quote ‘none of you […] none of you […] none of you […] you’re not […] you’re not’ (80)
- Through the use of anaphora, Ishiguro suggests that none of the clones are exempt from this process; it is completely inescapable, showing their lack of free will. Also emphasises Miss Lucy’s determination for the clones to understand
- The repeated negators destroys any ambitions the clones may have had. Also serves as a conduit for Miss Lucy to vent her frustration, but perhaps only furthers the separation of the clones and humanity.
- The repetition of the pronoun ‘your’ emphasises the separation between Miss Lucy and the clones
analyse the quote ‘Your lives are set out for you’
- The short, declarative sentence suggests that Miss Lucy struggles to formulate her speech in a way that reflects her emotions (she is blunt, not caring).
- alternatively, Miss Lucy’s structured, clear approach to her communication suggests she has given this decision much thought.
why does Part 1 end with: ‘Miss Lucy had left Hailsham and wouldn’t be returning’ ?
- Miss Lucy offers the clones the truth and is honest about their futures.
- The clones become stripped of their innocence, with a new combination of freedom and vulnerability.
how does Ishiguro use the character of Miss Lucy??
- Ishiguro uses Miss Lucy to represent the revelation of truth; she forces the clones to come to terms with their reality.
- Miss Lucy acts as the carrier of the clones anger; they are passive.
what do the cottagesd act as/represent?
- The Cottages exist in between the clones’ adolescence (Hailsham), which is defined by innocence and protection, and their futile adulthood (donation process), characterised by pain and loss.
- The Cottages, therefore, become a liminal space.
analyse the quote ‘the remains of a farm that had gone out of business’ with ‘barns, outhouses, and stables’ (114)
- The clones are dehumanised and ‘othered’ by society, reflected by the use of housing made for livestock - Ishiguro draws a parallel between rearing the clones, and animals, reflective of their function to serve society
- The use of an abandoned building reflects the clones’ experience
- The ‘remains’ are reminiscent of Norfolk as the lost corner; the clones have no purpose, much like the farm
analyse the quote ‘virtually falling down, which he couldn’t use for much’
- The clones are outcast, abandoned, and neglected.
- Because their fate is sealed, the clones have no option but tot demonstrate a passive acceptance, so ‘they’ have no need to look after them.
- The clones are forced into becoming subhuman in order to justify the process of donations.
- Suggests that the scientific progress got out of hand, as they did not have time to make purpose-built facilities.
analyse the quote ‘we could see hills in the distance that reminded us of the ones at Hailsham, but they seemed to us oddly crooked’ (116)
- The clones feel uncertain, lost, out of place, and confused but also curious with their newfound freedom.
- The clones may lack a clear purpose here - their essays are ultimately meaningless.
- The clones still feel a sense of comfort attached to Hailsham
- The clones try to link everything back to Hailsham, which serves as a reminder of the clones’ worldview, perceiving everything through the lens of Hailsham.
- Uncanny feeling as their lives almost parallel normal lives e.g. formative experiences like moving out, but they are still not the same.
- Serves as a reminder that the Cottages are an ‘in-between’ phase for the clones - a liminal space - as some aspects of Hailsham are still there (e.g. their friends) but it is fundamentally different.
what does Keffers represent?
Keffers represents the wider ‘human’ world, which is largely absent from the novel
what is the significance of Keffers’ detachment?
- The detachment of Keffers from the clones shows the passive tolerance of society
- There is perhaps a subtle disagreement of Keffers with the cloning process
- Keffers perceives the clones as sub-human; they are at the bottom of the social hierarchy
- Mimicked by the clones and their own social hierarchy e.g. treatment of Tommy
- Keffers does not want responsibility - he is not a guardian - and so initiates separation from the cloning process
analyse the quote ‘There was a big glass front at street-level, so anyone going by could see right into it’
- Ishiguro uses the physical glass wall to represent the figurative barrier between the clones and the real world; they will never be able to cross, replicate, or engage with the lives of humans; symbolic of the separation of the clones from humans
- Ishiguro creates a sense of tragedy in allowing the clones to see the lives they will never be able to access; they are so similar to humans yet not exactly the same
- Contrasts Hailsham which had windows ‘unnaturally high up’; humans have the privilege of being seen and the freedom to exist
analyse the quote ‘We kept on staring, and it looked like a smart, cosy, self-contained world’
Similar to Hailsham; reminder of the clones’ childhood - appeals to their nostalgia and desire for safety
analyse the quote ‘The idea of ‘possibles’ […] intrigued […] disturbed us […] wasn’t a topic you could bring up casually […] awkwardness […] solemn’
- The clones feel curious because it could be an indication of their future; ironic, as their futures are all sealed
- The clones feel uncomfortable, as it is a reminder that the clones are different from humans
- The idea of possibles is personal; they feels protective as it could give the clones a sense of identity
- The clones have a mixed emotional response - they are conflicted - perhaps as they subconsciously know they have no hope and possibles reminds them that they won’t have that future
- Possibles represent an insight into the clones’ ‘real’ identities which reminds readers that the clones’ identities are fragmented
what do the possibles represent?
- Possibles represent an insight into the clones’ ‘real’ identities which reminds readers that the clones’ identities are fragmented
- The possibles represent the clones’ hope for the future
analyse the quote ‘one big idea about finding your possible was that when you did, you’d glimpse your future’
- The idea of a possible is appealing as the clones don’t have a clear idea of their future; this gives them security - the clones have created for themselves a sense of false hope as they will not be able to replicate the lives of their possibles
- The idea of a possible may give the clones a sense of comfort and identity - a heritage - but this is ironic as this identity does not belong to them, as they are clones - therefore the idea of possibles is fundamentally flawed and paradoxical
analyse the quote ‘when you saw the person you were copied from, you’d get some insight into who you were deep down’
Kathy beleives the clones, like humans, have soulss
analyse the quote ‘near a cliff edge’
- As the novel progresses, the clones come closer to their ultimate fates - Ruth’s possible becomes a tipping point for them as they come closer to the realisation they will never live normal lives
- Foreshadows the clones’ unavoidable fate; there is a harsh drop into the unknown/donations
- They are on the precipice of almost realising something - liminal space reflected the unkown and their uncertain future
analyse the quote ‘you could see the paths zigzagging down to the seafront, except this time you could see the promenade at the bottom with rows of boarded up stalls’
any possible path will end the same way; their future is sealed - hopelessness
analyse the quote ‘letting the wind hit us’
- reflects the realisation and acceptance of their futures - passive defeat
- wind is symbolic of this change
analyse the quote ‘something in the sea, way off on the horizon’
- physical distance is a reminder of the separation of clones and humans
- the sea is symbolic of freedom; clones are unable to access this
- ‘something’ may be either approaching or departing, representing their ultimate fate and their hope respectively
analyse the quote ‘We’re modelled from trash. Junkies, prostitutes, winos, tramps. Convicts, maybe’
- Asyndetic list is dismissive, reductive, and derisive
- Represents the destruction of the clones’ hopes; the realisation that the clones themselves exit at the bottom of the social hierarchy
- Ruth’s realisation shatters any illusion that the clones may be able to live ‘normal lives’; Ishiguro suggests the clones are hopeless
- Emphasises Ruth’s frustration; she is unsure who to actually direct her anger at so attacks Tommy not the dystopian ‘they’
analyse the quote ‘Do you think she’d have talked to us if she’d known what we really were?’
- Ruth becomes aware of the barrier between the clones and humanity; contrasts their passive reaction to Miss Lucy’s speech
- Ultimately, though, Ruth’s outburst is just an outburst as her realisation of their hopelessness doesn’t change their fate in any way; Ishiguro encourages readers to feel sympathy for them
analyse the quote ‘you look in the gutter. You look in rubbish bins. Look down the toilet’
Anaphora and short sentences foreshadow Ruth’s choice to become a carer as she realises she has no choice and no real possibilities and opportunities
analyse the quote ‘‘the thin woods we’d come through had ended, and now in front of us there was open marshland as far as we could see’
- Ishiguro suggests the clones are nearing their inevitable fate - the loss of the woods represents their loss of guidance and protection
- the woods perhaps reflect the meaningless reality of their childhoods at Hailsham
- The marshland reflects the liminal space that the clones also exist in; they are close to freedom, but not quite, they are both human and not-human, they are between life and death
- The open marsh represents the clones freedom/opportunities that they can see but are unable to access - tauntingly close
analyse the quote ‘ghostly dead trunks’
serves as a reference to Ruth’s weakening condition; she is a ‘ghost’ of her past self
analyse the quote ‘the boat, sitting beached in the marshes under the weak sun’
- The boat is a remnant of a past life - things have changed around it - reflective of the clones who are out of place and hold onto Hailsham
- The boat is stuck in the marsh, reflective of the clones’ inescapable fate and their entrapment in the system, hinting at their passive acceptance (they, too, sit ‘beached’ approached by death)
- The boat has been abandoned and neglected, reflective of the treatment of the clones after Hailsham
- The boat is no longer used, symbolic of the clones’ lack of identity - it had one purpose it can no longer fulfil, just as the clones have one purpose only
- The fading light imagery serves as a reminder of Ruth’s condition and the clones’ loss of hope
analyse the quote ‘Okay, this is as far as we can go. The other two, who were behind me, raised no objection’
- Kathy’s dialogue reflects the clones’ lives, which will inevitably be cut short
- Tommy and Ruth’s blind obedience of Kathy reflects the clones’ wider passive acceptance of their fate
analyse the quote ‘Tommy and Ruth made their way to another tree trunk, hollow and more emaciated than mine’
Ishiguro’s description of the tree trunk is reflective of Tommy and Ruth’s weakened condition as they approach their unavoidable deaths
analyse the quote ‘I could see now how its paint was cracking, and how the timber frames of the little cabin were crumbling away. It had once painted a sky blue, but now looked almost white’
Ishiguro’s language of destruction and decay resembles the clones’ deteriorating conditions
analyse the quote ‘‘I don’t really expect you to forgive me ever […] you’ve at least got to try’’
- Ruth has the realisation that she is nearing her own death, so wants to do the right thing for Kathy and Tommy
- Ruth offers them hope for the future; readers recognise this as false hope/futile, creating tragedy
analyse the quote ‘It was only a polite ‘Excuse me!’ but she spun round like I’d thrown something at her’
- The simile suggests Madame had been living a peaceful life as this interaction is out of the ordinary, which contrasts the upheaval of the clones’ lives, emphasising their different lives after Hailsham
- May also imply that Madame is paranoid; perhaps due to the threat of the dystopian ‘they’; or due to the impact of working at Hailsham, where she always had to be on guard (i.e. due to ‘they,’ the clones, or letting something slip)
- Kathy is afraid of Madame as she is her hope for the future - her only lifeline, but also representative of the system that oppresses her (Kathy’s future is in her hands)
analyse the quote ‘a chill passed through me, much like the one I’d felt years ago that time we’d waylaid her’
- Suggests that Kathy still perceives Madame as a figure of superiority, emphatic of the impact of Hailsham on the clones; Kathy is haunted by her past experiences
- Madame reminds Kathy of the barrier between the clones and humanity; there is a mutual, innate sense of fear between them
analyse the quote ‘you could see her stiffen - as if a pair of large spiders was set to crawl towards her’
- Pause emphatic of Kathy’s realisation that the clones will never be accepted by society
- Simile suggests Madame is defensive, as she has an innate fear of the ‘other’; the clones make Madame feel unsettled
- Madame’s reaction is representative of society and its avoidance of acknowledging the clones
- Subtly foreshadows the clones’ rejection by society and the lack of deferrals
analyse the quote ‘It didn’t become warmer exactly. But that revulsion got out away somewhere, and she studied us carefully, squinting in the setting sun’
- Perhaps Madame feels an innate sense of guilt for her part in the system; she is partly culpable for their suffering and feels sympathy
- Perhaps Kathy and Tommy act as a reminder for Madame of Hailsham and her work there (sense of nostalgia); these clones are the only things left of it
- May suggest that Madame is able to manipulate her own response to the clones; she is defensive when faced with the consequences of her actions
how does Ishiguro use light imagrey at Madame’s house?
- ‘everything got dark’ (243), ‘we were in a hallway so narrow’ (243), ‘leading deeper into the house’ (244), ‘pointing into the darkness of the passage’ (244)
- Ishiguro’s use of light imagery suggests the clones’ dwindling hope and represents the unknown/secrecy of the cloning programme
analyse the quote ‘the hallway, narrow as it was, divided further’
emphatic of the divergence of the clones’ fate from humanity
analyse the quote ‘you could hardly make it out at all […] murky glass’
- murkiness represents the clones’ unknown/uncertain fate or the secrecy of the cloning program
- contrasts a ‘shine’, imitating how the clones’ false hope obscured reality
analyse the quote ‘only silence in the house’
suggests the clones’ inescapable death
why does Ishigruo begin and end the novel with similar scenes of Tommy?
Ishiguro begins and ends the novel with similar scenes of Tommy - a tantrum as a child at Hailsham, and screaming ‘into the blackness,’ as an adult - to reflect the inevitability of the clones’ fate and the inescapability of the cloning program. Also highlights the cyclical nature of cloning as the outpour of emotion works to humanise Tommy.
what does Ishiguro uses fading light imagery to reflect?
the clones’ loss of hope
analyse the quote ‘Tommy’s figure [was] raging, shouting, flinging his fists and kicking out’
Ishiguro uses a syndetic list to emphasise Tommy’s overwhelming emotions of rage and frustration towards the system in which they are trapped
analyse the quote ‘we stood together like that […] not saying anything, just holding each other, while the wind kept blowing and blowing at us.’
- Ishiguro uses pathetic fallacy to suggest that the clones’ journey nears their fate; reflects the donation process which is inescapable, cycical, and inevitable
- return to a state of passivity after their only chance to escape the cloning process of unsuccessful
analyse the quote ‘I tried to run, but the mud sucked my feet down. The mud was impeding him too’
The natural world becomes a metaphor for the cloning process as the mud becomes symbolic of the impact of the dystopian ‘they’
how does tommy and kathy’s relationship change in the final chapter?
Tommy in the final chapter becomes more distant from Kathy, isolating himself from her and their relationship.
what do these quotes suggest about the reason that Tommy isolates himself? - ‘How there’s nothing to do except watch your remaining donations until they switch you off.’ (274), ‘But is it really that important? Okay, it’s really nice to have a good carer. But in the end, is it really so important?’ (276)
Perhaps he has lost all hope for happiness at the end of his life; he is less hopeful for the future and is accepting of his fate as he nears his death with no hope of a deferral
what does this quote suggest about the reason that Tommy isolates himself? - ‘Ruth would have understood. She was a donor, so she would have understood.’ (276)
Perhaps he desires some dignity at the end of his life
what does this quote suggest about the reason that Tommy isolates himself? - ‘Ruth would have understood. She was a donor, so she would have understood.’ (276)
Perhaps Tommy wants to protect Kathy from seeing her own future, taking on a role parallel to the guardians
what does this quote suggest about the reason that Tommy isolates himself? - - ‘Look, Kath, I’ll sort out my own things. If you were a donor, you’d see.’ (273) , ‘I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it’s just too much.’ (277)
Perhaps Tommy doesn’t want to taint Kathy’s memories of him (as they saw Ruth in her weakened condition)
analyse the quote ‘the sun was already setting behind the buildings’
Ishiguro uses fading light imagery, symbolic of a loss of hope, to signal that the clones, particularly Tommy, are reaching the end of their lives.
analyse the quote ‘there were a few shadowy figures, as usual’
- Reminiscent of Ruth and Tommy’s Recovery Centre: ‘six or seven shadowy figures,’ ‘pale shadowy movement’
- Ishiguro compares the clones to shadows to suggest that the clones, as they journey toward completion, are fragmented and cast aside from humanity; the clones’ have a distorted identity as they exist in a liminal space between human and non-human
- Comparison implies that they have been forgotten/abandoned/hidden, and, due to the donation process, have become a ‘shadow’ of their former selves
analyse the quote ‘I always imagined I was splashing through water […] splash, splash, splash.’
- Tommy and the clones’ childhood was characterised by naivety and innocence, which they no longer have, creating a juxtaposition of the past and present
- Tommy reminisces on a time that he was happy, suggesting that happiness derives from naivety
analyse the quote ‘I’ve never tried to find [Hailsham]. I’m not really interested in seeing it, whatever way it is now.’ (280)
- This is surprising because of Kathy’s previous obsession with finding Hailsham
- Kathy’s perspective of Hailsham may have shifted as she realises the realities of the clones’ lives; her interaction with Miss Emily and Madame has made her realise the reality of Hailsham as an unsuccessful experiment to provide the clones with normality
- Perhaps this is because she has lost everything she finds valuable about Hailsham
analyse the quote ‘Fence keeping [Kathy] from stepping into the field of ploughed earth.’ (281)
Ishiguro uses the fence to represent the barrier between society and the clones as the field may represent humanity’s freedom which the clones can never attain (Kathy is about to become a donor)
analyse the quote ‘All along the fence, especially along the lower line of wire, all sorts of rubbish had caught and tangled.’ (282)
This significant event takes place in Norfolk, the ‘lost corner’ - the rubbish represents the clones themselves, as once they no longer serve a purpose in society, they are abandoned and cast aside
analyse the quote ‘I waited a bit, then turned back to the car, to drive off to wherever it was I was supposed to be.’ (282)
- The passivity of the clones is captured in Kathy’s final moment; she is utterly bereft of hope and gives herself to her inevitable fate.
- Kathy is lost as she has no sense of place or belonging, having lost everything so has no choice but to accept her fate (no sense of purpose) - actively chooses to give in.
