Never Let Me Go Quotes Flashcards
My name is Kathy H
Lack of identity
‘Career’ ‘ donor’. ‘
They’ve been pleased with my work so far
Kathy
‘Foggy morning’ Hailsham memories
Nostalgia
Is her memory reliable
Corner of a Misty field : p6
This is actually hailsham p7
Dystopian conventions
Setting- mundane familiar
Control
Aftermath of change
Wider comment to societal issues
Relatable protagonist
Facts
Kathy’s Non linear narration
Ao3 cloning :
dolly the sheep
Ambitious individuals
1997 cloning dolly the sheep by the roslin institute in Scotland
First cloning of a Mammel in history
Raised concerns- extent to which
1998 Richard seed, American Physicist,
Intention to clone a human before any law can be passed
Early 21st century
Shortage of organ donors
Never let me go published in 2005
2005 UN called for a ban on human cloning-
‘Contrary to human dignity’
Kathy’s opening narration
Kathy referred to simply as Kathy H
Lack of individuality, no family, agency, surname.
Euphemisms- carer and donor donation
Reality seems less brutal
Society doesn’t want to face the blunt truth
Cloning less horrific
Ishiguro Stated in a BBC radio 4 interview in 2021- Kathy is narrating to another clone.
Evidenced by the informal speech, colloquial, conversational
Verisimilitude
Dorset real life places more realistic
Norfolk
Daniel deronda
Page 5
His face beneath the blotches went into a completely new kind of grimace
Foreshadows the treatment of the clones
‘Blotches’ physical reaction to donating
‘Grimace’ envious, disgust, foreshadows other clones didn’t have pleasant childhoods. No ideal like hailsham
Kathy’s opening narration: verisimilitude and dystopia
Dystopian conventions shown-
Setting real life
Career centre
Emphasises Ishiguro concern
Warn society
Events seem plausible
Creates a sense of underlying unease
Familiarity mundane everyday things
Control Kathy H- lack of identity
They- mysterious authority presence
Ishiguro minimalist presentation of Hailsham
Contrasts- Shelley’s
Ishiguro- language is simple
A place Desirable
‘Misty field’ - pathetic fallacy- reflecting memories- unclear- retelling- unreliable narrator.
Unable to find AO3- could be anywhere. Plausible link to verisimilitude- 2005 UN BAN FOR CLONING
Mist coupled with the later statement ‘impossible’ presents as mysterious and dreamlike.
A place longed for like a childhood friend
Implies it was a place of humane treatment and belonging.
Perhaps suggesting it was unreal something temporary which couldn’t last.
Unable to find it- hidden away from society as a whole.
‘One day I’ll crash the car like that’
Like as Shelley uses the liminal setting of victors workshop to hide the transgression
Ishiguro uses the setting or Hailsham in chapter 1 to highlight how society has similarly attempted to hide their moral transgression as a result of scientific pursuit
Ishiguro use of place describing Hailsham as in
‘The corner of a misty field’
Highlights the marginalised nature of the clones existence.
Society attempts to hide the clones & the transgressive behaviour that has created them.
Mainstream society shielded
Like victors attempt to conceal his immoral scientific creation
It is clear that the society depicted by Ishiguro does the same by having Hailsham situated through an empty stretch of Worcestershire
The lack of specificity- through this description- emphasises the idea of secrecy
Kathy H, an experienced carer, career involves driving frequently- inability to complete the ‘impossible’ task of finding Hailsham further adds to this theme of concealment and shame
Both texts use place and setting to create a sense of belonging for othered characters
Frankinstein-
Agreeable asylum
Take refuge
Lovely creatures
Hovel
Dehumanises himself
Delacey family
Hope to join society
Luxury to him
Cottage
Hailsham gives the clones a sense of belonging unity guardian protection
Othered by society
‘This is actually Hailsham’
Excitement via exclamativas
Hailsham as an idyllic place of safety and comfort for the clones.
Despite their othered status in society, Hailsham is a place of safety and comfort. They are united together and protected by the guardians- sole purpose is to keep them alive.
Misty field
Tommy tantrums
‘Like a dog doing a pre’
Like he was rehearsing his Shakespeare
‘Like a Performance’
‘Never tried to be creative’
Clones- entertainment theatrical dramatic behaviour
WHY-
Highlights Tommy’s otherness
Unwilling to conform and unable to
Creativity valued
Easily irritated
TOMMY AND THE MONSTER
Both othered
Aggressive behaviour violence
Both angry
Product of their environment
Tommy- lack of creativity
‘Good runner easily opened up 10, 15 yards’
Not celebrated at Hailsham
Monster- how he was created
Chapter 2 summary
Kathy’s retrospective narration
ISHIGURO Ao3
Moved to England age 5
Only non white in class
Isolated childhood
Ruth recovery centre
‘Fine summer evening, little balcony’
presented like a holiday, positive, romantic,
Watching the sun go down over the rooftops
peace in nature
Limited exposure to the outside world
Observe unable to be a part of
Distracted from the reality of cloning
Glistening line of the sea
Sea view
Kathy end
Beauty of nature
I wouldn’t mind if it’s where I end up
Low standards
Reader Question the condition of others
Gleaming white tiles
Like walking through a Hall of mirror
Similie distorted view of the world
All the fresh air she wanted by stepping into the balcony
Paradise
Facade romanticised view
Ruth sick
Ruth recovery centre and graveyards and charnel bodies
Frankinstein
Inglostad
Workshop of filthy creation
Graveyards and charnel houses
Hide transgressive immoral actions
Zealously
Deviated to his studies
Aldini- electric current through dead animals
Inhumane
Vaults and charnel houses
Liminal setting
Limbo
Symbolic of victors choice
In creating the monster he creates his own death
Transgressive actions
Ruth recovery centre
Romanticised facade
Simple minimalistic
Limited exposure to the outside world
Relaxing pleasant place
Low standards
