Part 3- Quotes

Question 1

Hailsham closing quote

Answer 1

‘I thought about Hailsham closing, and how it was like someone coming with a pair of shears and snipping the balloon strings just where they entwines above the mans fist’

Contrast with clown and snipping of balloons- symbolizes how the closing of Hailsham brings despair

Question 2

Deferal quote

Answer 2

‘But this dream of yours, this dream of being able to defer. Such a thing would always have been beyond us to grant, even at the height of our influence’

Reference to “dream” alludes to the theme of fantasy

Question 3

Tommmy breakdown quote

Answer 3

‘’He tried to shake me off, but I kept on holding on, until he stopped shouting and I felt the fight go out of him” (chapter 22)

Question 4

Philosophical Tommy quote

Answer 4

‘I keep thinking of about this river somewhere […] and with these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other […] but the currents too strong. They’ve got to let go, drift apart. That’s how I think it is with us’ (chapter 22)

Symbolic- tide symbolizes the aspect of death- pulling Kathy and tommy apart

Question 5

Kathy last reflection quote

Answer 5

‘The fantasy never got beyond that- I didn’t let it- and think the tears rolled down my face, I wasn’t sobbing or out of control. I just waited a bit, then turned back to the car, to drive off to wherever it was supposed to be’ (chapter 23)

Kathy’s muted description masks her grief and sorrow and the quote shows her despite all this pain she realizes her duty at a donor.