"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. The current's too strong. They've got to leg go, drift apart. That's how I think it is with us. It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can't stay together forever." pg 282
The ending of this book is really sad. Kathy loses both of her closest friends and she herself becomes a donor. Overall, this book had the ongoing theme of the importance of the past and how hard it can be to let go. Tommy's quote above conveys the entirety of really any relationship between the students at Hailsham. They all try to hold onto their past, but in the end, they cannot keep that grasp forever, because science tears it apart. Ishiguro is telling us that the past has a powerful place in all of our lives--it makes us into who we are today. But, sometimes, we need to let go of past things, whether good or bad, because everything comes to an end at some point.
As this is my second time reading this book, I still liked it. In comparison to Brave New World, I would say that Never Let Me Go was a way less extreme version of the utopia. Both of the books had depressing endings though, that dealt with death. Though the novels were very different, they shared the same message: Science has the ability to control a human being's life, so it should be monitored carefully.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Revelations
"We took away your art because we thought it would reveal you souls. Or to put it more freely, we did it to prove you had souls at all." pg 260
Chapter twenty-two is just full of revelations to the reader. First of all, we know for sure that deferrals do not exist. They were simply just a rumor that Hailsham students made up somewhere along the line, because it gave them hope. Secondly, the Gallery and artwork was emphasized at Hailsham because it proved the students had souls (above quote). The people outside of Hailsham believed that the children there had no souls, because they were clones raised to donate organs, and Madame and Miss Emily worked to prove them wrong by creating the Gallery.
We also learn that Hailsham closed because of James Morningdale, a man who tried to create an entire generation of genetically engineered children (sounds a lot like Brave New World...)--which was a little too far for the public to accept. Also, Miss Lucy left because her views were too different from the other guardians- she wanted to let the children know everything while the other guardians wanted them to be sheltered. And finally, Madame said she cried when seeing Kathy dancing to "Never Let Me Go" because she imagined a young girl holding onto the world, never wanting to let it go.
This entire chapter would be considered the falling action in the story because everything is revealed to the reader, and most of the mysteries from early on are solved. Everything falls into place, even if it's not the way that Tommy and Kathy expected it would.
Chapter twenty-two is just full of revelations to the reader. First of all, we know for sure that deferrals do not exist. They were simply just a rumor that Hailsham students made up somewhere along the line, because it gave them hope. Secondly, the Gallery and artwork was emphasized at Hailsham because it proved the students had souls (above quote). The people outside of Hailsham believed that the children there had no souls, because they were clones raised to donate organs, and Madame and Miss Emily worked to prove them wrong by creating the Gallery.
We also learn that Hailsham closed because of James Morningdale, a man who tried to create an entire generation of genetically engineered children (sounds a lot like Brave New World...)--which was a little too far for the public to accept. Also, Miss Lucy left because her views were too different from the other guardians- she wanted to let the children know everything while the other guardians wanted them to be sheltered. And finally, Madame said she cried when seeing Kathy dancing to "Never Let Me Go" because she imagined a young girl holding onto the world, never wanting to let it go.
This entire chapter would be considered the falling action in the story because everything is revealed to the reader, and most of the mysteries from early on are solved. Everything falls into place, even if it's not the way that Tommy and Kathy expected it would.
Time To Go
"Okay," I said. Then I stood up and stretched out my arms. "Maybe we'll take more. Fifteen, twenty even. Yeah we'll go see her. What can she do to us? We'll go and talk to her." pg 245
Kathy and Tommy are finally seeking Madame for some answers to the questions they've been theorizing over the entire novel. I know I've read this book before, but I've forgotten every detail, so this part is still suspenseful for me. Ishiguro creates suspense by creating mysteries early on in the book--such as the Gallery, artwork, and concept of deferrals. The reader waits the entire book until Kathy and Tommy leave to find the answers they've been searching for for so long. A few clues are placed along the way, but not very many. Then in the last chapters, everything will be explained! The ending of this book will be pretty similar to A Brave New World, because they both explain the reasoning behind the science experiments occurring.
So right now, I've just finished chapter twenty-one, when Kathy and Tommy have entered Madame's house and spoken briefly with her. Nothing is for certain yet, but Madame is treating Kathy and Tommy like they are a bit nuts. Madame's attitude foreshadows that Kathy and Tommy may be in a for a bit of a surprise.
Kathy and Tommy are finally seeking Madame for some answers to the questions they've been theorizing over the entire novel. I know I've read this book before, but I've forgotten every detail, so this part is still suspenseful for me. Ishiguro creates suspense by creating mysteries early on in the book--such as the Gallery, artwork, and concept of deferrals. The reader waits the entire book until Kathy and Tommy leave to find the answers they've been searching for for so long. A few clues are placed along the way, but not very many. Then in the last chapters, everything will be explained! The ending of this book will be pretty similar to A Brave New World, because they both explain the reasoning behind the science experiments occurring.
So right now, I've just finished chapter twenty-one, when Kathy and Tommy have entered Madame's house and spoken briefly with her. Nothing is for certain yet, but Madame is treating Kathy and Tommy like they are a bit nuts. Madame's attitude foreshadows that Kathy and Tommy may be in a for a bit of a surprise.
Apologies
"The main thing is, I kept you and Tommy apart." Her voice had dropped again, almost to a whisper. "That was the worst thing I did." pg 232
Ruth finally apologizes for all her past actions, but one in particular: keeping Kathy and Tommy apart. It's about time!! She decides to admit her wrongdoings mainly because she is close to 'completing.' I'm glad she tells the truth, because it shows Ruth isn't totally evil. She does care about other people, she just seems to have a hard time of showing it. And so since she cannot ever life the life she dreamed of (working in a office, or anything beyond that), she convinces Kathy to be Tommy's carer, so they can later get a deferral...maybe.
Even though I was not really a fan of Ruth, it was still very sad when she died. She had to face an inevitable fate, like all the other students at Hailsham, but it seemed to be especially hard for her. I'm glad she finally came to terms with her past actions, and said sorry though. I'm sure neither Tommy or Kathy will forget Ruth, because in a way, she has brought them together, because she convinced them to finally be with one another.
Ruth finally apologizes for all her past actions, but one in particular: keeping Kathy and Tommy apart. It's about time!! She decides to admit her wrongdoings mainly because she is close to 'completing.' I'm glad she tells the truth, because it shows Ruth isn't totally evil. She does care about other people, she just seems to have a hard time of showing it. And so since she cannot ever life the life she dreamed of (working in a office, or anything beyond that), she convinces Kathy to be Tommy's carer, so they can later get a deferral...maybe.
Even though I was not really a fan of Ruth, it was still very sad when she died. She had to face an inevitable fate, like all the other students at Hailsham, but it seemed to be especially hard for her. I'm glad she finally came to terms with her past actions, and said sorry though. I'm sure neither Tommy or Kathy will forget Ruth, because in a way, she has brought them together, because she convinced them to finally be with one another.
The End of an Era
"I thought about Hailsham closing, and how it was like someone coming along with a pair of shears and snipping the balloon strings just where they entwined above the man's fist." pg 213
Ishiguro makes a really good comparison of Hailsham closing to letting balloons go. When you let a group of balloons go, they all separate and go different ways, just like Hailsham students will grow apart because their connections to the school have been broken since it has closed. I want to know why Hailsham closed. Ishiguro does not really make it clear as to why the school closed. Was it the guardians? the students? Did they realize that forcing organ donation upon people was cruel? Maybe it's not important.
At the end of chapter eighteen, Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth all plan a get together. This should be interesting, since the three of them have not been together since their Cottage days. I'm sure things have changed between the three of them. No matter what, they are all still linked by Hailsham, even if it has closed.
Ishiguro makes a really good comparison of Hailsham closing to letting balloons go. When you let a group of balloons go, they all separate and go different ways, just like Hailsham students will grow apart because their connections to the school have been broken since it has closed. I want to know why Hailsham closed. Ishiguro does not really make it clear as to why the school closed. Was it the guardians? the students? Did they realize that forcing organ donation upon people was cruel? Maybe it's not important.
At the end of chapter eighteen, Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth all plan a get together. This should be interesting, since the three of them have not been together since their Cottage days. I'm sure things have changed between the three of them. No matter what, they are all still linked by Hailsham, even if it has closed.
Closing Time- Semisonic
It relates
Moving On
"What you've got to understand, though, is that he thinks the world of you. He really does." pg 201
Ruth definitely just gave Kathy approval of her dating Tommy. But unfortunately, Kathy totally ignores Ruth's request, and leaves the Cottages without a proper goodbye to either Ruth or Tommy.
While talking outside of the Cottages, Ruth makes Kathy mad by once again 'forgetting' one of Kathy's Hailsham references to the rhubarb patch. This conversation shows how differently the two regard their past. Ruth wants to forget most of the Hailsham things--which is most likely why she believes Tommy's drawings for the Gallery theory are ridiculous and foolish. Kathy, on the other hand, constantly reminisces about Hailsham, and brings up references to it quite often. I don't really understand why Ruth is wanting to forget Hailsham--she must remember the things Kathy brings up, but she refuses to acknowledge what Kathy is talking about. Why does she want to forget all of it so much? When Kathy talks about the more recent times, it appears they discussed Hailsham thorougly at hospitals. So why the change in attitude? The Cottages have really messed with Ruth's mind or something.
I think that Ruth's insistence to let the past go triggers Kathy to sign up to be a carer. When Ruth said, "Why does it matter anyway? What's the rhubarb patch got to do with anything? Just get on with what you were saying," Kathy realized that things had changed between them. She wants to get away from the Cottages, and move on to the real world, even if it's without her Hailsham friends.
Now onto the final part of the book!
Ruth definitely just gave Kathy approval of her dating Tommy. But unfortunately, Kathy totally ignores Ruth's request, and leaves the Cottages without a proper goodbye to either Ruth or Tommy.
While talking outside of the Cottages, Ruth makes Kathy mad by once again 'forgetting' one of Kathy's Hailsham references to the rhubarb patch. This conversation shows how differently the two regard their past. Ruth wants to forget most of the Hailsham things--which is most likely why she believes Tommy's drawings for the Gallery theory are ridiculous and foolish. Kathy, on the other hand, constantly reminisces about Hailsham, and brings up references to it quite often. I don't really understand why Ruth is wanting to forget Hailsham--she must remember the things Kathy brings up, but she refuses to acknowledge what Kathy is talking about. Why does she want to forget all of it so much? When Kathy talks about the more recent times, it appears they discussed Hailsham thorougly at hospitals. So why the change in attitude? The Cottages have really messed with Ruth's mind or something.
 |
| I imagine the scene of Kathy leaving to look like this, only the girl is the one walking away |
I think that Ruth's insistence to let the past go triggers Kathy to sign up to be a carer. When Ruth said, "Why does it matter anyway? What's the rhubarb patch got to do with anything? Just get on with what you were saying," Kathy realized that things had changed between them. She wants to get away from the Cottages, and move on to the real world, even if it's without her Hailsham friends.
Now onto the final part of the book!
Motivation
"He'd then persuaded Keffers to give him one of the little balck notebooks he scribbled his figures in, and since then, Tommy had finished at least a dozen of his fantastic creatures." pg 178
Tommy has a lot of theories. He's still very interested in all the mysteries at Hailsham, and this quote proves that he hasn't forgotten about the art Gallery. Tommy's motivation for drawing pictures is the deferral, I believe. Tommy thinks that the deferral and art are linked--Somehow the art reveals your soul and who you are inside, which gives you a better chance of getting a deferral or something like that. What I don't understand is how Tommy thinks he is going to submit his artwork. It is not like Madame comes to the Cottages to collect things for the Gallery. Those days are over. So I don't really understand Tommy's logic completely.
I almost cannot believe that Tommy is still so concerned and obsessed with the Gallery idea. I mean, does it really matter anymore? I'm pretty sure now that they are at the Cottages, their time with Hailsham is officially over. Yet Tommy does not let it go, he still has theories, and he wants the mysteries to be solved. I guess this reflects the title Never Let Me Go, because these teens have a hard time letting anything go. I can't really blame him though I guess, I'd be confused if I were him too..
Sigh, at this point in the book, all I really want is for Tommy and Kathy to be together. I am pretty sure chapter 15 just screams that they are meant for each other.
Tommy has a lot of theories. He's still very interested in all the mysteries at Hailsham, and this quote proves that he hasn't forgotten about the art Gallery. Tommy's motivation for drawing pictures is the deferral, I believe. Tommy thinks that the deferral and art are linked--Somehow the art reveals your soul and who you are inside, which gives you a better chance of getting a deferral or something like that. What I don't understand is how Tommy thinks he is going to submit his artwork. It is not like Madame comes to the Cottages to collect things for the Gallery. Those days are over. So I don't really understand Tommy's logic completely.
I almost cannot believe that Tommy is still so concerned and obsessed with the Gallery idea. I mean, does it really matter anymore? I'm pretty sure now that they are at the Cottages, their time with Hailsham is officially over. Yet Tommy does not let it go, he still has theories, and he wants the mysteries to be solved. I guess this reflects the title Never Let Me Go, because these teens have a hard time letting anything go. I can't really blame him though I guess, I'd be confused if I were him too..
Sigh, at this point in the book, all I really want is for Tommy and Kathy to be together. I am pretty sure chapter 15 just screams that they are meant for each other.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)