Never Let Me Go Essay
‘How does the juxtaposition of ideas in Never Let Me Go develop Ishiguro’s themes?’
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go follows the harrowing journey of Kathy H, a young girl created soley for medical purposes in a world of sub-humanisation and discrimination. Throughout her journey, Kathy is confronted with power and manipulation, both in her own friendships and her position in society. Ishiguro highlights these themes with contrasts between the power of the humans (or ‘Normals’ as referred to in the narrative) with the vulnerability of the clones as well as comparisons between key characters in Kathy’s own social groups. In addition, with her life planned for her and her fate determined, Kathy faces a constant sense of confinement both physically and emotionally. This is explored further as Ishiguro compares various characteristics of the major settings used throughout the narrative. Ishiguro’s use of juxtapositions grants the reader a further understanding into these themes and exemplifies them in relatable contexts.
Power is a prominent theme that is highlighted by Ishiguro through the use of juxtaposing ideologies in the narrative, Never Let Me Go. With short and bleak futures ahead of them, the clones tend to focus on their past and recall their youth rather than the journey they will face before completion. With no permanent possessions of their own, the clones value the memories of their youth as their most valuable possessions believing that they cannot be taken from them. In contrast, the Normals focus primarily on their futures and the need to prolong their lives for as long as possible. It is apparent that the lives and existence of the clones is purely dependent on the social constructs created by the Normals who use the cloning program as a means to further self-preservation. As such, the Normals are not prepared to ‘go back to the dark days’ and sacrifice the cloning process despite its immorality. Hence the Normals turn to the sub-humanisation of the clones as means of justification, convincing themselves that the clones were ‘less than human, so it didn’t matter’. Ishiguro uses this contrast of ideologies to demonstrate power through discrimination and how this affects the vulnerable minority.
Throughout the novel, Never Let Me Go, Ishiguro uses characterisation to demonstrate that power is often acquired and maintained through manipulation. Ruth’s dominant and controlling composure in her own social hierarchies are in constant opposition to Kathy’s far more inclusive and equalitarian stance. Throughout their stay at Hailsham and the Cottages, Ruth maintains firm control and ‘enormous authority’ over her social group whilst Kathy appears to be content in being led rather than leading herself. In doing so, Ruth is prepared to use lies and deceit in furthering self-gratification and social control. These lies range from minor fantasies, taking a ‘harmless daydream a step further’, to undermining Kathy’s relationship with Tommy. Kathy often questions Ruth’s deceit and regularly opposes her, however she avoids publically humiliating Ruth and in doing so often keeps matters to herself. Whilst Ruth’s power is significantly lessened in her later years, she is persistent in commanding Kathy and Tommy to attempt to right her wrongs for having ‘kept [Kathy] and Tommy apart’. Furthermore, the repressed love between Kathy and Tommy could be observed as more genuine than the relationship of Ruth and Tommy. Whilst it is apparent that Kathy is deeply in love with Tommy, it seems as though Ruth uses her relationship as a status symbol to further her interaction with the Veterans. Kathy is confronted with manipulation throughout her journey and this is further explored in the novel by the comparison of characterisations between Kathy and Ruth and their respective social tendencies and expectations.
Ishiguro uses the juxtaposition of settings to exemplify the lack of freedom and a constant sense of confinement faced by the protagonist in the novel, Never Let Me Go. With a limited number of settings, Never Let Me Go sees a dramatic contrast between the freedoms of the open road and Norfolk in contrast to the confinement of specifically designed clone facilities such as the care centres and Hailsham itself. Where Norfolk allows Kathy and the other students to roam free and explore, Hailsham sees students barred from the outside world and fearful of what lies beyond the fence line. The isolation of Hailsham itself coupled with ‘horrible stories of the woods’ keep students apprehensive of the outside world. The care centres themselves are described as ‘too stuffy or too draughty’ with ‘no real sense of peace and quiet’. Whilst there are no physical fences surrounding them, these bleak concrete and tile prisons create a constant sense of captivity and demonstrate the hopelessness of each clones’ fate. Conversely, Norfolk inspires many of the clones, acting as a source of hope. The clones perceive Norfolk as ‘the lost corner of England’, a place where one could find the impossible and search for lost possessions, loved ones and forgotten futures. Ishiguro’s use of juxtaposing settings grants the reader a deeper understanding into the physical and emotional captivity faced by the clones throughout their short lifespans.
Kazuo Ishiguro’s use of comparative juxtapositions in the narrative, Never Let Me Go, offers the reader an important insight into the fragility of life and the morality of medical and scientific practices. Ishiguro is able to highlight many of the novel’s major themes such as power, manipulation and confinement as he employs comparisons between the values and lives of humans and clones, aspects of the main settings explored in the narrative and characterisations within Kathy’s own social hierarchies.