"'Kath, I don't want you to take this the wrong way. But I've been thinking it over a lot. Kath, I think I ought to get a different carer.'"
(pg. 280)
This quote describes the sad ending to this book. Tommy, knowing that he is dying, tells Kathy that he is going to get a different carer. I think it is very brave of him to do this and really shows the human qualities to the clones that very few people in their world want to recognize. Tommy obviously would want Kathy to be there when he is dying, but he is brave enough to send her away so that she won't have to see him in such bad condition and get upset when he begins to die; he wants her to remember him as the boy at Hailsham that she grew up with. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot more than "Brave New World." However, these books were both very similar in their societal settings and themes. Both books indicated the importance of keeping technology in check with our reality. If we let technology spiral beyond our moral boundaries, the books depict the horrible futures that may result. These symbols and themes are quite profound and relevent, especially since we live in a world with new technologies being developed every day. Someday soon, we might actually have to face the choices these books warn about. It really proves the timelessness of literature that we are focusing on in these books, especially since one was written nealy 80 years ago. I felt that "Never Let Me Go" was very good in the sense that it contained so many emotional twists. I also enjoyed watching the characters personalities change as they aged. One thing that I didn't like though was all the pointless anecdotes that probably filled half of the book. Many things would happen that were completely irrelavent and unimportant. Overall though, I enjoyed the book, but I'm even happier now that I have finished all my blogs!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Never Let Me Go 19- Rhetorical Question
"'Poor creatures. What did we do to you? With all our schemes and plans?'"
(pg. 254)
The rhetorical question from the quote is significant in the way it puts emphasis on what Madame was saying. Madame, through this quote, is conveyed as sympathetic for what Kathy, Tommy, and all the other students had to go through. In this scene, Miss Emily and Madame explain to the children the horrors of their society. Hailsham was a beacon of hope for changing the way their society worked. Before schools like Hailsham, students were created in warehouse-type factories and treated horribly. Their tone is of sincere remorse and regret that they couldn't accomplish this change as they later explained the reality of how their world works. However, Miss Emily and Madame had tried hard to change peoples' opinions of students like Tommy and Kathy through their art as a key to conveying the human qualities of the students. As a reader, I have to feel sorry Tommy and Kathy. Their perceived reality about the world and the defferals were nothing but fantasies. All hope they had in a good world that could help them just one time vanished with their newfound knowlege.
(pg. 254)
The rhetorical question from the quote is significant in the way it puts emphasis on what Madame was saying. Madame, through this quote, is conveyed as sympathetic for what Kathy, Tommy, and all the other students had to go through. In this scene, Miss Emily and Madame explain to the children the horrors of their society. Hailsham was a beacon of hope for changing the way their society worked. Before schools like Hailsham, students were created in warehouse-type factories and treated horribly. Their tone is of sincere remorse and regret that they couldn't accomplish this change as they later explained the reality of how their world works. However, Miss Emily and Madame had tried hard to change peoples' opinions of students like Tommy and Kathy through their art as a key to conveying the human qualities of the students. As a reader, I have to feel sorry Tommy and Kathy. Their perceived reality about the world and the defferals were nothing but fantasies. All hope they had in a good world that could help them just one time vanished with their newfound knowlege.
Never Let Me Go 18- Allusion
"I'd sit in the chair and read to him from various paperbacks I'd bring in, stuff like 'The Odyssey' or 'One Thousand and One Nights.'"
(pg. 238)
I've frequently noticed many allusions throughout the book but failed to mention any so far in my blogs. These allusions really create a time reference within the book. World War 2 is spoken of like it had just happened. Even though the technology and society is vastly different from ours today, it seems that the setting of this book is actually around our time era now if not in the past. One of the themes I've noticed from this book is how quickly and dangerously society can change if people dont regulate technology or, in some cases, even restrict it. Back to the quote though, it depicts the new relationship Kathy and Tommy have developed in the final parts of their lives. They had always been right for each other, but as Ruth explained, she kept them apart. One of Ruth's final wishes was for them finally to be together. Now Kathy has become Tommy's carer, and they are prepared to spend the final moments of their lives together since they'd missed this chance earlier during their upbringing as students.
(pg. 238)
I've frequently noticed many allusions throughout the book but failed to mention any so far in my blogs. These allusions really create a time reference within the book. World War 2 is spoken of like it had just happened. Even though the technology and society is vastly different from ours today, it seems that the setting of this book is actually around our time era now if not in the past. One of the themes I've noticed from this book is how quickly and dangerously society can change if people dont regulate technology or, in some cases, even restrict it. Back to the quote though, it depicts the new relationship Kathy and Tommy have developed in the final parts of their lives. They had always been right for each other, but as Ruth explained, she kept them apart. One of Ruth's final wishes was for them finally to be together. Now Kathy has become Tommy's carer, and they are prepared to spend the final moments of their lives together since they'd missed this chance earlier during their upbringing as students.
Never Let Me Go 17- What Donor's Are Supposed To Do
"'I was pretty much ready when I became a donor. It felt right. After all, it's what were supposed to be doing, isn't it?'"
(pg. 227)
What does she mean they're supposed to be doing it? I feel sorry for the characters because they know, deep down, that they are being used. Obviously, this was the case, but they never talked about it and tried to pretend that it wasn't so. I think it represents their remaining innocence that they've tried to cling on to in their final years. In the quote, it seems Ruth knows what others are doing to her is wrong. Ruth is talking in a way that she has to ask reassuringly that what she was doing was right, or what they were "supposed" to do. I know that they must feel the obligation to become donors since it was what they were created to do and, otherwise, would never have existed if it weren't for this purpose. However, it just still seems odd and almost unrealistic that everyone would come to terms with this matter. In this chapter though, the three friends are reunited for their first time since Hailsham. It will be interesting to see how the characters have changed and are newly portrayed as adults now. Kathy had already mentioned drastic differences in Ruth's character.
(pg. 227)
What does she mean they're supposed to be doing it? I feel sorry for the characters because they know, deep down, that they are being used. Obviously, this was the case, but they never talked about it and tried to pretend that it wasn't so. I think it represents their remaining innocence that they've tried to cling on to in their final years. In the quote, it seems Ruth knows what others are doing to her is wrong. Ruth is talking in a way that she has to ask reassuringly that what she was doing was right, or what they were "supposed" to do. I know that they must feel the obligation to become donors since it was what they were created to do and, otherwise, would never have existed if it weren't for this purpose. However, it just still seems odd and almost unrealistic that everyone would come to terms with this matter. In this chapter though, the three friends are reunited for their first time since Hailsham. It will be interesting to see how the characters have changed and are newly portrayed as adults now. Kathy had already mentioned drastic differences in Ruth's character.
Never Let Me Go 16- Hailsham Closing
"Hailsham was going to close any day and there were plans to sell the house and grounds to a hotel chain."
(pg. 212)
Kathy must have been distraught over Hailsham closing. It was the only little piece of her childhood that she had left, and people were selling it. This seems very symbolic of Kathy entering a new era in her life. The school she grew up in and loved was now gone. I think this symbolizes her transition from the innocence that Hailsham offered, a safe haven from the cruel world, to her new, harsh reality. She already had to leave behind her old friends from Hailsham. Now she must leave behind the school itself. She is only left with the cruel reality of what faces her: donations.
(pg. 212)
Kathy must have been distraught over Hailsham closing. It was the only little piece of her childhood that she had left, and people were selling it. This seems very symbolic of Kathy entering a new era in her life. The school she grew up in and loved was now gone. I think this symbolizes her transition from the innocence that Hailsham offered, a safe haven from the cruel world, to her new, harsh reality. She already had to leave behind her old friends from Hailsham. Now she must leave behind the school itself. She is only left with the cruel reality of what faces her: donations.
Never Let Me Go 15- Kathy's Leaving
"But I kept a certain distance from her, just as I did from Tommy. We didn't really talk properly again at the Cottages, and before I knew it, I was saying my goodbyes."
(pg. 203)
Kathy, in the quote, describes how after the three of them had that final fight, they were never the same around each other. This led to Kathy leaving the cottages to become a carer. Personally, I would rather hang out with friends I wasn't that close to rather than sign up for my death, but I guess that's just me. It's just odd how everyone accepts there fate and doesn't try to do anything about it. I would be the first one out of those Cottages if it were me that was going to have my organs harvested, but again, that's just one guy's opinion. Anyway, I know Kathy just wants to move on at this point in her life and doesn't really have a point in staying with Ruth and Tommy, but it really is shocking how she and the others cope with their lives. Obviously, she meets Ruth again later in the story, but Kathy, at this moment, is leaving Hailsham and her childhood behind by doing this. A new emotional tone comes over the story with Kathy leaving and knowing very well that she might never see them again.
(pg. 203)
Kathy, in the quote, describes how after the three of them had that final fight, they were never the same around each other. This led to Kathy leaving the cottages to become a carer. Personally, I would rather hang out with friends I wasn't that close to rather than sign up for my death, but I guess that's just me. It's just odd how everyone accepts there fate and doesn't try to do anything about it. I would be the first one out of those Cottages if it were me that was going to have my organs harvested, but again, that's just one guy's opinion. Anyway, I know Kathy just wants to move on at this point in her life and doesn't really have a point in staying with Ruth and Tommy, but it really is shocking how she and the others cope with their lives. Obviously, she meets Ruth again later in the story, but Kathy, at this moment, is leaving Hailsham and her childhood behind by doing this. A new emotional tone comes over the story with Kathy leaving and knowing very well that she might never see them again.
Never Let Me Go 14- Simile
"I can recall now, as fresh as anything, Tommy's own face, the anger receding for a moment, being replaced by an expression almost of wonder, like I was a rare butterfly he'd come across on a fencepost."
(pg. 195)
This was yet another one of Ruth and Kathys' fights. This time, Ruth dragged Tommy into it as well. I don't see why the characters, mainly Kathy and Ruth, always act this way. They just get mad and no one walks away happy. It's like a game for them and now, this time, they pulled Tommy into it with them and ended up hurting him the most. Ishiguro frequently includes all these fights in almost every chapter. They really don't seem to have a purpose except for the characters to get mad at each other and then make up for it a few pages later. In this fight, Ruth tells Tommy how she and Kathy had been making fun of his drawings which were very important to him. Even though this wasn't entirely true, Kathy didn't say anything. Unlike the previous arguements before that I neglected to include, this fight was actually important though in the way it had really driven Kathy and Tommy apart. Also, it seems have significantly changed the direction of the plot.
(pg. 195)
This was yet another one of Ruth and Kathys' fights. This time, Ruth dragged Tommy into it as well. I don't see why the characters, mainly Kathy and Ruth, always act this way. They just get mad and no one walks away happy. It's like a game for them and now, this time, they pulled Tommy into it with them and ended up hurting him the most. Ishiguro frequently includes all these fights in almost every chapter. They really don't seem to have a purpose except for the characters to get mad at each other and then make up for it a few pages later. In this fight, Ruth tells Tommy how she and Kathy had been making fun of his drawings which were very important to him. Even though this wasn't entirely true, Kathy didn't say anything. Unlike the previous arguements before that I neglected to include, this fight was actually important though in the way it had really driven Kathy and Tommy apart. Also, it seems have significantly changed the direction of the plot.
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