It's All in Our Minds

Never Let Me Go is the pinnacle of dystopian fiction. What could be more awful than creating humans to be used for spare parts for other humans? I’m not sure why anyone would think the clones might not have a soul but we are never told exactly how these clones were created. This cloning idea is the latest 1984-like scheme that we already know has the potential to become true.

Probably the saddest part of the book is at the very end when Kath learns that Tommy has “completed” (287). It’s an interesting choice of language. Ishiguro could have used the word “died” but that would be too human-like. These clones are part of a business transaction so it’s appropriate that the language would be business-like. Even Kath calls the cloned people “donors,” which identifies them solely by their functions as human beings(3). While Kath is a “carer,” it’s a title similar to nurse so it isn’t such a loaded term even though we know she will eventually become a donor (3). It’s interesting that they are given first names and only the first initial of the last name, as if they don’t really have a true identity, which I guess they don’t.

Other thoughts: the “sales” are the only connection the characters have with the outside world, which is interesting because they are actually the commodities and that will eventually become their primary/sole connection with the outside world. Ishiguro’s style is muted and plain – there are no incredibly emotional scenes. There is an overall melancholic feel to the narration; if it were a color it would be beige.

Most curious to me is the submissiveness of the characters, their acceptance of their fate with no thought of escaping even though they have some freedom as they get older. It’s very creepy that they are so accepting of their fate. So what keeps them so powerless? Is it a physiological characteristic bred into them? Is it drugs? They have freedom but don’t exercise it even when they know they could find some happiness by living as couples. It seems to emphasize that the greatest barriers we have as humans are the ones we construct in our own minds.