Humanity In Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go- Humanity
To what extent are the students shown as human in the novel?
Desmond Tutu once said: “All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others.”
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go takes place in a dystopian world, where mankind was able to create clones in order to use their vital organs for “normal” people who needed organ transplants. The narrator, Kathy H., is a clone who grew up in Hailsham- a special school for clones in England. The story alternates between flashbacks and current events in Kathy’s life, as she is expecting her first donation. As a student in Hailsham, she befriends Ruth and Tommy. Ruth is a cunning, charismatic girl who is often manipulative and deceitful. She is hardly ever willing to accept the reality she lives in. Tommy is …show more content…
There, the common belief is that the clones are merely animals, and therefore should be treated as such. This is an easy way to deal with something intimidating that is different from us- reject and distance ourselves from it. Fear often becomes disgust and revulsion. This happened to the “normal” people in the novel- even the ones who should know better. When Kathy asks Miss Emily about the way Madame always seemed afraid of the children, Miss Emily replies: “There were times I’d look down at you all from my study window and I’d feel such revulsion… But I was determined not to let such feelings stop me from doing what was right.” (P. 269)
Despite the effort being admirable, this shows us even the people who are closest to the clones still often have difficulty accepting them as human beings.
However, the students themselves wholeheartedly believe they are human. Upon being told by Miss Emily proof of their humanity had to be shown, Kathy is taken aback. “Why did you have to prove a thing like that, Miss Emily? Did someone think we didn’t have souls?” (P.
To what extent are the students shown as human in the novel?
Desmond Tutu once said: “All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others.”
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go takes place in a dystopian world, where mankind was able to create clones in order to use their vital organs for “normal” people who needed organ transplants. The narrator, Kathy H., is a clone who grew up in Hailsham- a special school for clones in England. The story alternates between flashbacks and current events in Kathy’s life, as she is expecting her first donation. As a student in Hailsham, she befriends Ruth and Tommy. Ruth is a cunning, charismatic girl who is often manipulative and deceitful. She is hardly ever willing to accept the reality she lives in. Tommy is …show more content…
There, the common belief is that the clones are merely animals, and therefore should be treated as such. This is an easy way to deal with something intimidating that is different from us- reject and distance ourselves from it. Fear often becomes disgust and revulsion. This happened to the “normal” people in the novel- even the ones who should know better. When Kathy asks Miss Emily about the way Madame always seemed afraid of the children, Miss Emily replies: “There were times I’d look down at you all from my study window and I’d feel such revulsion… But I was determined not to let such feelings stop me from doing what was right.” (P. 269)
Despite the effort being admirable, this shows us even the people who are closest to the clones still often have difficulty accepting them as human beings.
However, the students themselves wholeheartedly believe they are human. Upon being told by Miss Emily proof of their humanity had to be shown, Kathy is taken aback. “Why did you have to prove a thing like that, Miss Emily? Did someone think we didn’t have souls?” (P.