Never Let Me Go: A Comparative Analysis

The majority of people would say that the constant innovations in medicine, science, and technology are all positive signs for the future. However, no one questions what could unravel if our knowledge becomes too vast for our own good. If we continue to broaden our intellect in these fields of medicine, science, and technology, who knows what once fictitious thoughts or ideas, could be made possible. Progressions in all aspects, such as the ones in the article “For patients who need bone grafts, a 3D-printer could come to the rescue” by Amina Khan can cause a reader to question some of the dystopian lifestyles mentioned in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go.
In Brave New World, Huxley writes about the concept
of using hatcheries in this dystopian society to call the reader to question the extremes that our current innovations may ensue. In the Hatchery and Conditioning Centre, humans were being produced in a factory-like setting where they could be altered in various ways to fit distinctively into one of the sectors of the World State. Tampering with the process of creating human life is never something that should be grazed over, especially when it could potentially benefit the ability of the government to create order and harmony. Some may argue that the displays of corruption within the novel Brave New World leave much to be desired. This being said the World State, in my opinion, could be seen as a warning. In providing both the positive and negative sides of technology and innovation’s capabilities one is left to think that possibly Huxley is warning future generations through the use of his writing. Although, many of the occurrences in this novel may seem far-fetched we have to use them in our own preparation for what may come along with our up-in-coming discoveries. Senior author Ramille Shah states “It really fulfills a major need in the clinical world”(For patients who need bone grafts, a 3D-printer could come to the rescue). The idea of having so many new inventions and advancements in technology lurking around the corner that could benefit so many is astonishing. Bone grafts could potentially just be seen as a stepping-stone for many more medical needs to be fulfilled. Although, the idea of reaching our full potential and easy accommodation may be the first draw to continuous growth in technology, stability is another entity that human’s desire. Huxley states, "The world's stable now. People are happy; they get what they want, and they never want what they can't get" (Huxley 220). This statement, at first, can seem eerie with the underlying warnings it exudes but if we aim to listen to Huxley and make concrete solutions from the start there is no reason not to view our societies growth as an amazing endeavor. For as unrealistic and unattainable the thought of one day reaching true happiness through stability in the world may appear, if done correctly the possibilities could be remarkable.
In Never Let Me Go, Ishiguro depicts an environment where the lifestyles of a select few revolve around their sole purpose; to donate their organs to anyone else who is in need in order to make the reader question if one day there could ever be a simple way to fix this problem.
This novel essentially says that it is, in fact, okay to sacrifice the lives of a minority in order to better the lives of the majority. Although cruel and unjust, this concept was, in fact, a way of life supported by the government in this novel. Although, in today’s society we do not face the extremities presented in the donor versus patient situation. It is hopeful to think that with the growth of knowledge in the fields of technology, medicine, and science articles such as “ For patients who need bone grafts, a 3D-printer could come to the rescue” is just the first of many. These headlines represent a source of hope for the future, permitting us to never have to reach the point of desperation portrayed in Never Let Me Go. Technology paired with science as well as medicine has come so far, it is now possible to print bone grafts to be used in surgery to repair damaged bone. So far, many people have been satisfied with the recent innovation. Even though positive feedback is always good news, it is important that we look at this stride that 3D printing has made in terms of the long run. The printing of bone grafts can be seen as a stepping block to what’s in store in medical advancements in the
future. If the use of technology within medicine increases to the point where we can create or print functional organs, this will put an end to the segregation between donors and the rest of the world. Outbreaks of artificial organs are just one step toward a better future of longevity and strength in the way we live.
It is important that we look at both of the dystopian societies presented in the aforementioned novels to understand the dynamic complex that unravels with technological evolution and growth.
A dystopian society is defined as an “imaginary society that is as dehumanizing and unpleasant as possible” from many sources such as Dictionary.com. This being said, many may call to question why we are using these dystopian novels as a guide to our own living when we should only want what is best. In order to make use of all of the products of the bright minds in our world today, we must see the dystopian novels as warnings. Regardless of whether innovation is beneficial or not, evolution is inevitable. Societies will continue to advance; the main challenge is the degree in which we handle all that comes with it. In “ For patients who need bone grafts, a 3D-printer could come to the rescue”, Amina Khan comments on the benefits of using 3D- printing to create bone grafts in order to show the rapid impact that the innovation within 3D-printers could have on medicine. A common action for a few years now among most people is printing. Whether it is printing out a homework assignment, a fax for work, or the paperboard boxes that hold our food most everyone has used this piece of technology. Now printing common substrates such as paper and plastic can be viewed as a menial task. The printing of bone grafts can be seen as a stepping block to what’s in store in medical advancements in the
future. First, bone grafts, but what could be next? Many may argue that the development of bone grafts through 3D printing could spark discoveries of printing other parts of the body as well.