"The moon wasn't quite full, but it was bright enough, and I could make out in the mid-distance, near where the field began to fall away, Tommy's figure, raging, shouting, flinging his fists and kicking out." - Never Let Me Go, page 274.
This part of the book was so sad and when I watched the movie it actually made me want to cry! It was like the breaking point. How could the world be so cruel to these "creatures," as Madame called them. It just seemed so unfair. Tommy had been able to handle himself and control his anger for years and now, it all just came flowing out. The love between these two was so strong and Tommy knew that it was all going to end soon because he was going to die. Hopefully our world never comes to this, to where people are created just for the sake of saving others and donating their vital organs. It would just be horrible. How could anyone justify the killing of one person in order to save another? That is the choice of God and acting as God is a sin.
"I half-closed my eyes and imagined...and if I waited long enough, a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across the field, and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy, and he'd wave, maybe even call." - Never Let Me Go, page 287.
Now I would like to take time discussing my reaction to the end of the novel. I can with full certainty say that I liked this book a lot more than Brave New World. I found it more relatable and it was much more interesting. It captured my attention from the very beginning. Like I said before, I hope our world doesn't find itself in the same situation as this one. Although it is wonderful that they tried to find a way to cure all the diseases and illness that kill people, I think they went about it the wrong way. It is better to find a cure with medicine and other things like that than to use people's bodies for donations all the while knowing it will kill that person. When I read the last paragraph of the book, I was filled with saddness because it showed how affected by everything Kathy felt. She lost both people she loved. The world created a situation where these people were forced to live a life they did not want. I just can't imagine how they felt, giving up their own lives to save others and wondering if it was really all worth it.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Simile
"I thought about Hailsham closing, and how it was like someone coming along with a pair of shears and snipping the balloon strings just where they entwined above the man's fist." - Never Let Me Go, page 213.
The purpose of this simile and what makes is so important is that is shows Kathy's real feelings about Hailsham. The reader can see that Kathy saw Hailsham as the glue that kept everyone together. Students that came from there were like a family that could always come together again whenever they liked because they had a commonality. Finding out that Hailsham was closing was like finding out that a parent had died (It probably wasn't so emotional but you get the point.). That was where everyone had come from and it was like a part of them was being taken away. Roger said, though, that he "supposed it wouldn't make a difference to the likes of [them] any more." I agree with him on this. Just because Hailsham is gone doesn't mean that Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy aren't great friends. Time will continue pass and if anything, this moment should make the three of them even closer friends. They should cherish each other and realize that what they have is absolutely wonderful.
The purpose of this simile and what makes is so important is that is shows Kathy's real feelings about Hailsham. The reader can see that Kathy saw Hailsham as the glue that kept everyone together. Students that came from there were like a family that could always come together again whenever they liked because they had a commonality. Finding out that Hailsham was closing was like finding out that a parent had died (It probably wasn't so emotional but you get the point.). That was where everyone had come from and it was like a part of them was being taken away. Roger said, though, that he "supposed it wouldn't make a difference to the likes of [them] any more." I agree with him on this. Just because Hailsham is gone doesn't mean that Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy aren't great friends. Time will continue pass and if anything, this moment should make the three of them even closer friends. They should cherish each other and realize that what they have is absolutely wonderful.
Drama In The Churchyard
It wasn't that I thought I'd burst into tears or lose my temper or anything like that. But I decided just to turn and go. Even later that day, I realised this was a bad mistake. All I can say is that at the time what I feared more than anything was that one or the other of them would stalk off first, and I'd be left with the remaining one. - Never Let Me Go, page 195.
When I read this part of the novel I couldn't quite understand why Kathy had done what she did. Stalking off solved nothing and actually I think it only created more problems, making it seem as though she was somehow angry with the both of them. It created a rift between their friendship which she explains doesn't totally get solved. She tried to explain herself by saying she was afraid of being left with the other person if one of them walked away before her but this seems like a bad excuse for what she did. I honestly think she was too embarrassed by what she had done that she just didn't want to deal with the consequences of her actions. She should have stood up for Tommy because she knew deep down that his drawing were good and I know she would have told him otherwise if she felt differently. She was just trying to make herself look good in front of Ruth. Kathy was put in an awkward situation when Ruth confronted her about how she got her tape. She was only trying to keep their friendship alive when she laughed with Ruth about Tommy's drawings, but I think that she should have stood up for Tommy in the churchyard, especially since Tommy has never done anything cruel to her like this before.
When I read this part of the novel I couldn't quite understand why Kathy had done what she did. Stalking off solved nothing and actually I think it only created more problems, making it seem as though she was somehow angry with the both of them. It created a rift between their friendship which she explains doesn't totally get solved. She tried to explain herself by saying she was afraid of being left with the other person if one of them walked away before her but this seems like a bad excuse for what she did. I honestly think she was too embarrassed by what she had done that she just didn't want to deal with the consequences of her actions. She should have stood up for Tommy because she knew deep down that his drawing were good and I know she would have told him otherwise if she felt differently. She was just trying to make herself look good in front of Ruth. Kathy was put in an awkward situation when Ruth confronted her about how she got her tape. She was only trying to keep their friendship alive when she laughed with Ruth about Tommy's drawings, but I think that she should have stood up for Tommy in the churchyard, especially since Tommy has never done anything cruel to her like this before.
Anaphora
"Because however sympathetic they were, I could see that deep down they were relieved. They were relieved things had turned out the way they had; that they were in a position to comfort Ruth, instead of being left behind in the wake of a dizzying boost to her hopes. They were relieved they wouldn't have to face, more starkly than ever, the notion which fascinated and nagged and scared them: this notion of thiers that there were all kinds of possibilities open to us Hailsham students that weren't open to them." - Never Let Me Go, page 165.
This quote is an example of the literary term called an anaphora. The word relieved is repeated twice at the beginnings of two sentences. The purpose of the anaphora is to show just how, literally, relieved Chrissie and Rodney were that everyone agreed that the woman in the office was not Ruth's possible. As it is said in the quote, Chrissie and Rodney feel like Hailsham students have it better. The reader has been able to see this throughout the entire time the two characters have been a part of the novel. The anaphora shows how happy Chrissie and Rodney were to see things not work out for a Hailsham student for once. I just think it was awful of the two to invite Ruth on this trip getting her hopes up for seeing her possible when they probably knew all along that the woman was not really her. They were so caught up in wanting to find out how to get a defferal, inviting the three just because they were from Hailsham and they assumed that they would know how to get a deferral as if they had better opportunities than the rest, that they didn't really care about how Ruth would feel if the woman didn't look to be the person she was modeled after.
This quote is an example of the literary term called an anaphora. The word relieved is repeated twice at the beginnings of two sentences. The purpose of the anaphora is to show just how, literally, relieved Chrissie and Rodney were that everyone agreed that the woman in the office was not Ruth's possible. As it is said in the quote, Chrissie and Rodney feel like Hailsham students have it better. The reader has been able to see this throughout the entire time the two characters have been a part of the novel. The anaphora shows how happy Chrissie and Rodney were to see things not work out for a Hailsham student for once. I just think it was awful of the two to invite Ruth on this trip getting her hopes up for seeing her possible when they probably knew all along that the woman was not really her. They were so caught up in wanting to find out how to get a defferal, inviting the three just because they were from Hailsham and they assumed that they would know how to get a deferral as if they had better opportunities than the rest, that they didn't really care about how Ruth would feel if the woman didn't look to be the person she was modeled after.
Motivation
"And somthing told me we were coming to what was, for Chrissie and Rodney, the central purpose of this whole expedition." - Never Let Me Go, page 153.
The quote above is a great example of the literary term called motivation. Chrissie and Rodney had invited the three Hailsham friends (Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy) to come to Norfolk with them because they claimed to have found Ruth's possible (the person Ruth was modeled after when she was created). Once I heard Chrissie say she wanted to talk to the group about something I figured that maybe they had never seen Ruth's possible at all. Maybe it was all just a scam to get them away so they could talk to the group, personally, and away from everyone else. My suspicions were proved to be true when they later went to find the possible and it turned out that the woman didn't look to be Ruth's possible at all. Ruth got pretty angry about it, as expected, but it just showed how desperate Chrissie and Rodney were to get a deferral. It showed how couples would probably do anything to prevent the donations process even if it was for a couple of years. I bet some people just pretend to be in love so they could push their donations back for awhile.
The quote above is a great example of the literary term called motivation. Chrissie and Rodney had invited the three Hailsham friends (Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy) to come to Norfolk with them because they claimed to have found Ruth's possible (the person Ruth was modeled after when she was created). Once I heard Chrissie say she wanted to talk to the group about something I figured that maybe they had never seen Ruth's possible at all. Maybe it was all just a scam to get them away so they could talk to the group, personally, and away from everyone else. My suspicions were proved to be true when they later went to find the possible and it turned out that the woman didn't look to be Ruth's possible at all. Ruth got pretty angry about it, as expected, but it just showed how desperate Chrissie and Rodney were to get a deferral. It showed how couples would probably do anything to prevent the donations process even if it was for a couple of years. I bet some people just pretend to be in love so they could push their donations back for awhile.
Allusion
"That's why she often looked more like the Wicked Witch than a movie star - an impression reinforced by her irritating way of jabbing you with a finger the second before she said something to you." - Never Let Me Go, page 141.
External Conflict
"She watched me carefully, then did a laugh, as though to say: 'We're still friends, aren't we?' But I didn't find anything to laugh about in this last remark of hers. I just picked up my book and walked off without another word." - Never Let Me Go, page 125.
This quote from the novel is a good example of an external conflict. It also is a good example of Ruth and Kathy's friendship being put to the test. It almost seems like the two are always trying to "one up" the other. Honestly, I think that both parties are at fault here. Kathy started the whole arguement when she told Ruth it looked daft the way she copied what Chrissie and Rodney were always doing. Then, being Ruth's personality, she came back hard. She became defensive and when given the right opportunity, began to attack Kathy. The thing is, though, Ruth and Kathy have been friends for so long. I don't think this argument will come between them too much. Hopefully, they will put everything behind them. I already know that later they will stay friends since Kathy becomes Ruth's carer and so this arguement shouldn't break their friendship too bad.
This quote from the novel is a good example of an external conflict. It also is a good example of Ruth and Kathy's friendship being put to the test. It almost seems like the two are always trying to "one up" the other. Honestly, I think that both parties are at fault here. Kathy started the whole arguement when she told Ruth it looked daft the way she copied what Chrissie and Rodney were always doing. Then, being Ruth's personality, she came back hard. She became defensive and when given the right opportunity, began to attack Kathy. The thing is, though, Ruth and Kathy have been friends for so long. I don't think this argument will come between them too much. Hopefully, they will put everything behind them. I already know that later they will stay friends since Kathy becomes Ruth's carer and so this arguement shouldn't break their friendship too bad.
Never Let Me Go - More About The Title
"Because somewhere underneath, a part of us stayed like that: fearful of the world around us, and - no matter how much we despised ourselves for it - unable quite to let each other go." - Never Let Me Go, page 120.
I'm starting to get more answers about why the title is named Never Let Me Go. The meaning behind it is a little bit deeper than being the name of the song Kathy loved to listen to. It shows the great friendship held between the students at Hailsham and more specifically, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy's friendship. No matter what happens, no matter what arguements come about, it is almost certain that the bond created between these two friends will always hold them together. They will be friends until the end. We also know this because we have had glimpses into the students' futures. We know that Kathy and Ruth stay in touch and I am almost certain Tommy will stay friends with them as well. Now, it might just be me trying to see more connections than there truly are but I found it very ironic that the song that Kathy loved was track number three and Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy are three friends. This seems like a sign to me that the three of them will always be friends. They will not let their friendship fade and they most certainly will never let eachother go.
All this talk of three best friends has made me think a lot of a very funny part from the movie The Hangover. You all have probably seen it before but just for kicks...enjoy!! :)
Internal Conflict
"that's not really what's bothering me. It's really something else altogether. I just keep thinking about it all the time. About Miss Lucy." - Never Let Me Go, page 107.
This quote by Tommy is a perfect example of the literary device of an internal conflict. As the reader, I knew something was up with Tommy from the times when he stalked off after Laura noticed some mud on his pants and when he marched off after Kathy tried to show him Patricia's calendar. Kathy, the other characters, and I believed it was because he and Ruth broke up. Then he told Kathy that it was because Miss Lucy came to him and corrected herself, saying art was important. What?!?! I am so confused now. Miss Lucy was about the only guardian who seemed sane at Hailsham. She seemed to be the only one who believed Tommy was great even without being artistic. Maybe this is also something that was bothering Miss Lucy (therefore Miss Lucy, too, was dealing with an internal conflict). Maybe the whole time she was rethinking what she told Tommy and just now she decided to talk to him about it. I still do not truly understand why being an artistic person would be such a huge deal especially since we all know that these students will only end up donating their organs and won't have to do anything further with their lives. Just as Miss Lucy had said before, their lives are already predetermined so none of these kids will even become artists anyway. Hopefully I will get an answer about this question later in the book as well.
This quote by Tommy is a perfect example of the literary device of an internal conflict. As the reader, I knew something was up with Tommy from the times when he stalked off after Laura noticed some mud on his pants and when he marched off after Kathy tried to show him Patricia's calendar. Kathy, the other characters, and I believed it was because he and Ruth broke up. Then he told Kathy that it was because Miss Lucy came to him and corrected herself, saying art was important. What?!?! I am so confused now. Miss Lucy was about the only guardian who seemed sane at Hailsham. She seemed to be the only one who believed Tommy was great even without being artistic. Maybe this is also something that was bothering Miss Lucy (therefore Miss Lucy, too, was dealing with an internal conflict). Maybe the whole time she was rethinking what she told Tommy and just now she decided to talk to him about it. I still do not truly understand why being an artistic person would be such a huge deal especially since we all know that these students will only end up donating their organs and won't have to do anything further with their lives. Just as Miss Lucy had said before, their lives are already predetermined so none of these kids will even become artists anyway. Hopefully I will get an answer about this question later in the book as well.Anecdote
"Many of us had turned sixteen by then. It was a morning of brilliant sunshine and we'd all just come down to the courtyard after a lesson in the main house, when I remembered something I'd left in the classroom. So I went back up to the third floor and that's how the thing with Miss Lucy happened." - Never Let Me Go, page 90.
The quote above is a wonderful example of an anecdote. Sometimes I find it hard to tell the difference between a flashback and an anecdote but I think that they can occasionally be interchanged, especially since they are serving basically the same purpose. The purpose of this anecdote is to demonstrate an example that showed how troubled Miss Lucy had become. Tommy had said that it had never occured to them to say anything or do anything to support Miss Lucy especially since they were all aware of how troubled she had become. Miss Lucy was probably so distressed because she knew the awful futures that were in store for the students, as I already talked about before. I believe this wholeheartedly because the instance where she talked to the students during the rain storm occured when they were fifteen and the time when Kathy found Miss Lucy in the classroom happened when some had turned sixteen. The two times occured around the same time so obviously, Miss Lucy had been pondering over the thing for awhile. It was really troubling her and she could hardly contain her feelings about the matter.
The quote above is a wonderful example of an anecdote. Sometimes I find it hard to tell the difference between a flashback and an anecdote but I think that they can occasionally be interchanged, especially since they are serving basically the same purpose. The purpose of this anecdote is to demonstrate an example that showed how troubled Miss Lucy had become. Tommy had said that it had never occured to them to say anything or do anything to support Miss Lucy especially since they were all aware of how troubled she had become. Miss Lucy was probably so distressed because she knew the awful futures that were in store for the students, as I already talked about before. I believe this wholeheartedly because the instance where she talked to the students during the rain storm occured when they were fifteen and the time when Kathy found Miss Lucy in the classroom happened when some had turned sixteen. The two times occured around the same time so obviously, Miss Lucy had been pondering over the thing for awhile. It was really troubling her and she could hardly contain her feelings about the matter.Litote
"'It's not so bad now,' she said, even though the rain was as steady as ever." - Never Let Me Go, page 81.
After explaining to the children what there futures were going to be like, Miss Lucy said to them, "It's not so bad now." This is a wonderful example of a litote. The reason she said this was to sort of lighten the mood after she had pretty much just told them they were never going to have normal lives. She also made it clear that they could just expect to never travel or have regular jobs. She tried to make the situation with the rain more positive by understating the situation and negating the negative part of it. By doing this, she both changed the subject and lightened the mood. It was a weak attempt, though, because I am sure the students didn't just forget about the conversation. In fact, Kathy explains how much later in their lives when Ruth was in her donation periods, they talked about the time when Miss Lucy gave them her speech. I think Miss Lucy was a bit wrong in getting angry with they system and telling the kids off like that, though. For one, maybe the reason for why they were hardly told anything was because the guardians knew that if the children knew everything, they would probably become depressed or act out. The futures that are already set for these kids are horrible and disgusting and so maybe the guardians are just trying to protect them by waiting until the right time to explain their purposes on this earth.
After explaining to the children what there futures were going to be like, Miss Lucy said to them, "It's not so bad now." This is a wonderful example of a litote. The reason she said this was to sort of lighten the mood after she had pretty much just told them they were never going to have normal lives. She also made it clear that they could just expect to never travel or have regular jobs. She tried to make the situation with the rain more positive by understating the situation and negating the negative part of it. By doing this, she both changed the subject and lightened the mood. It was a weak attempt, though, because I am sure the students didn't just forget about the conversation. In fact, Kathy explains how much later in their lives when Ruth was in her donation periods, they talked about the time when Miss Lucy gave them her speech. I think Miss Lucy was a bit wrong in getting angry with they system and telling the kids off like that, though. For one, maybe the reason for why they were hardly told anything was because the guardians knew that if the children knew everything, they would probably become depressed or act out. The futures that are already set for these kids are horrible and disgusting and so maybe the guardians are just trying to protect them by waiting until the right time to explain their purposes on this earth.
Paradox
"'If no one else will talk to you,' she continued, 'then I will. The problem, as I see it, is that you've been told and not told.'" - Never Let Me Go, page 81.
The part in this quote that says, "you've been told and not told," is a wonderful example of a paradox. It definitely contradicts itself. The purpose of using this literary device is to show how the children have been told about their futures yet do not fully understand them. It demonstrates how things are still sort of being kept from them considering a lot of them think they will be able to go to different countries or get normal jobs. They think they will do these things but they do not understand that they will not. I can relate this to my life when I was learning how to drive. Before I got my license I was excited about the concept of driving and could not wait for the freedom. I was told it was going to be more work than I expected but I didn't really believe it. Now that I have my license, I realize that it isn't as wonderful as I though it would be. I have to drive my sisters and myself all around to practices and what not and I have to run special errands all the time to the store for my parents. Then there is the problem with gas and how expensive it is. Just like the students at Hailsham, I was "told and not told."
The part in this quote that says, "you've been told and not told," is a wonderful example of a paradox. It definitely contradicts itself. The purpose of using this literary device is to show how the children have been told about their futures yet do not fully understand them. It demonstrates how things are still sort of being kept from them considering a lot of them think they will be able to go to different countries or get normal jobs. They think they will do these things but they do not understand that they will not. I can relate this to my life when I was learning how to drive. Before I got my license I was excited about the concept of driving and could not wait for the freedom. I was told it was going to be more work than I expected but I didn't really believe it. Now that I have my license, I realize that it isn't as wonderful as I though it would be. I have to drive my sisters and myself all around to practices and what not and I have to run special errands all the time to the store for my parents. Then there is the problem with gas and how expensive it is. Just like the students at Hailsham, I was "told and not told."Never Let Me Go - The Title
"What made the tape so special for me was this one particular song: track number three, "Never Let Me Go." - Never Let Me Go, page 70.
I love it when I figure out why the author has named the book!!! Anyway, in chapter six, Madame runs away crying after seeing Kathy dancing to the song Never Let Me Go. I was a bit confused by why Madame would find this sad especially since it was obvious Kathy was enjoying herself and didn't have the least bit of saddness in her. Later in the chapter, Kathy tried to explain that it was probably because the children at Hailsham could not have children so Madame thought it was awful to see a child pretending to have an imaginary child while singing "Never Let Me Go" to it. Although this is a good explanation, I do not believe it is the real reason for Madame acting as she did. There was no way for Madame to know that that was what Kathy was thinking especially since the context of the song had nothing to do with telling a real baby to never let the mother go. This part of the book is very important and I think it will come up again later in the novel. I will be looking out for more reasons to why Madame acted as she did and hopefully I will get the real answer!
I love it when I figure out why the author has named the book!!! Anyway, in chapter six, Madame runs away crying after seeing Kathy dancing to the song Never Let Me Go. I was a bit confused by why Madame would find this sad especially since it was obvious Kathy was enjoying herself and didn't have the least bit of saddness in her. Later in the chapter, Kathy tried to explain that it was probably because the children at Hailsham could not have children so Madame thought it was awful to see a child pretending to have an imaginary child while singing "Never Let Me Go" to it. Although this is a good explanation, I do not believe it is the real reason for Madame acting as she did. There was no way for Madame to know that that was what Kathy was thinking especially since the context of the song had nothing to do with telling a real baby to never let the mother go. This part of the book is very important and I think it will come up again later in the novel. I will be looking out for more reasons to why Madame acted as she did and hopefully I will get the real answer!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Synecdoche
"I hadn't mentioned to a soul anything about the Sales Register business, but I suppose Ruth wasn't to know that." - Never Let Me Go, page 63.
Well, here is another example of a literary device being used in this novel. The quote above is an example of a synecdoche. When Kathy says she "hadn't mentioned to a soul," she really means she has told no one. She combines every person into one soul. This is what makes it a synecdoche. This saying is something that most people say on a regular basis even if they do not necessarily know they are using a literary device. When speaking, a lot of people will say they "haven't told a soul." It seems to be just one of those things about our language. I wouldn't go as far as calling it slang but it is something that has been adopted by our language that people have become accustomed to saying. Ishiguro used this literary device to connect these people to our world. It shows a simmilarity between us and them. We can not truly understand what these characters are going through because we can not relate to their situation. By having the characters talk in a way that we might talk in, Ishiguro is creating a connection between us and the people in the story. We are able to be more open to their situation and relate better with them just because we can unconsciously relate to their speech and language.
Well, here is another example of a literary device being used in this novel. The quote above is an example of a synecdoche. When Kathy says she "hadn't mentioned to a soul," she really means she has told no one. She combines every person into one soul. This is what makes it a synecdoche. This saying is something that most people say on a regular basis even if they do not necessarily know they are using a literary device. When speaking, a lot of people will say they "haven't told a soul." It seems to be just one of those things about our language. I wouldn't go as far as calling it slang but it is something that has been adopted by our language that people have become accustomed to saying. Ishiguro used this literary device to connect these people to our world. It shows a simmilarity between us and them. We can not truly understand what these characters are going through because we can not relate to their situation. By having the characters talk in a way that we might talk in, Ishiguro is creating a connection between us and the people in the story. We are able to be more open to their situation and relate better with them just because we can unconsciously relate to their speech and language.
Rhetorical Questions
"So what if she'd fibbed a little about her pencil case? Didn't we all dream from time to time about one guardian or other bending the rules and doing something special for us? A spontaneous hug, a secret letter, a gift?" - Never Let Me Go, page 60.
The quote above is a good example of the author's use of rhetorical questions. Ishiguro used this literary device to show the reader what Kathy had been thinking inside. She was upset with how she had plotted against Ruth and planned to prove that she had been lying about the pencil case. Once she had done so, Kathy was humiliated with herself. She realized she had harmed her "dearest friend." The rhetorical questions serve the purpose of showing the reader that once she realized what she had done, Kathy tried to convince herself more than the reader that everyone lies every once in a while. She tried to prove to herself that what Ruth had done wasn't such a big deal. The rhetorical questions help Kathy convey why she felt she had done something wrong and to prove that Ruth was not at fault, even though we all know that lying is totally wrong.
Ruth And Her Influence
"My guess is that I knew Ruth only very slightly at that point. But she must already have made some impression on me, because I remember carrying on busily with whatever I was doing in the sand, absolutely dreading the idea of her turning her gaze on me." - Never Let Me Go, page 46.
I want to take this time to explain what I already know about Ruth and how she influenced the people around her. From the beginning, I was able to see that Ruth was more or less the leader of the group she and Kathy were a part of. People looked toward her for advice and before saying anything, they thought of what Ruth would think of them. I believe that Ruth will have a huge influence on Kathy later in the book and might even be the cause for the actions Kathy makes. At this point in the story, I find a simmilarity between Ruth and what an older brother or sister might be like. The younger siblings look up to that older, much wiser sibling and ask for advice from that brother or sister. I am the oldest of my siblings and my younger sisters are always asking for my advice, whether it's with fashion or even homework. In this way I can sort of see how Ruth is like an older sister to her friends at Hailsham. They look up to her and want more than anything to please her. Hopefully Ruth will live up to her role without disappointing the rest of the students.
I want to take this time to explain what I already know about Ruth and how she influenced the people around her. From the beginning, I was able to see that Ruth was more or less the leader of the group she and Kathy were a part of. People looked toward her for advice and before saying anything, they thought of what Ruth would think of them. I believe that Ruth will have a huge influence on Kathy later in the book and might even be the cause for the actions Kathy makes. At this point in the story, I find a simmilarity between Ruth and what an older brother or sister might be like. The younger siblings look up to that older, much wiser sibling and ask for advice from that brother or sister. I am the oldest of my siblings and my younger sisters are always asking for my advice, whether it's with fashion or even homework. In this way I can sort of see how Ruth is like an older sister to her friends at Hailsham. They look up to her and want more than anything to please her. Hopefully Ruth will live up to her role without disappointing the rest of the students.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Madame's Fear
"I can still see it now, the shudder she seemed to be suppressing, the real dread that one of us would accidentally brush against her. And though we just kept on walking, we all felt it; it was like we'd walked from the sun right into chilly shade. Ruth had been right: Madame was afraid of us." - Never Let Me Go, page 35.
I found chapter three of this novel to be very interesting. I came across some questions, though, that I am sure will be answered later. My biggest question is in regard to Madame's reaction as she is passed by a group of Hailsham students. Why on earth would a grown woman react with such fear when put in the presence of children? I couldn't understand her reaction at all. Why would she act like this yet be so eager to take some of the students' works of art for her gallery? If she is so afraid of them, then why doesn't she just find a new job that would let her be away from children completely. My only reasoning that would explain Madame's fear is that maybe it's not fear of the children at all that caused her reaction. The reader knows from earlier discussions in the book that these Hailsham children will grow up and give donations. Maybe Madame just doesn't know how to greet or approach the kids. They are different from her and it is their futures that make her fearful. How can she connect with these kids knowing that they are merely just objects to be used later in the future? There is really no way for her to have a total understanding of the lives these kids are faced with.
I found chapter three of this novel to be very interesting. I came across some questions, though, that I am sure will be answered later. My biggest question is in regard to Madame's reaction as she is passed by a group of Hailsham students. Why on earth would a grown woman react with such fear when put in the presence of children? I couldn't understand her reaction at all. Why would she act like this yet be so eager to take some of the students' works of art for her gallery? If she is so afraid of them, then why doesn't she just find a new job that would let her be away from children completely. My only reasoning that would explain Madame's fear is that maybe it's not fear of the children at all that caused her reaction. The reader knows from earlier discussions in the book that these Hailsham children will grow up and give donations. Maybe Madame just doesn't know how to greet or approach the kids. They are different from her and it is their futures that make her fearful. How can she connect with these kids knowing that they are merely just objects to be used later in the future? There is really no way for her to have a total understanding of the lives these kids are faced with.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Anthropomorphism
"When you lift an arm, or when someone sits up in bed, you can feel this pale, shadowy movement all around you in the tiles." - Never Let Me Go, page 18.
The quote above is an example of anthropomorphism that I found in chapter 2. Kathy was telling how the center that Ruth ended up staying in for her donations was "well-designed and comfortable." She also told of how it was very clean. The purpose of using this literary term was to show how although one could not exactly see the reflection of himself or herself, a shadow could be felt. Giving the tiles these human characteristics was the perfect way to portray to the reader how clean the building was. Almost like how a human takes a shower everyday and has a shadow, the center is very clean and has a shadow of its own. Kathy used this cleanliness as a reason for why she would not mind if she ended up in this same center when she began her own donation process. This sort of sets the stage for the entire book. The reader begins wondering why such a young person would be thinking about starting her own downations. I was also confused by what this doning thing she was talking about even was. Obviously it's something different from what we do in our world today so I assumed I would be reading a book that had more scientific discoveries like those in Brave New World. Obviously this world isn't as scientifically advanced as the Fordian world but I do see a similarity.Flashbacks
"On the particular afternoon I'm now thinking of, we were standing up on stools and benches, crowding around the high windows." - Never Let Me Go, page 7.
Along with noticing the point of view this novel was written in, I noticed immediately Ishiguro's use of flashbacks. In fact, probably over half of this book is composed of flashbacks. I personally liked reading these because I was able to get to know Kathy and her friends much deeper than I would have without them. I was able to get to know the characters through their entire lives starting from their childhood. I believe this was the purpose in using so many flashbacks. Ishiguro wanted to start his story from the end. The problem with this, though, is that the reader would be unable to deeply get to know each character. The use of so many flashbacks was his way in helping the reader become more personal with each character.
Along with noticing the point of view this novel was written in, I noticed immediately Ishiguro's use of flashbacks. In fact, probably over half of this book is composed of flashbacks. I personally liked reading these because I was able to get to know Kathy and her friends much deeper than I would have without them. I was able to get to know the characters through their entire lives starting from their childhood. I believe this was the purpose in using so many flashbacks. Ishiguro wanted to start his story from the end. The problem with this, though, is that the reader would be unable to deeply get to know each character. The use of so many flashbacks was his way in helping the reader become more personal with each character.
First Person Point of View
"My name is Kathy H. I'm thirty-one years old, and I've been a carer now for over eleven years." - Never Let Me Go, page 3.
One of the first things I noticed about this book, literally because this is the first sentence of the novel, that was different from Brave New World, was that it was written in the first person point of view. This can be both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, this means the reader has total insight into the main character's mind and emotional feelings. But on the other hand, Kathy's thoughts, feelings, and observations are the only ones we can truly see. We don't know exactly what other characters are thinking and feeling unless they actually come out and directly say it. For the most part, we can only know how Kathy perceives these characters to be thinking and feeling. The effectiveness of this literary term is that it creates a more intimate relationship between the reader and Kathy. Kathy can tell the reader her deepest and darkest secrets and emotions that she might not even tell her best friend. In fact, it's almost as if the reader is Kathy's best friend during the times he or she is reading the book.
One of the first things I noticed about this book, literally because this is the first sentence of the novel, that was different from Brave New World, was that it was written in the first person point of view. This can be both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, this means the reader has total insight into the main character's mind and emotional feelings. But on the other hand, Kathy's thoughts, feelings, and observations are the only ones we can truly see. We don't know exactly what other characters are thinking and feeling unless they actually come out and directly say it. For the most part, we can only know how Kathy perceives these characters to be thinking and feeling. The effectiveness of this literary term is that it creates a more intimate relationship between the reader and Kathy. Kathy can tell the reader her deepest and darkest secrets and emotions that she might not even tell her best friend. In fact, it's almost as if the reader is Kathy's best friend during the times he or she is reading the book.
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