summary of novel never let me go

Never Let Me Go

By kazuo ishiguro.

• Never Let Me Go Summary

Never Let Me Go is set in a dystopian world in which human clones are created so that they can donate their organs as young adults. The novel follows the life story of Kathy , a clone who is raised at a boarding school for future “donors.” It is related in flashback: Kathy is now thirty-one and about to start her first donations. For the past eleven years, she has worked as a “carer,” a nurse and companion to clones who are in between donations.

Kathy reminisces about her time at Hailsham. Her two most important friends were Ruth , a charismatic but manipulative and dishonest “queen bee,” and Tommy , a kind boy with a bad temper who is disliked by the other students. Kathy relates a number of anecdotes about how her relationships with Ruth and Tommy change over time.

Hailsham places a great emphasis on art, writing, and other forms of “creativity.” A mysterious woman named Madame comes periodically to take the students’ best artwork away to an off-campus “Gallery.” Tommy is not particularly good at these things and never gets pieces into the Gallery, which is part of why he is ostracized. One day when he is thirteen, Miss Lucy , a teacher and guardian, informs Tommy that it is all right if he has trouble being creative because it does not matter anyway. Kathy is shocked by this.

Kathy relates several anecdotes about Ruth’s pathological lying. At one point, Ruth pretends to be talented at chess when she does not actually know how to play. At another, she pretends that a pencil case was a gift from her favorite teacher when in fact she bought it for herself. Nevertheless, Kathy becomes good friends with her, and when she loses her favorite cassette tape––which features a song called “Never Let Me Go,”––Ruth tries to help her find it.

One day, Miss Lucy tries to explain to the students about how tragic and difficult their lives will be once they become donors. However, the students are unable to process the information. Around age sixteen, Tommy and Ruth begin dating each other. Kathy is slightly jealous but tries to hide her feelings for Tommy. A few months after Tommy and Ruth get together, the students graduate from Hailsham and go to live at the Cottage, a more relaxed holding facility where the students are free to drive and otherwise act as they wish.

At the Cottages, Ruth becomes fixated on impressing the older students, or ‘veterans.’ Two of these veterans, Chrissie and Rodney , take Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy on a trip to Norfolk because Rodney believes he has found Ruth’s “original,” the person from whom she was cloned. On the trip, Chrissie and Rodney confront the younger students about a rumor that if two Hailsham students are truly in love, they can get their donations deferred so they might have a few years together. No one has heard of this program, but Ruth pretends that she knows all about it.

Tommy and Kathy split from the rest of the group. At Tommy’s suggestion, they look in secondhand stores for the favorite music tape that Kathy lost so many years ago. They find it and have an emotional moment together. Ruth begins to notice the growing affection between Kathy and Tommy, and does what she can to sabotage the budding relationship. She tells Tommy that Kathy dislikes his drawings, and tells Kathy that Tommy could never fall in love with someone who has had casual sex, as Kathy has.

Kathy is saddened by the situation, so she voluntarily leaves the Cottages to begin her carer training. Several years later, rumors begin to circulate that Hailsham has closed. One day, Kathy encounters an old friend from Hailsham who informs her that Ruth has begun her donations and is doing poorly. Despite their tumultuous relationship when they were young, Kathy volunteers to become Ruth’s carer.

Ruth asks Kathy to take her to see an abandoned boat several hours away. Kathy agrees, and they stop to visit Tommy, who has also begun his donations. Tommy’s “recovery center” is near the boat, and Kathy suspects this is why Ruth wanted to make the trip. When the trio is back together, Ruth apologizes for keeping Kathy and Tommy apart. She encourages them to apply for a deferral so they can have a few years together, and gives them the address of Madame, whom she believes will be able to help.

Shortly after this, Ruth dies. Kathy becomes Tommy’s carer. By this point, Tommy has made three organ donations and is approaching his fourth, which clones generally do not survive. Kathy and Tommy go to visit Madame, who kindly tells them that the deferral program never existed. She explains that Hailsham was a “progressive” school, and that she and the other guardians were actually activists for the humane treatment of clones. The emphasis on artwork was to show the public that the clones had souls. However, the humane-treatment movement has petered out and Hailsham has lost its funding.

On the way back to the recovery center, Tommy is overcome with emotion and throws a tantrum. However, he gets past this and comes to accept that he will die soon. Because he is suffering from increasingly gruesome medical problems, he asks Kathy to stop being his carer. Kathy reluctantly agrees, and she bids farewell to Tommy as he gets ready to make his fourth donation.

Back in present day, Kathy is about to make her first donation herself. She is calm and even happy about this, because it will give her a chance to reflect on her life. She has only permitted herself one “indulgence”: a few weeks after Tommy dies, she goes to mourn him in a field in Norfolk. There, she imagines that all the things she has lost––most importantly, Tommy––will return to her.

Never Let Me Go Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Never Let Me Go is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Never let me go - What are your first impressions of Hailsham?

What are your first impressions of Hailsham?

This is only a short answer space. Generally, Hlisham is a pleasant place with nice cabins and everything they need. Unfortunately, there is an emptiness about it both educationally and in terms of...

“I tried to bring it up once myself, in the dorm after lights-out … question

A lot of thetime, how you were regarded at Hailsham, how much you were liked and respected, had to do with how good you were at “creating.”What questions does this section raise?

In Never Let Me Go, the equation goes like this: being creative =...

Never let me go - Based on chapters 1 & 2, what genre would you categorise the novel as? Why?

Never Let Me Go takes place in a dystopian United Kingdom, where disease has been eradicated. This apparent blessing has been accomplished by breeding human clones, who are forced to donate their vital organs when they reach early adulthood. Kathy...

Study Guide for Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go study guide contains a biography of Kazuo Ishiguro, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Never Let Me Go
• Character List

Essays for Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

• Never Let Me Go: The Emotions Triggered by Art and Entertainment
• Self-Repression and Dystopia: The Bumpy Road to Freedom in "Never Let Me Go"
• Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go: The Societal Implications
• Never Let Me Go: The Creation of Kathy's Identity
• Never Let Me Go: A Marxist Attack on Science?

Lesson Plan for Never Let Me Go

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Never Let Me Go
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Never Let Me Go Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Never Let Me Go

• Introduction
• Film and literature

Never Let Me Go

59 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-4

Part 1, Chapters 5-9

Part 2, Chapters 10-13

Part 2, Chapters 14-17

Part 3, Chapters 18-20

Part 3, Chapters 21-23

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Never Let Me Go is a 2005 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro set in an alternative dystopian version of Great Britain in the 1990s in which cloning technology allows for the mass proliferation of organ donation. Medical problems like cancer are cured because organs are harvested from clones through a state-sanctioned program. The cloned “donors” have their organs taken one at a time until they die. The novel is narrated by Kathy , a clone who works as a “carer” for donors across the country, as she looks back at her upbringing and friendships. Never Let Me Go was made into a film in 2010 and won numerous awards.

Plot Summary

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Kathy, Ruth , and Tommy attend a boarding school named Hailsham. Kathy, a quiet girl, meets the more temperamental, assertive Ruth. They play games and invent mysteries and conspiracies, though this inventiveness occasionally annoys Kathy. Tommy, also in their year, struggles to control his anger and is often a victim of bullying. Kathy is one of the few people who reaches out to Tommy, and they develop a close bond. Another is a member of the staff, Miss Lucy , who helps Tommy stop worrying about his apparent lack of artistic talent. The students are vaguely aware of the concept of donations, but the staff protect them from the realities of their futures. Only Miss Lucy believes that the children should be fully informed about their purpose in life.

Kathy and Tommy develop a theory that the art they produce is tied to the donations. The art is collected by a stern woman named Madame and taken away to the Gallery. Kathy acquires an old cassette tape and becomes obsessed with a song titled “Never Let Me Go.” One day, Madame catches Kathy dancing to the song in her dorm and cries. Kathy sees Madame but does not understand why she is crying. When the students are teenagers, Ruth and Tommy begin to date. They fight occasionally and break up, but Tommy is more upset by the unexpected departure of Miss Lucy and wonders whether she was right to tell him to ignore his artistic side. He reunites with Ruth, and all three graduate from Hailsham.

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In Part 2, the characters move to the Cottages. Older residents from other schools around the country are already there, and many of them are in couples. The other residents treat Hailsham with fascination, and Ruth enjoys the attention and privilege that this attention suggests. Chrissie and Rodney are a couple who are particularly interested in Hailsham. They take Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy to a seaside town in Norfolk on the pretense of seeing Ruth’s “possible,” the woman from whom Ruth is cloned. The actual purpose of the trip is for the older couple to ask the Hailsham students about the possibility of a deferral from organ donation for a couple who are in love. Ruth pretends to be aware of deferrals, but Kathy and Tommy are confused. They eventually find the possible, but the woman is not a match. Ruth and Tommy fight, so Tommy and Kathy explore the town and find a copy of the same cassette Kathy loved as a girl but has since lost.

At the Cottages, Ruth becomes embittered by the time in Norfolk. Tommy and Kathy become close; he reveals that he has started to draw in the hope that he might one day show that he is worthy of a deferral. Kathy is puzzled by his drawings of imaginary animals. Kathy’s relationship with Ruth becomes tense. Ruth knows that Kathy loves Tommy but convinces Kathy that Tommy does not see her that way. They have a falling out, and Kathy leaves the Cottages soon after to become a carer.

Kathy spends years as a carer. She eventually becomes Ruth’s carer, and they begin to repair their relationship. One day they take a trip, and Tommy accompanies them. On the trip, Ruth apologizes for her behavior and tells Kathy and Tommy to seek a deferral as a couple. She gives them Madame’s address. Ruth dies a short time later, and Kathy becomes Tommy’s carer as they prepare to seek a deferral. They begin a relationship and have sex.

Tommy and Kathy find Madame’s address. They are welcomed into the house, where Madame and the headmistress of Hailsham, Miss Emily , explain that deferrals do not exist. Hailsham was an experiment to test whether clones could be considered human. The experiment was a failure, and the school closed. On the way home, Tommy runs into a dark field and screams into the night. Kathy comforts him. Their relationship becomes cold, and then Tommy makes his final donation and dies. Afterward, Kathy thinks about her friend and the donations she will soon begin to make. 

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Never Let Me Go Summary

We can sum this book up for you in three little sentences: Kathy is a carer. Then she becomes a donor. Then she "completes." The end.

Okay, there's a bit more to Kathy's life than that. Well, a lot more. And fair warning: this book jumps back and forth and back again in time, so it can be tough to keep it all straight. Hold on to your hats.

The book starts out in England in the 1990s. Kathy H., our narrator, is a thirty-one year old woman who spends her days as a "carer." Her job involves traveling between recovery centers and helping "donors" to recuperate after giving a "donation." She doesn't tell us what these mysterious donations are, but they don't sound like much fun.

Working as a carer gives Kathy a ton of time to reminisce about Hailsham, the place where she grew up. This job also gives her opportunities to reconnect with Ruth and Tommy, her old pals from Hailsham.

Here's the thing: Hailsham was an awesome joint and all (who doesn't love drawing classes and playing football?), but it's also filled with a fair bit of mystery and misery. The students never leave the Hailsham grounds and are kept in the dark about what's in store for them in the future. What they do know is that they are special, and that it's super duper important for them to be creative. So Hailsham students work a lot on poetry and art with the hope that Madame, a lady who lives outside Hailsham, will select their art pieces for her Gallery.

Being creative is a problem for Tommy, who just isn't that artsy. Instead, Tommy becomes a social outcast and throws a lot of tantrums. Even when he's as old as thirteen. Super awkward. But for the most part, Kathy and Tommy have a special bond and she's the only one who can really connect with him during his rough patches.

And then there's Ruth. Kathy and Ruth have a relationship that is, well, rocky, to put it nicely. They repeatedly hurt one another's feelings, and then try to find some gesture to make amends rather than talk about their problems directly. Yeah, it's a roller coaster up in here.

While at Hailsham, Kathy's most prized possession is a cassette tape with songs by Judy Bridgewater. While she's alone in her dorm room, Kathy loves listening to her favorite song, "Never Let Me Go." And when the song has the same title as the novel, you just know it has to be important. Anyway, one day Madame catches Kathy listening to this song while rocking an imaginary baby. For some reason, Madame sobs and Kathy gets freaked out. Sadly for Kathy, she soon loses this precious tape. Not to worry; it won't be gone for long. She'll eventually find it again in Norfolk.

During their teen years at Hailsham, Kathy and her friends become big daydreamers. They start to wonder about their future lives. Miss Lucy, the newest guardian, puts a stop to these daydreams pronto. She tells Kathy and her friends that none of them will become actors because they were all created to give away their vital organs one day. Yikes! That information could have been useful a little bit ago. But somehow, this news isn't all that shocking for Kathy, who feels like maybe she's known this information all along on some level. By the way, somewhere in the midst of these daydreams and revelations, Tommy and Ruth start dating. Bet you didn't see that relationship coming.

After Hailsham, Kathy and her friends are sent to live in the Cottages. The Cottages aren't as swanky as Hailsham, but Kathy and her pals have lots of downtime to watch TV and take road trips. One day, Kathy, Ruth, Tommy, and their two slightly older chums, Chrissie and Rodney, take a trip to Norfolk. They sketchily scope out a woman who works in an office building that they think might be Ruth's "possible" (the normal woman she was modeled from). What's this all about? Well it turns out that Kathy and her friends are clones. Wait, what? Yeah, Kathy decides to wait until halfway through her story to casually drop that info on us. Gee, thanks for the heads up, Kath.

So Kathy and her crew are clones, but that's not even the most unbelievable thing that's about to go down. While they're in Norfolk, Tommy and Kathy find another Judy Bridgewater cassette tape. Kathy's got her musical mojo back. And then some. After a tiff with Ruth, Kathy decides she's ready to move on from the Cottages. So she's the first of the trio to leave and start her work as a carer.

After years as a carer, Kathy decides that it might be best to see Ruth again, before it's too late. So Kathy becomes Ruth's carer, after Ruth has given her first donation (ouch!). They work to rekindle their friendship. One friendship-building task involves taking a trip with Tommy to see a stranded boat. On this road trip, Ruth makes a big confession: she kept Tommy and Kathy apart, and she's super sorry about it. To make-up for her selfishness, Ruth gives her friends Madame's address. She wants them to go to Madame and see if they can get a deferral, so that they can spend more time together before Tommy gives away any more vital organs.

Now things start to get really tragic. Ruth "completes" and Kathy becomes Tommy's carer-and-girlfriend. They visit Madame and have a chat with her and Miss Emily, their old head guardian from Hailsham. Sadly, they learn that deferrals never existed. So they just have to live the life that was set out for them: grow up, become a carer, donate, complete. Depressing? Yes. C'est la vie. Much to our frustration, Tommy and Kathy accept their fate. When Tommy gets the order for his fourth donation, the lovebirds say goodbye to one another, and Kathy leaves without much hullabaloo. At the very end of the novel, Kathy tells us that Tommy has completed and that she has received her summons so she'll become a donor soon.

See what we mean? Totally tragic.

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Character Analysis

Kathy H. — Kathy is the protagonist and narrator of the story, characterized by her introspective nature and deep sense of empathy. She serves as a carer for much of the novel, looking after donors, including her friends Ruth and Tommy. Kathy is reflective and often nostalgic, grappling with the complexities of her emotions and memories. Her character development is subtle, moving from an innocent student to a more resigned and contemplative adult, fully aware of her fate yet finding peace in her memories and connections.

Tommy D. — Tommy is known for his temper tantrums in his youth and his later artistic struggles. Initially portrayed as somewhat naive and vulnerable, Tommy grows into a more thoughtful and introspective individual, deeply affected by the revelations about his existence. His relationship with Kathy and Ruth is central to the novel, showcasing his development from confusion to understanding, and ultimately to acceptance of his fate. Tommy’s journey is marked by his quest for identity and meaning within the confines of his predetermined life.

Ruth — Ruth is complex and often presents a facade of confidence that masks her deep insecurities and fears. Her relationship with Kathy and Tommy is fraught with tension, often stemming from her manipulative tendencies and jealousy. However, Ruth’s character also undergoes significant development; she becomes more reflective and regretful of her past actions, especially as she faces the end of her life. Her eventual reconciliation with Kathy and her wish for Kathy and Tommy to be together demonstrate her growth and capacity for selflessness.

This character analysis reveals the depth and complexity of Ishiguro’s characters, each navigating their predetermined paths with a mix of resistance, acceptance, and the universal desire for connection and understanding.

Themes and Symbols

The Search for Identity — The characters’ journey to understand who they are, beyond their societal roles as organ donors, is a central theme. Their struggle with identity and self-awareness in a world that sees them as mere tools highlights the universal quest for purpose and meaning.

The Nature of Humanity — Never Let Me Go questions what it means to be truly human. Through the clones’ experiences of love, friendship, jealousy, and loss, Ishiguro suggests that humanity cannot be defined solely by biological origin or utility but through emotional and existential depth.

The Ethical Implications of Scientific Advancement — The novel explores the moral dilemmas posed by cloning and organ harvesting. It prompts readers to consider the cost of scientific progress on individual lives and the ethical boundaries of extending human lifespan.

Hailsham — Represents the illusion of a safe and nurturing environment. It symbolizes the initial innocence and ignorance of the characters, and their gradual awakening to the grim realities of their existence.

The Gallery — Symbolizes the characters’ desperate need for validation and hope that their creations (and by extension, their lives) have meaning beyond their biological purpose. It represents the human desire for legacy and to be remembered.

The Boat — Found by Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth during a trip in their adulthood, the stranded boat symbolizes their isolation from the society and the inevitability of their fate. It serves as a poignant reminder of their own abandonment and the transient nature of life.

These themes and symbols enrich the narrative, inviting readers to reflect on profound questions about life, love, and what it means to be human in a world where the lines between ethical and unethical are blurred by technological advancement.

Style and Tone

Kazuo Ishiguro’s writing style in Never Let Me Go is characterized by its subtlety, understatement, and a profound depth of emotion conveyed through the seemingly mundane details of life. His approach to storytelling is both gentle and haunting, creating a pervasive sense of nostalgia and melancholy that envelops the narrative. Here are some key aspects of his style and tone:

• Elegiac Tone : Ishiguro employs a reflective and somber tone throughout the novel, capturing the essence of lost time and the inexorable march towards an inevitable fate. The tone is deeply elegiac, mourning the loss of innocence and the characters’ gradual realization of their true purpose.
• Understated Emotion : The emotional depth of the novel is conveyed through what is left unsaid as much as what is explicitly stated. Ishiguro masterfully uses restraint in his depiction of the characters’ feelings, allowing their longing, love, and loss to resonate powerfully with the reader.
• Subtle Suspense : Despite the absence of traditional thriller elements, Ishiguro builds suspense through the slow unraveling of Hailsham’s mysteries and the characters’ fate. This suspense is woven into the fabric of the narrative, compelling readers to ponder the moral implications of the story.
• Narrative Structure : The story is structured as a flashback, with Kathy recounting her memories of Hailsham and her life with Tommy and Ruth. This structure reinforces the themes of memory and loss, as Kathy attempts to piece together the meaning of her past.
• Lyrical Prose : Ishiguro’s prose is lyrical and evocative, rich with imagery and metaphor. The beauty of his writing contrasts with the bleakness of the novel’s themes, creating a poignant juxtaposition that enhances the emotional impact of the story.
• Philosophical Reflections : The novel is interspersed with philosophical reflections on human existence, morality, and the nature of love. These meditations are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, encouraging readers to engage with the deeper questions the novel raises.

In summary, Ishiguro’s writing in Never Let Me Go is distinguished by its nuanced exploration of complex emotions and ethical dilemmas. His style and tone are integral to creating the book’s haunting atmosphere, inviting readers to reflect on the fragility of life and the value of human connection.

Literary Devices used in Never Let Me Go

• Foreshadowing — Ishiguro subtly hints at the true nature of Hailsham and its students’ destinies throughout the novel. This technique creates an underlying tension and prepares the reader for the eventual revelations without revealing too much too soon.
• Symbolism — Various objects and settings, such as the boat, the gallery, and Hailsham itself, are imbued with deeper meanings. They symbolize themes such as hope, identity, and the inescapable fate of the characters, enriching the narrative’s thematic complexity.
• Irony — The title itself is an example of irony, suggesting a sense of freedom and potential that contrasts sharply with the characters’ actual, predetermined fates. This use of irony underscores the tragedy of their existence.
• Imagery — Ishiguro employs vivid imagery to bring the story’s settings and emotions to life. Descriptions of the English countryside, the decaying boat, and the clinical environments of the donation centers create a vivid contrast between beauty and bleakness.
• Motif — The recurring motif of art and creativity, represented by the students’ artworks and the gallery, highlights the characters’ desire for individuality and meaning beyond their utilitarian purpose.
• Personification — Ishiguro personifies the landscape and objects within the novel to reflect the characters’ emotions and the mood of the narrative, such as the oppressive atmosphere of the Cottages or the desolate beauty of the stranded boat.
• Allusion — The novel alludes to societal and ethical issues surrounding scientific advancement, such as cloning and organ donation, without explicitly discussing them. These allusions provoke thought about real-world ethical dilemmas.
• Flashback — The narrative is structured around Kathy’s flashbacks, which reveal the characters’ histories and the truth about their world. This device allows for a gradual unveiling of the story’s mysteries.
• Pathetic Fallacy — The weather and surroundings often mirror the emotional states of the characters, such as the gloomy, rainy days that accompany moments of sorrow or revelation, enhancing the atmospheric quality of the narrative.
• Ambiguity — Ishiguro leaves many elements of the story open to interpretation, such as the origins of the clones and the wider societal context. This ambiguity invites readers to ponder the implications of the story long after finishing the book.

These literary devices are integral to Ishiguro’s storytelling, weaving a complex tapestry that explores deep themes of humanity, identity, and the ethical boundaries of scientific progress.

Literary Device Examples

Let’s break down examples and explanations for each of the top 10 literary devices used in Never Let Me Go .

1. Foreshadowing

2. Symbolism

This structured approach to analyzing literary devices provides insight into Ishiguro’s techniques in enriching the narrative and themes of Never Let Me Go .

Never Let Me Go – FAQs

Q: What is the main setting of Never Let Me Go ? A: The novel is primarily set in England, moving from the fictional Hailsham boarding school to the Cottages, and eventually, to various donation centers. The settings reflect the stages of life and growing awareness of the characters.

Q: Who is the narrator of Never Let Me Go ? A: Kathy H. is the narrator of the novel. She is a 31-year-old “carer” who reflects back on her life and the lives of her friends, Tommy and Ruth, from their time at Hailsham to their adult lives.

Q: What genre does Never Let Me Go belong to? A: The novel blends elements of science fiction, specifically dystopian fiction, with literary fiction, creating a narrative that explores deep ethical and existential themes through the lives of its characters.

Q: What is the significance of the title Never Let Me Go ? A: The title resonates on multiple levels, evoking themes of love, loss, and the desire for connection and significance in a world that seeks to use and discard the characters. It reflects the emotional bonds between the characters and their struggle against their inevitable fate.

Q: Are the characters aware of their fate from the beginning? A: No, the students at Hailsham gradually become aware of their true purpose—to be organ donors—over time. The novel explores their journey of discovery and coming to terms with their destinies.

Q: What is the role of art and creativity in the novel? A: Art and creativity are central motifs that represent the characters’ desire for individuality and meaning beyond their designated roles in society. The art they create is a form of expression and resistance against their fate.

Q: How does Never Let Me Go explore the theme of humanity? A: The novel questions what it means to be human through the experiences of its clone characters, who, despite being bred for organ donation, exhibit deep emotional complexity, desires, and the capacity for love, challenging the notion of humanity as purely biological.

Q: What is the ethical dilemma at the heart of Never Let Me Go ? A: The ethical dilemma revolves around the morality of cloning and using human clones for organ donations. It prompts readers to consider the value of life, the rights of the individual versus the needs of society, and the ethical boundaries of scientific advancement.

Identify the Literary Devices Used in the Following Paragraph:

“After a long, content silence, Ruth said something strange. ‘I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end, it’s just too much. The current’s too strong. They’ve got to let go, drift apart.’ That’s how it felt anyway, like there was truth in what she was saying, even though it scared me.”

• Metaphor : Ruth’s description of the river and two people struggling to hold onto each other serves as a metaphor for her relationship with Kathy and possibly Tommy, symbolizing the forces that eventually pull them apart despite their efforts to stay connected.
• Imagery : The vivid description of the river with fast-moving water creates a strong visual image that enhances the emotional impact of Ruth’s revelation.
• Foreshadowing : This passage foreshadows the eventual separation and loss the characters will face, hinting at the inevitability of their fates within the broader current of their lives.
• Symbolism : The river itself can be seen as a symbol of life’s uncontrollable forces and the nature of existence that carries individuals on paths they cannot always control or resist.

Historical Context

Never let me go, by kazuo ishiguro.

This is an early 21st-century novel that is just as relevant now as when it was published in 2005.

About the Book

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

The book draws on a long history of concerns around scientific advancements and how progress should be weighed alongside moral and ethical concerns. 

The novel is also well-loved for its philosophical discussion of what it means to be human and how emotionally challenging some parts of the book are. 

The Early 21st Century 

The early 2000s marked a period in which rapid technological advancements led to a heightened sense of global connectedness. This included the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, a landmark achievement in genetics. The successful mapping of the human genome opened up possibilities that were previously the domain of science fiction. It provided researchers with an insight into human biology that once only seemed like science fiction. However, these advancements were not without controversy. 

The ethical implications of cloning and genetic manipulation became, and still are, a hotbed of debate. Questions regarding the morality of ‘playing God’, the potential for eugenics, and the commodification of human life were fiercely debated.

In the UK and across the globe, these developments lead governments to grapple with the challenge of regulating new technologies and striving to balance scientific progress with ethical considerations. 

In many ways, ‘Never Let Me Go’ mirrors these concerns. Set in a dystopian version of Britain, the novel explores humanity and morality against the backdrop of cloning and organ harvesting. The author uses this realistic setting to explore the real moral complexities and ethical dilemmas posed by genetic engineering.

The novel portrays society in a terrifying way. The commodification of human beings for medical purposes has been normalized in the novel in a way that those debating real-world concerns about genetic engineering have only feared. 

Themes and Their Relation to History 

Throughout much of the novel, the author is focused on the concept of identity. They are particularly concerned with it in the context of cloning. The protagonist, Kathy, is a clone, as are all of her close friends. Throughout the novel, she tries to make sense of her life and the dark future she has in store. 

This central theme reflects historical and contemporary worries about how advancements in genetics will change one’s understanding of self. With this in mind, the novel explores what it means to be human and challenges the reader to consider what defines humanity. Is it one’s origin? Consciousness? An ability to love or be creative? 

Cultural Impact of the Novel 

The novel was met with critical acclaim when it was published in 2005. Readers flocked to its unique narrative and appreciated its challenging themes, like the ethics of science. 

The book was shortlisted for the 2005 Booker Prize and was made into a film soon after. Ishiguro’s novel has been influential in contemporary literature, especially in the science fiction and dystopian genres. It has been studied in academic circles and enjoyed by students. The novel has also contributed to broader cultural discussions about the boundaries of scientific advancement. This is particularly in the fields of genetics and cloning. 

Comparison with Ishiguro’s Other Works

‘Never Let Me Go’ fits well within Ishiguro’s collected works. His novels often explore the themes seen in this specific book, as well as featuring discussions of time and loss. The author is known for combining highly relatable characters and emotional situations with more fantastical, futuristic settings. His novels often contain a dystopian element. 

He’s also well-known for his subtle or understated style of writing, something that’s seen quite well within ‘Never Let Me Go.’ The book’s narrator, Kathy, spends the pages quietly reflecting on her life as she nears her first donation. 

This novel is often read alongside ‘The Remains of the Day.’ It also features narrators who reflect on their pasts, slowly revealing the truths about their lives and the worlds they inhabit.

Another element seen in ‘Never Let Me Go’ that’s historically present in Ishiguro’s books is that of an unreliable narrator. This style of narrator provides readers with a narration that can’t quite be trusted. It is influenced by mental illness, emotions, prejudice, or any of many other elements that might change how one tells the story of one’s own life. The fact that Kathy didn’t understand much of what was going on around her when she was younger leads to this kind of narrative. 

About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

Cite This Page

Baldwin, Emma " Never Let Me Go Historical Context 📖 " Book Analysis , https://bookanalysis.com/kazuo-ishiguro/never-let-me-go/historical-context/ . Accessed 5 April 2024.

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Never Let Me Go

Kazuo ishiguro, everything you need for every book you read..