Never Let Me Go By: Kazuo Ishiguro

Hailsham

Hailsham is one of the first places made in respect to the clones. Here the clones, or students, can live as healthy or as 'normal' of a life as possible; without being hurt from the outside world, or racism. The students in Hailsham have humans called Gaurdians who look after them. Though these Guardians care for the students, and have done everything they can to give them a better life, they are still disgusted of the clones and fear them a great deal. '"Is she afraid of you? We're all afraid of you. I myself had to fight back my dread of you almost everyday I was at Hailsham. There were times I’d look down at you all from my study window and I’d feel such revulsion..." She stopped, then something in her eyes flashed again. "But I was determined not to let such feelings stop me from doing what was right"' (Ishiguro 169). Although Hailsham was made for a good cause, it had some flaws. All the students in Hailsham had some idea about what lay ahead in their future, though not one Guardian bluntly told them that they would be donating parts of their body to sick humans. Also, none of the students were allowed to see the outside world until they turned thirteen, which was not the wisest decision because once they did see the outside world for the first time, they might be confused and unable to take care of themselves without a guardian for support.

Life as a Clone

As I read the novel Never let Me Go, I began imagining myself a clone. I pictured myself living in Hailsham laughing with my friends, but always knowing that a darker future lay ahead of me. I probably would have never been able to truly enjoy myself because in the back of my head I would always know that in the end, I was going to end up a donor. Some days, I might have felt honored that I would eventually be helping mankind; while other days I would have tried to find any possible way I could live a life without donating any part of my body. Personally, I did not really understand why the guardians raised the students like average children. Instead they should have gotten the clones ready for what lay ahead after they left Hailsham. Though, if the guardians were trying to raise the clones just as humans were raised, then they should have taught the clones more than just art and how to be creative. It was obvious to see how important creativity was to the guardians. And it was not until Kathy and Tommy, two of the main characters in the novel, left Hailsham, did they realize why creativity was important to the guardians. It turned out that the guardians were using the student’s art to prove that these clones, these people, had souls; something most of the humans in the outside world did not believe.

Connections: Real World

~ THE HOLOCAUST

Never Let Me Go is a novel of pure science fiction; though the author, Kazuo Ishiguro, is able to use characteristics from the real world to portray how different people are treated in real life circumstances. For instance, during the Holocaust, Jews were looked down upon and were not thought of as people, but rather, a life form of less importance than humans. Likewise, although the clones are theoretically not human, they still have just as many emotions and just as big of a soul as humans; yet, they are still treated unfairly. Unfortunately, our society today fails to realize that although someone may be from a different country, speak a different language, or dress a certain style, every person cries, laughs, and is just as sensitive as every other being. Furthermore, although the outer appearance of someone may give you a good or bad impression of him or her, it is not until you actually get to know the person do you truly have a real perspective of their personality.

~ RACISIM

Racism is an ongoing problem and although it has been 'resolved' with many different nationalities in the past, there are still many MORE nationalities which have yet to be seen in a better light. Just as, in Never Let Me Go, the clones are forced to have their closest human Guardians’ disgusted of them and unwilling to see them as who they are, rather than what they are. Racism has been seen in the past, present, and will be seen in the future. It is simple to say 'I am not racist' but when someone asks you to spend the day with a middle-eastern you are suddenly hesitant. It is just as easy to see similarities between two nationalities as it is to see differences, yet suddenly, no one has the heart to try. Furthermore, the students in the novel know the minute they tell a human they are a clone, the friendly atmosphere will quickly be gone, and a cold one will soon follow; just as in the world today.

~GAZA STRIP

The novel Never Let Me Go truly portrays a human’s instinct to judge a book by its cover. These clones die without complaint, yet the humans around have the heart to look down upon them. These clones risk their life giving one donation from their body after another, yet people are still prejudice. And unfortunately, these types of situations are occurring in our world today. During the Gaza Strip innocent children were being killed because of a war that began years ago. Children three years old would try to help their parents by trying to reattach their head to their bodies. Both the children and the clones were brought to this world in innocence and both were treated poorly.

What is Normal?

Within each society there are people that are considered normal, or ordinary. In the American society it may be blond hair, blue eyes. In the Middle East, it may be tan skin, black hair, and brown eyes. In the novel Never Let Me Go, it is clones. Within each different community, there are different customs, beliefs or traditions; all considered normal within that specific society. However, when these different societies interact, or mix, who really is normal? Instead of being normal there are many unique people, different and similar in many ways. Which then brings us to the question what is racism? If every nationality is different then shouldn't they all be racist against each other? Or should we all accept our differences in peace and harmony?

A Long Way Gone By: Ishmael Beah

Life as a Soldier

A Long Way Gone is an amazing novel with Ishmael Beah’s emotions leaping from the pages. Although Ishmael Beah wrote this novel much later after the war, it was clear to see the negative effect the war had on him because tell this day he is able to recall his terrible thoughts and feelings he had during the war. Although Ishmael Beah did not describe everyday he was in war, he described enough to show how tough his life was. And as I read this novel, I began imagining myself in the situations Ishmael Beah faced, and I realized that I would have never been able to come out of that life and ever be normal. Today, I cannot stand it when any member from my family is in the hospital. I would rather be in the hospital then ever lose my brothers or my parents. On the other hand, Ishmael lived most of his life without his parents or brothers, yet because he knew the circumstances he was in, he was able to fight back his emotions, and instead, fight for his life.

What is War?

Is it a creative course of action used to settle differences between nations, or is it just a way for nations to take out all their anger felt towards each other? I personally think it is a foolish action done when nations are unable to deal with a problem in a civilized manner. There are wars that have been going on for decades and because the different societies have grown to despise one another, these people are unable to have a discussion without another war beginning. If these different nations respected one another, than military would know better than to kill innocent people because of something foolish done by their leader/s.