"They'd heard of this Hailsham couple, the guy had only a few weeks left before he became a carer. And they went to see someone and got everything put back three years. They were allowed to go on living there together, up at the White Mansion, three years straight, didn't have to go on with their training or anything. Three years just to themselves, because they could prove they were properly in love." (page 153)
This idea of deferrals is kind of confusing to me at this point, but I have a feeling that it will be significant to the outcome of the story. Chrissie and Rodney tell Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy about the idea of deferrals and they question the three to see if they know anything about it. It really mad me mad how Ruth acted like she knew about this when she didn't at all. She is so rude to Kathy and Tommy sometimes just because she wants to fit in with the veterans. It really makes me not like Ruth's character at all. Throughout the past chapter when Tommy buys Kathy her lost record of the Judy Bridgewater song, I really have a feeling that Tommy and Kathy will somehow fall in love with each other. I predict that if anyone will get this "deferral" it will be Tommy and Kathy and not Tommy and Ruth. At least I hope it isn't Ruth because I do not like her right now.
Also, during the trip to Norfolk, the idea of everyone's clone being a nobody was very interesting to me. I am curious as to how these models become clones. It would make sense that the people in charge of cloning would pay these nobodies who need the money so that they would do this. If this is the case, then Ruth is right. Most of the "models" who the students are clones of would logically be "trash".
Friday, August 12, 2011
Aha!!! (Never Let Me Go-13)
"The basic idea behind the possibles theory was simple, and didn't provoke much dispute. It went something like this. Since each of us was copied at some point from a normal person, there must be, for each of us, somewhere out there, a model getting on with his or her life. (page 139)
I just had an "aha! moment" and I felt the need to blog about it. So, my last blog was about the porn magazines and I was really curious as to why Kathy was so curious about the faces of the individuals on the people in the magazines. Well, in this chapter we find out that they are clones from other people and they sometimes look for "possibles" that may be the person they were cloned from. So, I think that Kathy was searching for her possible clone in the magazines. Personally, I think the whole clone thing is really bizarre. If in fact they are clones, then this just proves that these people like Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy can't have souls. They are just beings with organs and maybe this is why they can't have children. I'm starting to get really curious as to what is going on and I really just want to be able to finish this book so everything will make sense for once!
I just had an "aha! moment" and I felt the need to blog about it. So, my last blog was about the porn magazines and I was really curious as to why Kathy was so curious about the faces of the individuals on the people in the magazines. Well, in this chapter we find out that they are clones from other people and they sometimes look for "possibles" that may be the person they were cloned from. So, I think that Kathy was searching for her possible clone in the magazines. Personally, I think the whole clone thing is really bizarre. If in fact they are clones, then this just proves that these people like Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy can't have souls. They are just beings with organs and maybe this is why they can't have children. I'm starting to get really curious as to what is going on and I really just want to be able to finish this book so everything will make sense for once!
Looking at faces (Never Let Me Go-12)
"In fact, I hardly saw the contorted bodies, because I was focusing on the faces. Even in the little adverts for videos or whatever tucked away to the side, I checked each model's face before moving on." ( page 135)
Okay, this chapter not only weirded me out, but it also made me think that there is a lot more to Kathy and Tommy than the reader has knowledge of. While going through porn magazines, Kathy mentions not noticing the naked, contorted bodies, but focusing on the faces. I'm no expert on porn magazines, but I know it's not typical to stare at the faces while there are other things to look at. I am really curious as to why Kathy is looking at the faces. Maybe she notices something different about normal people's faces compared to the faces of those who go to Hailsham and are donors and carers. Also, Tommy notices a lot about Kathy. I really don't like Ruth with Tommy at all. It seems as if Ruth doesn't really care about Tommy like I originally thought. It seems as if Ruth only wants to fit in with the other veteran students and she is using Tommy to do so. Tommy sees something in Kathy that he knows is different and he cares for Kathy. Kathy and Tommy's friendship is a special one and I'm curious to see if it will lead them to discover more about the outside world. Also, when chapter 11 ended, Kathy mentioned their trip to Norfolk. I predict that they will discover something that relates back to what Miss Lucy told Tommy. I'm sure flashbacks and foreshadowing will be
present in the next chapters...
Also, I have noticed that the Cottages are a lot like college or high school. There are "veterans" who could represent the upper class-men in college or high school. Also, the desire to fit in and be like everyone else seems to be a common theme, especially with Ruth. I think more similarities will arise in the chapters to come.
Okay, this chapter not only weirded me out, but it also made me think that there is a lot more to Kathy and Tommy than the reader has knowledge of. While going through porn magazines, Kathy mentions not noticing the naked, contorted bodies, but focusing on the faces. I'm no expert on porn magazines, but I know it's not typical to stare at the faces while there are other things to look at. I am really curious as to why Kathy is looking at the faces. Maybe she notices something different about normal people's faces compared to the faces of those who go to Hailsham and are donors and carers. Also, Tommy notices a lot about Kathy. I really don't like Ruth with Tommy at all. It seems as if Ruth doesn't really care about Tommy like I originally thought. It seems as if Ruth only wants to fit in with the other veteran students and she is using Tommy to do so. Tommy sees something in Kathy that he knows is different and he cares for Kathy. Kathy and Tommy's friendship is a special one and I'm curious to see if it will lead them to discover more about the outside world. Also, when chapter 11 ended, Kathy mentioned their trip to Norfolk. I predict that they will discover something that relates back to what Miss Lucy told Tommy. I'm sure flashbacks and foreshadowing will be
present in the next chapters...
Also, I have noticed that the Cottages are a lot like college or high school. There are "veterans" who could represent the upper class-men in college or high school. Also, the desire to fit in and be like everyone else seems to be a common theme, especially with Ruth. I think more similarities will arise in the chapters to come.
Evidence, the Gallery, and more questions (Never Let Me Go-11)
"Then she said: 'Look, there are all kinds of things that you don't understand Tommy, and I can't tell you about them. Things about Hailsham, about your place in the wider world, all kinds of things. But perhaps one day, you'll try and find out. They wont make it easy for you, but if you want to, really want to, you might find out.'" (page 109)
I thought there weren't going to be any more mysteries!! Now, I'm confused again. So, at this point, the reader knows that there is more secrecy in Hailsham. Certain things, especially art, are important to the students lives beyond Hailsham. The art serves as a type of evidence and a lot can come from said artwork. I am so confused! I don't like how Ishiguro says all of these things and then it makes sense 10 chapters later! However, just as the reader is confused, so are Kathy and Tommy. The author puts you right into the story with Kathy and Tommy and makes you think with them as to what all of this information might mean. Just as I am frustrated with my lack of knowledge as to what the heck is going on with Hailsham, I am really mad at Ruth. Ruth is kind of self-centered and she uses Kathy to talk to Tommy for her own sake. She wants to get back together with Tommy but she makes Kathy actually convince Tommy to do so. Even though Kathy knows that figuring out all of this mystery surrounding Miss Lucy and Hailsham is more important that Ruth and Tommy's relationship, she acts as if she doesn't care about what Tommy has just revealed to her.Tommy and Kathy both know that there is something weird that is happening. I'm wondering if Miss Emily or one of the other teachers will be like Miss Lucy and tell the students about the truth. I'm hoping that this is the case or else I'm going to be confused for the next couple of chapters.
I thought there weren't going to be any more mysteries!! Now, I'm confused again. So, at this point, the reader knows that there is more secrecy in Hailsham. Certain things, especially art, are important to the students lives beyond Hailsham. The art serves as a type of evidence and a lot can come from said artwork. I am so confused! I don't like how Ishiguro says all of these things and then it makes sense 10 chapters later! However, just as the reader is confused, so are Kathy and Tommy. The author puts you right into the story with Kathy and Tommy and makes you think with them as to what all of this information might mean. Just as I am frustrated with my lack of knowledge as to what the heck is going on with Hailsham, I am really mad at Ruth. Ruth is kind of self-centered and she uses Kathy to talk to Tommy for her own sake. She wants to get back together with Tommy but she makes Kathy actually convince Tommy to do so. Even though Kathy knows that figuring out all of this mystery surrounding Miss Lucy and Hailsham is more important that Ruth and Tommy's relationship, she acts as if she doesn't care about what Tommy has just revealed to her.Tommy and Kathy both know that there is something weird that is happening. I'm wondering if Miss Emily or one of the other teachers will be like Miss Lucy and tell the students about the truth. I'm hoping that this is the case or else I'm going to be confused for the next couple of chapters.
It's a love story...(Never Let Me Go- 10)
"But Ruth and Tommy never did anything gross in front of people, and if sometimes they cuddled or whatever, it felt like they were genuinely doing it for each other, not for an audience. (page 95)
So, in this chapter we find out that Tommy and Ruth are together. Also, we have discovered that sex is apart of this book too. Similar to Brave New World, sex isn't viewed as a way to create human life, seeing as they cannot have babies, but it is just another thing to be apart of (no big deal, I guess...). However, it seems as if Tommy and Ruth have something that all the other teenagers in this story do not have. The author makes a point to show that Tommy and Ruth seem to truly care for each other. Ishiguro also makes it appear that everyone else enjoys the public displays of affection just so that they can show off. Furthermore, the other kids seem to brag about who they have had sex with and it is almost as if having sex is what makes these teenagers feel accepted. I am guessing that the emotion and love that Tommy and Ruth have will progress in the chapters to come. I am curious to see what will happen later on when the kids are done at Hailsham. What comes next?
So, in this chapter we find out that Tommy and Ruth are together. Also, we have discovered that sex is apart of this book too. Similar to Brave New World, sex isn't viewed as a way to create human life, seeing as they cannot have babies, but it is just another thing to be apart of (no big deal, I guess...). However, it seems as if Tommy and Ruth have something that all the other teenagers in this story do not have. The author makes a point to show that Tommy and Ruth seem to truly care for each other. Ishiguro also makes it appear that everyone else enjoys the public displays of affection just so that they can show off. Furthermore, the other kids seem to brag about who they have had sex with and it is almost as if having sex is what makes these teenagers feel accepted. I am guessing that the emotion and love that Tommy and Ruth have will progress in the chapters to come. I am curious to see what will happen later on when the kids are done at Hailsham. What comes next?
Finally, we get an answer!! (Never Let Me Go- 9)
"'Your lives are set out for you. You'll become adult, then before you're old, before you're even middle-aged, you'll start to donate your vital organs. That's what each of you was created to do.'" (page 81)
I am so happy that every thing makes so much more sense now! It seems like all of the questions I have had since the beginning of the book have been answered. To be honest, I'm not really surprised about this revelation. I knew that there was something really strange about Hailsham and there was a big secret that the children did not know about. However, I was really surprised at the kids reaction to this news. I guess they didn't have much of a reaction to this because they don't know anything other than the life they live at Hailsham. They are unaware of the outside world and what they will miss out on. There is a extreme difference between the way Miss Lucy felt about this and the way the kids reacted to the news. Not only did this chapter answer many questions that I had from the beginning of the book, but it also explained the motivation of the teachers at Hailsham. This fact shows why Miss Lucy had always been so different and sad sometimes. This explains why Madame was crying when she saw Kathy hold the pillow as if it were her baby. The motivation behind these characters behaving this way was all because of the fact that these children will not be able to have a normal life. There is still one thing that I am very curious about. How did these children get to Hailsham and why are they destined to live their lives this way. Who did this to these children?
There is a similarity between Never Let Me Go and Brave New World in this revelation. In Brave New World the characters didn't really have control over their lives. The people were raised in a society and forced to behave a certain way.They were no longer apart of their world. In this book, these children have no control over their lives. They have been told what their purpose is and there is no way that they can stop this. Just as I did when reading Brave New World, I really do feel bad for these people. They cannot escape the life that they were created to fulfill.
I am so happy that every thing makes so much more sense now! It seems like all of the questions I have had since the beginning of the book have been answered. To be honest, I'm not really surprised about this revelation. I knew that there was something really strange about Hailsham and there was a big secret that the children did not know about. However, I was really surprised at the kids reaction to this news. I guess they didn't have much of a reaction to this because they don't know anything other than the life they live at Hailsham. They are unaware of the outside world and what they will miss out on. There is a extreme difference between the way Miss Lucy felt about this and the way the kids reacted to the news. Not only did this chapter answer many questions that I had from the beginning of the book, but it also explained the motivation of the teachers at Hailsham. This fact shows why Miss Lucy had always been so different and sad sometimes. This explains why Madame was crying when she saw Kathy hold the pillow as if it were her baby. The motivation behind these characters behaving this way was all because of the fact that these children will not be able to have a normal life. There is still one thing that I am very curious about. How did these children get to Hailsham and why are they destined to live their lives this way. Who did this to these children?
There is a similarity between Never Let Me Go and Brave New World in this revelation. In Brave New World the characters didn't really have control over their lives. The people were raised in a society and forced to behave a certain way.They were no longer apart of their world. In this book, these children have no control over their lives. They have been told what their purpose is and there is no way that they can stop this. Just as I did when reading Brave New World, I really do feel bad for these people. They cannot escape the life that they were created to fulfill.
Gone to Norfolk (Never Let Me Go- 8)
"'Yeah,' I said. 'Gone to Norfolk.'" (page 75)
Recently, the concept of "Norfolk" has been continually brought up among the children. However, it is a part of their vernacular. The kids joke about Norfolk and it being a place of mystery and intrigue solely because of the lack of knowledge about it. This sort of thing would only make sense to the kids at Hailsham. My own opinion on the use of vernacular is that it creates a "different world" atmosphere to the novel. The people at Hailsham are obviously different, but the fact that they have little phrases and ideas that are specific to Hailsham separate the place even more from other places in the world. I'm not exactly sure if Ishiguro meant to contrast the two worlds this way, but the differences became even more apparent to me through the use of the Norfolk phrase. Also, the way that Norfolk is referenced, it is also a symbol. Norfolk is so unknown and mysterious to the kids. It is almost as if every question and every doubt is found in Norfolk. I find it ironic that the kids know so little about Norfolk, but it would appear as if no one else would know about Hailsham. It's almost as if Hailsham and Norfolk are related because of the mystery looming from each place. I think that Norfolk is a place where the kids can go in their imaginations and know that it is new and different. It is a place of comfort in their minds because it makes them feel as if they are not alone and as if there is a reason for everything.
Recently, the concept of "Norfolk" has been continually brought up among the children. However, it is a part of their vernacular. The kids joke about Norfolk and it being a place of mystery and intrigue solely because of the lack of knowledge about it. This sort of thing would only make sense to the kids at Hailsham. My own opinion on the use of vernacular is that it creates a "different world" atmosphere to the novel. The people at Hailsham are obviously different, but the fact that they have little phrases and ideas that are specific to Hailsham separate the place even more from other places in the world. I'm not exactly sure if Ishiguro meant to contrast the two worlds this way, but the differences became even more apparent to me through the use of the Norfolk phrase. Also, the way that Norfolk is referenced, it is also a symbol. Norfolk is so unknown and mysterious to the kids. It is almost as if every question and every doubt is found in Norfolk. I find it ironic that the kids know so little about Norfolk, but it would appear as if no one else would know about Hailsham. It's almost as if Hailsham and Norfolk are related because of the mystery looming from each place. I think that Norfolk is a place where the kids can go in their imaginations and know that it is new and different. It is a place of comfort in their minds because it makes them feel as if they are not alone and as if there is a reason for everything.
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