Thursday, December 15, 2011

In Never Let Me Go, what are the restrictions in this utopian society?

The massive restriction
that the central characters face as clones is that they are not free to live their lives as they
would like and that they do not have ultimate control over their futures. This is the shaping
reality that becomes more and more clear as we read this excellent book. It starts from the
beginning, as we hear the kind of restrictions that the children face at Hailsham as they are
told not to smoke or do anything that could harm their bodies, because of their
"special" status, and then of course we see this as they move towards adulthood and
Tommy and Kathy form a relationship based on true love that is doomed to a tragic
ending.

This novel above all paints a very bleak and unyielding picture of
what it is to have life but with no control over it. The moments of happiness that Kathy and
Tommy enjoy in their relationship are only brief glimpses of joy against an unyielding
background of gloom and depression as we see the kind of destiny all the clones must face. The
clones are ultimately presented as humans, but humans who are unable to actually live fully as
humans because of the way that they are used for harvesting. This is the massive restriction
that exists in this world.

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