The ability to reproduce is a characteristic
of all living organisms. The manner in
which reproduction occurs varies widely, from bisexual to fragmentation. Whatever means by which reproduction happens,
new life is the aftermath. Through the
novel, “Never let me go,” Kazuo Ishiguro uses imagery to show how reproduction
is a natural desire of living being.
These “students” who are the product of science, clones, have come into
the world appearing as a normal child would.
The constant question whether or not these individuals are human remains
in the readers mind through the whole novel.
These students have the urges and drive to reproduce, but it is known to
them because they are different, Kathy explains, “that none of us could have
babies” (73). There sterile condition
and origin may suggest to their society that they are not human or capable of
being human. However, one scene shows
Kathy listening to a tape where the lyrics suggest two lovers longing to not be
separated, but Kathy in her youth interprets this to mean something completely different. She states, “I’d grabbed a pillow stand in
for the baby…singing… ‘Oh baby, baby, never let me go,’”(71) continuing to
imagine a mother who could not have children but does, and is clinging on to
her child not to lose the baby she had so longed for. This can clearly suggest that deep down Kathy,
too, longs for such an opportunity to have a child. Though Kathy understands she can’t physically
have a child it was a childhood fantasy of hers. This could further suggest that these clones
are more human than their society believes them to be. Just because they are unable to have child or
even were brought into the world untraditionally doesn’t rule out the possibility
that they are no more human than we are.
You bring up some good points about reproduction in regards to NLMG. I think you are right in saying that the clones might be more human then we realize. For Kathy this must have haunted her whole life and caused her a lot of pain.
ReplyDeleteDang Keifer! I think that was a great anaylsis of what these students really are and how they realte to society. You chose something that no one has bothered to talk about and were able to shed some more light as to how these creatures really are. I think you know what your talking about, and that you are on to a great start!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sydney! You definitely make a lot of good points about reproduction in this novel. Although they're not really "human" they do have a lot of human characteristics. They have wants, feelings, and desires. They all share the same characteristics that humans have.
ReplyDeleteWow, you were so clear about what you wanted to say, I think you got it right on. It is clear that Ishiguro wants us to question what makes us human, what is unique about us. He definitely constructs the clones to be just like humans except making them unable to reproduce in any way. I don't think our society as a whole has truly defined what really makes us human and that is exactly what the author wants us to start thinking about. Sooner or later we will be dealing with technology that will allow us to create "living" beings that may or may not be like us and we will have to decide what place they will take in our society.
ReplyDeleteAll children, well little girls, go through that faze where they pretend they are a mom and have a baby doll. This really shows a human side to these clones. If they are clones even, how do they have the desire to reproduce? It puzzles me but is so sad.
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