Never Let Me Go

Part 1

Chapter 1

Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go opens with the narrator Kathy H revealing she is a carer. The tone is immediately conversational and helps develop the theme of memory, while the content suggests the reader understands the world in which Kathy lives, creating intimacy with the narrator. It also shows she has limited knowledge of a lifestyle outside the one in which lives. She reminisces about life at Hailsham, the school she attends, and suggests that those who come from Hailsham are special and even resented in part by others. She is happy to be able to choose to care for those from Hailsham as she constantly wishes to reconnect to those days herself. She stops at times to consider sports grounds that remind her of those at the school. Even the donor who Kathy is attending wishes to hear about Hailsham, to take on the memories himself and replace his upbringing, further suggesting the privilege afforded to those at Hailsham.

Kathy recalls her friends Ruth and Tommy in particular. Tommy was picked on by the other boys who did not select him for a team and left him in a temper tantrum. This scene reveals much about the three characters who will dominate the narrative. Kathy has empathy for Tommy, and even knows that he is wearing his favourite shirt, revealing her caring and compassionate nature. Ruth believes it is wrong yet thinks Tommy deserves it, showing her somewhat callous nature. Tommy’s reaction shows he is behind the others in maturity. Tommy accidently hits Kathy while in his temper state but seems instantly apologetic. Ruth consoles Kathy.

Chapter 1 Quotes

Okay, maybe I am boasting now. But it means a lot to me, being able to do my work well, especially that bit about my donors staying ‘calm’. Chapter 1

And I’m a Hailsham student—which is enough by itself sometimes to get people’s backs up. Chapter 1

There have been times over the years when I’ve tried to leave Hailsham behind, when I’ve told myself I shouldn’t look back so much. Chapter 1

What he wanted was not just to hear about Hailsham, but to remember Hailsham , just like it had been his own childhood. (About Donor from Dorset) Chapter 1

Tommy burst into thunderous bellowing, and the boys, now laughing openly, started to run off towards the South Playing Field. Chapter 1

‘I suppose it is a bit cruel,’ Ruth said, ‘the way they always work him up like that. But it’s his own fault.’ Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Kathy begins by mentioning the medical the students had every week. The description is uniform and, in a sense, institutional: one line up the stairs, the other going down on the other side. The need for these medical tests highlights the ongoing dramatic irony in the novel, as the students see this as part of their ordinary life but don’t realise the reality that they are tested to ensure quality as they are cloned in order to farm organs. While in the line for the medical, Tommy stops to talk to Kathy and this causes people to stare, showing that any break from the norm is noticed in institutional living.

The students of Hailsham engage in exchanges where they can trade tokens they earn through art and poetry for goods that seem to be donated to the school four times a year. Kathy believes that the exchanges are important to the students as it is their only way of building personal possessions. Kathy later talks to Ruth about the importance placed on the exchange and how futile it all seemed but Ruth would rather avoid the conversation. The avoidance of reality is a constant within the text. The exchanges, according to Kathy, make people appreciate each other as they receive and appreciate what they have to offer. This is in direct contrast to the idea of organ donation where the donors are not at all appreciated by the originals.

Kathy recalls when Tommy drew an elephant that was far below the other students’ standard and Miss Geraldine tried to support him by praising it, it drew further teasing from his classmates. Despite a tumultuous time of teasing and temper tantrums, eventually Tommy became calmer. Kathy asks Tommy what has changed and he reveals that he had a chat with Miss Lucy who told Tommy that if he did not want to be creative then he did not have to be. Kathy is angry at Tommy as she believes he is lying. Tommy pleads with her to meet him at the pond so that he can explain what happened. The idea that there was nowhere for students to talk in secrecy suggests a cleverly controlled environment.

Chapter 2 Quotes

This was all a long time ago so I might have some of it wrong; … Chapter 2

I don’t know how it was where you were, but at Hailsham we had to have some form of medical almost every week… Chapter 2

When I’d finished, there was a funny sort of silence hanging in the dark, and I realised everyone was waiting for Ruth’s response—which was usually what happened whenever something a bit awkward came up. (After Kathy mentions Tommy’s teasing) Chapter 2

I can see now, too, how the Exchanges had a more subtle effect on us all. If you think about it, being dependent on each other to produce the stuff that might become your private treasures—that’s bound to do things to your relationships. Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Kathy goes to meet Tommy and remarks that the place is not that private as people could see you from all around, reinforcing the lack of privacy at Hailsham to ensure control by the guardians. Tommy relays the conversation he had with Miss Lucy and that she was furious when she was talking about art being unimportant. This idea that the exchange and art was inconsequential challenges all that the students know about Hailsham. They believe that a lady called Madame takes the best art to a gallery. Kathy’s inability to explain the reason behind the gallery or if there is a gallery shows that the students of Hailsham do not truly understand their purpose in life and their reason for being. This brings in more of the idea of their sheltered and censored existence.

Ruth, Kathy and the girls talk about Madame, and Ruth believes that Madame is afraid of the students. This will be important later on when it is revealed that society fears people from these institutions and what they represent or could represent. Madame arrives and the girls intercept her to see how she reacts. The reaction is one of fear.

Chapter 3 Quotes

‘You were saying something,’ I said to Tommy. ‘Something about Miss Lucy telling you it was all right not to be creative.’ Chapter 3

‘Shaking. With rage. I could see her. She was furious. But furious deep inside.’ (Tommy describes Miss Lucy when she told him it was OK not to be creative) Chapter 3

‘… What is this gallery? Why should she have a gallery of things done by us?’ (Kathy to Tommy) Chapter 3

‘She’s scared of us,’ she declared. (Ruth about Madame) Chapter 3

So you’re waiting, even if you don’t quite know it, waiting for the moment when you realise that you really are different to them; that there are people out there, like Madame, who don’t hate you or wish you any harm, but who nevertheless shudder at the very thought of you—of how you were brought into this world and why—and who dread the idea of your hand brushing against theirs. Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Kathy begins by telling us that conversations about Madame stopped after this incident. She shows that the students fear what delving into this issue might reveal and that they accept this like they accept their lot in life, only partially questioning and never rebelling. This is what separates Never Let Me Go from other dystopian novels in that it lacks clear rebellion or resistance. It encourages the reader to imagine what circumstances led to the learned helplessness of the students.

Kathy talks about the ‘tokens controversy’ when a student, Roy J, asked the guardians if it was possible to receive tokens if Madame took their artwork for the Gallery. Instead of the student getting in trouble, the guardians themselves argued with each other on the issue and it was agreed the students would receive some tokens for their work if it was selected. Kathy outlines the process of exchange when students would swap artwork and products and the sales when they could use their tokens to buy goods brought to the school. She believes these never live up to the hype and the students would be rowdy and then be lectured by Miss Emily the next day. The goods they amassed in this way went into their collections, a small quantity of personal belongings. Despite Hailsham being seen as a privilege compared to other schools or institutions for clones, the sales and exchanges along with the lack of parental influence is reminiscent of an orphanage.

Ruth approaches Kathy one day and asks he, while there are others around, if she would like to play with her horses. By ignoring the others around Kathy, Ruth is showing her strong character and showing that if she wants something she will go and get it regardless of the feelings of others. The description of Ruth leading Kathy through the older kids with purpose again shows her strong, confident character. After playing in an imaginary world created by Ruth, Kathy is asked if she likes Miss Geraldine. Ruth tells Kathy that she will let her be one of Miss Geraldine’s secret guards in another fantasy world created by Ruth.

Chapter 4 Quotes

… but we all sensed that to probe any further—about what she did with our work, whether there really was a gallery—would get us into territory we weren’t ready for yet. Chapter 4

When you come across old students from Hailsham, you always find them, sooner or later, getting nostalgic about their collections. Chapter 4

My friends had, in any case, turned away and were carrying on with what they’d been doing. So I gave a shrug and went off with Ruth. Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Kathy recalls the imaginative game ‘secret guard’ where a small group of students led by Ruth are dedicated to protecting Miss Geraldine from a supposed kidnapping plot. They collect evidence and contribute theories about the kidnapping. Although the details of the plot are always vague, the guard believes that it will involve the woods behind Hailsham. Ruth includes or expels students from the group, exercising her power, and when some of the group feel they have outgrown the game, they continue with it because of Ruth.

Another glimpse into Ruth’s character is seen as she continually makes dismissive statements about students who are playing chess, suggesting she could win the game or that they had made errors. Kathy pursues Ruth for a week to teach her how to play chess. When Ruth finally does play with Kathy, it becomes apparent that Ruth does not know anything about chess. Ruth likes people to believe she knows more than she does, possibly because she wants to feel important and knowledgeable. When Kathy leaves the chess game, having realised Ruth’s deception, she is kicked out of the secret guard showing Ruth’s vindictive nature.

Kathy recalls an incident years later that develops the character of Ruth. The incident revolves around a pencil case that Ruth has and leads everyone to believe she got as a present from Miss Geraldine. This incident angered Kathy and Kathy followed up investigating if it was purchased in the sales and confirming that Ruth had purchased it. Kathy grows in confidence in dealing with Ruth and the tense moments between them continue. The fact that everything bought in the sales was recorded reveals another example of how the students of Hailsham are monitored and there is nothing secret in their world.

Chapter 5 Quotes

She was probably embarrassed about it and so the whole thing had shrunk in her memory. About Ruth’s memory of the Secret guard episode. Chapter 5

I was never sure if Ruth had actually invented the secret guard herself, but there was no doubt she was the leader. Chapter 5

At this, I stood up, packed up the set and walked off. I never said out loud that she didn’t know how to play—disappointed as I was, I knew not to go that far—but my storming off was, I suppose, statement enough for her. (Kathy storms off after playing chess with Ruth) Chapter 5

I was never sure, of course, if she was telling the truth, but since she wasn’t actually ‘telling’ it, only hinting, it was never possible to challenge her. So each time it happened, I’d have to let it go, biting my lip and hoping the moment would pass quickly. (About Ruth’s cunning nature) Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Kathy starts working to repair the relationship with Ruth by doing things that allow Ruth to get more attention from Miss Geraldine or feel special. Kathy can tell that Ruth appreciates these things.

Kathy has a Judy Bridgewater cassette tape, the cover of which features an image of the singer with a cigarette. Smoking is seen as a taboo for the clones, due to health reasons, but they don’t really understand this at their young age. Miss Lucy explains that while she has smoked, it would be worse if they did. They don’t understand why. However, what really attracts Kathy to the album is the third track, ‘Never Let Me Go’. Kathy does not care about the lyrics of the song, except for the line ‘baby, baby…Never let me go’. When she listens to the song, Kathy imagines a woman who’d been told she couldn’t have babies, but who’d really, really wanted them all her life. Then there’s sort of a miracle and she has a baby. As a consequence, the speaker in the song holds her baby close to her while singing ‘never let me go’. One day, Madame stumbles upon Kathy dancing and singing the song to an imaginary baby. Madame becomes very emotional and begins to cry, resulting in an awkward and unsettling moment for Kathy.

Kathy loses the tape and despite Ruth’s assistance in trying to find it. they figure it has ‘gone to Norfolk’. One day in geography class, Miss Emily characterizes the county of Norfolk as a ‘lost corner’ because it is so rural and remote. Hailsham also has a ‘lost corner’: this is the students’ nickname for the lost-and-found area on the third floor. It becomes an inside joke that all items lost in England somehow end up in Norfolk.

Chapter 6 Quotes

Now, for much the same reasons I’d not been able to talk openly to Ruth about what I’d done to her over the Sales Register business, she of course wasn’t able to thank me for the way I’d intervened with Midge. Chapter 6

I can’t remember who it was—claimed after the lesson that what Miss Emily had said was that Norfolk was England’s ‘lost corner,’ where all the lost property found in the country ended up. Chapter 6

And that’s why, years and years later, that day Tommy and I found another copy of that lost tape of mine in a town on the Norfolk coast, we didn’t just think it pretty funny; we both felt deep down some tug, some old wish to believe again in something that was once close to our hearts. Chapter 6

And it was because of this cigarette that I got so secretive about the tape, right from the moment I found it at the Sale. Chapter 6

She stopped again and looked at us in a strange way. Afterwards, when we discussed it, some of us were sure she was dying for someone to ask: ‘Why? Why is it so much worse for us?’ But no one did. (Miss Lucy discusses smoking) Chapter 6

She was out in the corridor, standing very still, her head angled to one side to give her a view of what I was doing inside. And the odd thing was she was crying. It might even have been one of her sobs that had come through the song to jerk me out of my dream. (Madame finds Kathy dancing) Chapter 6

‘Gone to Norfolk.’ (Kathy about her tape) Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Kathy describes a time when she is maturing and understanding more and therefore can begin to see the realities behind Hailsham to some extent. She begins to explain through an episode with Miss Lucy. In the pavilion with Miss Lucy, while waiting for the rain to stop, a conversation starts and Miss Lucy says she feels like she needs to make the students understand. She informs the students that they have been told but not fully told. This again hints at the sinister element of Hailsham and the information suppression that goes on. Miss Lucy explains that they will not be able to be actors or anything like that in the future, as not long after they leave Hailsham they will start donations. In talking about their future, they are informed that, essentially, they do not have a choice, demonstrating a complete lack of freedom or options for the clones.

The students discuss Miss Lucy and not what she said. Once again there is some avoidance of the real issues or procrastination of accepting the reality. Tommy explains to Kathy that maybe the guardians told them things when they were too young so that they would not fully understand. We learn that the talks about donations came at the same time as the talks about sex. The guardians clearly are telling the students important things when they have them distracted by other things or at the wrong time for them to fully understand and rebel.

Tommy has a gash in his elbow and he is told if he moves it, he will ‘unzip’ it. Students used to laugh about the possibility of unzipping after donations showing that the students did not truly understand what was going to happen to them and in some way shows how innocent the students are. Tommy finds out he was deceived and is furious again. He and Kathy notice Miss Lucy seems troubled.

Chapter 7 Quotes

But those last years feel different. They weren’t unhappy exactly—I’ve got plenty of memories I treasure from them—but they were more serious, and in some ways darker. Maybe I’ve exaggerated it in my mind, but I’ve got an impression of things changing rapidly around then, like day moving into night. (Memories of the last years at Hailsham) Chapter 7

There were other little incidents like that, and before long I came to see Miss Lucy as being not quite like the other guardians. Chapter 7

‘All right, you can hear this, it’s for all of you. It’s time someone spelt it out.’ (Miss Lucy) Chapter 7

The problem, as I see it, is that you’ve been told and not told. (Miss Lucy) Chapter 7

None of you will go to America, none of you will be film stars. And none of you will be working in supermarkets as I heard some of you planning the other day. Your lives are set out for you. (Miss Lucy) Chapter 7

You were brought into this world for a purpose, and your futures, all of them, have been decided. (Miss Lucy) Chapter 7

Tommy thought it possible the guardians had, throughout all our years at Hailsham, timed very carefully and deliberately everything they told us, so that we were always just too young to understand properly the latest piece of information. Chapter 7

We still didn’t discuss the donations and all that went with them; we still found the whole area awkward enough. Chapter 7

‘But we were old enough,” Tommy said. “By that age, it should have occurred to us. But it didn’t. We didn’t think about poor Miss Lucy at all….’ Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Kathy describes more memories at Hailsham that show how ill-prepared the clones are for the real world, but perhaps that’s because the guardians and others realise they don’t need to be as they would never participate in it. Kathy’s discovery of a troubled Miss Lucy and her inability to understand what to do or how to feel, shows her emotional and social deficit. The descriptions of their knowledge of sex and gay sex is limited and tinted with a view that it is permissible for them to do as they please as long as they stay healthy. This only confuses them further, adding to a sense of perceived freedom without offering them real freedom. Kathy reveals to us that she found a boy, Harry, that she wanted to use as practice and tried to prepare for sex by reading and watching films. The discussions on sex and the troubles Ruth and Tommy are having as a new couple show the students share some of the same worries and hang ups of normal teenagers.

Chapter 8 Quotes

Shame, as I say, had a lot to do with it, and also fury, though not exactly at Miss Lucy herself. I was very confused, and that’s probably why I didn’t say anything about it to my friends until much later. Chapter 8

Then without another word he marched past me off towards the main house. (Tommy storms off) Chapter 8

Looking back now, I can see we were pretty confused about this whole area around sex. That’s hardly surprising, I suppose, given we were barely sixteen. But what added to the confusion—I can see it more clearly now—was the fact that the guardians were themselves confused. Chapter 8

So I had my eye on Harry C. I chose him for a number of reasons. First, I knew he’d definitely done it before, with Sharon D. Next, I didn’t fancy him that much, but I certainly didn’t find him sick-making. Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Ruth breaks up with Tommy and Kathy talks to him as she can see that he is not happy. Although she thought it was the break-up that was troubling him, Tommy reveals that he does not really care about that and it is a conversation with Miss Lucy that is bothering him. Miss Lucy told Tommy she made a mistake by telling him not to try with his art work and that the art work will be important for him later. Miss Lucy also suggests that there are a lot of secrets that he may find out later if he goes searching, although, ‘they’ will not make it easy. This sense of secrecy and invisible control is a constant in Never Let Me Go.

Many at Hailsham must have noticed the attraction between Kathy and Tommy, however, despite Cynthia E suggesting that it was only natural that Kathy would now be with him, Kathy tells Tommy that he has to get back with Ruth. Tommy does not seem to want to be with Ruth. Miss Lucy mysteriously has left Hailsham and with her departure, the hope for answers for Tommy leaves too. It seems that Tommy has reacted badly to this news. It is inferred that Miss Lucy’s leaving may have something to do with the fact that she is too honest and open at times with the students.

Chapter 9 Quotes

‘And Tommy.I knew it wouldn’t last with Ruth. Well, I suppose you’re the natural successor.’ (Cynthia E) Chapter 9

‘What I want is for us to make a fresh start. We’re about evens now, we’ve both done daft things just to hurt each other, but it’s enough now.’ (Ruth to Kathy) Chapter 9

As I say, there would come a time when I’d think this was sweet; but that summer all I could see was that it advertised what a child he still was, and how easily you could take advantage of him. (About Tommy) Chapter 9

‘Tommy, I made a mistake, when I said what I did to you. And I should have put you right about it long before now.’ Then she’s saying I should forget everything she told me before. That she’d done me a big disservice telling me not to worry about being creative… ‘ (Miss Lucy to Tommy) Chapter 9

So I say: ‘But I’ll be all right, Miss. I’m really fit, I know how to look after myself. When it’s time for donations, I’ll be able to do it really well.’ (Tommy to Miss Lucy) Chapter 9

‘Look, there are all kinds of things 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 won’t make it easy for you, but if you want to, really want to, you might find out.’ (Miss Lucy to Tommy) Chapter 9

Miss Emily had broken off from talking about Beethoven and announced that Miss Lucy had left Hailsham and wouldn’t be returning. Chapter 9