The novel entitled ‘Never Let Me Go’ by Kazuo Ishiguro showcases alienation as one of its themes, as it discusses about how young, innocent human clones were kept away from the confines of mainstream society and were forcibly alienated and isolated. Alienation, one of the themes of the novel, is also one of the problems faced by society today as some people decide for other people whether or not they will be accepted as members of the mainstream society. Because of alienation, a person is limited in fulfilling his or her human potentials. The novel ‘Never Let Me Go’ by Kazuo Ishiguro conveys how alienation limits peoples’ human potentials through their lack of influence in society, unjust treatment, physical isolation, the presence of barriers, discrimination, and fear. These factors limit humans in realizing their potential. Society is made up of classes which are influenced by its members in terms of economic, social, or political factors, but in a society that is usually dominated by the wealthy and influential, people from the lower part of society are often not heard because they do not have much influence to wield in society, though the make up a significant number in many societies. Individuals or groups that are different from the mainstream society such as the lower class are being alienated because of their difference from the society where they belong. By being different in the eyes of the mainstream society, one is being alienated, making a person less significant in society. In the novel ‘Never Let Me Go’ by Kazuo Ishiguro, the alienation of the clones and their lack of influence in society contributed in their non-realization of their own human potentials. The clones could h... ... middle of paper ... ... without considering what the clones would feel. As a result of the discrimination committed by the mainstream society to the clones, the longevity of their lives are not certain, thus limiting their potentials. Discrimination can damage a person not only socially and psychologically, but it can also affect one’s physical well-being. In a study conducted by Yale University, discrimination can lead to low birth weights in babies. Pregnant women who are discriminated may suffer from depression, in turn, results to physiological changes during pregnancy which could lead to low birth weights. Low birth weights in babies can result in life-threatening illnesses in the baby’s life. Discrimination not only alienates people which limits their potential, it could also affect a person’s physical health as an effect of discrimination which resulted to psychological problems.
...nderson, 107). The novels demonstrate that humans react to alienation by choosing to alienate themselves rather than allow others to alienate them. The protagonists intentionally withdrew themselves from society before society could hurt them by denying them acceptance. They equally fear rejection which is common among human kind.
Feeling alone or isolated is not only a common theme is all kinds of literature, but something that many people face in life. Alienation is the perception of estrangement or dissatisfaction with one’s life. This means you feel like you don’t fit or connect, whether it’s from society, family, or a physical object. These feelings can be due to a lack of deep connections, not believing the same ideals as your society, and many other things. In Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, he discusses a man who goes against governmental rule and reads. EA Robinson portrays a man everyone inspires to be, but in the end he isn’t happy and kills himself. Lastly, WH Auden accounts of an “unknown citizen” who also has a picture perfect life, but in the end
Living in a world where they have successfully created human clones for organ donations, is not a great achievement to mankind in any way, shape, or form. It makes you wonder, where exactly do you draw the line between the advancement of technology and the dehumanization that occurs because of it?" Never Let Me Go is a Novel based in the main character Kathy’s memories of her experience in Hailsham and after she left. Hailsham is a boarding school for children who have been cloned from people considered as low life’s or unsuccessful, the only purpose given too these children are for them to develop into adults and donate as many of their mature organs as they can till they die, or as the students and guardians refer to it “complete”. The author focuses on the sick ways of our current society and warns us about the possible future that may be introduced and excepted, Kazuo Ishiguro writes with the intent of teaching and affecting the reader on an emotional level at the same time.
...ith a view of the lives of these students. “We took away your art because we thought it would reveal your souls. Or to put it more finely, we did it to prove you had souls at all.” (260). This quote reveals that not all of society is ignorant to these clones, and those who personally interact with them are able to see how immoral their existence truly is. Unfortunately, to most of the public, the idea of their existence being a cure for many deadly diseases, overrules the concept of their unjust treatment. “ There was a lot of support for our movement back then… before we knew it all out hard work had come undone… people did their best not to think about you.”(262 – 263). Even after the public revelations of the clones’ lives is exposed, and sympathy towards them starts to grow, people quickly change their minds and choose to ignore them, leaving them defenceless.
It is said that no man is an island, and no man stands alone. Hence, true human existence can not prevail positively or productively without the dynamics of society. Yet, this concept is very much a double-edged sword . Just as much as man needs to exist in society and needs the support and sense of belonging, too much social pressures can also become a stifling cocoon of fantasies and stereotypes that surround him. He becomes confined to the prototype of who or what he is expected to be. Thus, because society is often blinded by the realms of the world, its impositions in turn cripples humanity. If he does not conform, he becomes a social out cast, excluded and excommunicated from the fabric of life. The theme alienation in a small society is depicted primarily through setting by both authors Conrad and Kafka in Metamorphosis and Heart of Darkness. This depiction demonstrates how this isolation has a negative impact on the individual and ultimately leads to his destruction and decadence.
In “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro we see cloned human beings that are raised in a boarding school so that they can grow up and become organ donors. The main purpose of these kids was growing up and donating their organs one by one till they finally die at an early age. These kids were not treated as human beings. They were created in a test tube just to be a donor. The main character who was also a donor is the narrator of this story. Life should be controlled by the person that owns it and that person should make decisions how to live and where to live, clones are still human beings with soul and flesh there for they deserve human right. If they cannot get the right they deserve then cloning should be illegal unless there is understandable reason. These kids are raised in a place called hailsham, where they are taken care of so that they can stay healthy but they were not allowed to leave the school and socialize with the world till they turn eighteen and graduate.
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go illustrates an alternate world where clones are created for the sole purpose of becoming organ donors. The story follows clones Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy as they are born into a society in which they slowly understand and accept, as they grow older. Kathy, the narrator, reflects on her experiences in Hailsham, the Cottages, and her life as a carer. Conformity and the acceptance of fate are two themes that are present throughout the novel. Kathy exhibits obedience to social norms and never thinks to challenge them. It is only until Kathy looks back at her past where she notices her acts of omission and questions why she never intervenes with reality.
Marx’s theory of alienation is concerned primarily with social interaction and production; he believes that we are able to overcome our alienation through human emancipation.
People create their own society but remain alienated until they recognize themselves within their own creation. Until this time people will assign an independent existence to objects, ideas and institutions and be controlled by them. In the process they lose themselves, become strangers in the world they created: they become alienated. The notion of alienation is an ancient one. St Augustine wrote: That's a lot.
The continuum of society’s inequality towards its citizens has been long perceived. The notion of equality that spurs from within peoples’ hearts will surely lead to disappointment, for humanity’s negativities alter an individuals composition. Society, a mental concept, has not only discriminated against its occupants but instilled alienation as well, which leads to a sense of incompletion. In his novel, Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro displays the ongoing struggles of inequality that are present in society. This message is strengthened through the representation of an array of humane elements such as acceptance, hope, love, aspirations, freedom of choice, and societal pressures. Kazuo Ishiguro incorporates narrative conventions to convey the negativities of humanity and its respected society through the portrayal of the truth: Humanity’s barriers blocking one’s fully realized composition leads to lack of fulfillment, from a range of literary theory.
Human cloning destroys individuality and uniqueness. “What makes people unique is the fact that we have different genes and cloning would lose these important parts of our bodies makeup.” There would be less of a variety of people and everyone would be the same. This would not only be the good qualities, but also the bad that would pass on. Since clones and the original donor will look alike and have the same DNA, it would be nearly impossible to tell the difference. Overtime, they would lose their individuality and uniqueness. For example, say a crime was committed.
Do you ever feel trapped when you are in a place that you have never been before? Isolation criticizes society since it does not let everyone be equal or have the same rights. Isolation can completely change a person, and it is usually for the worst. Society “acts” like they try to prevent isolation, but in reality they isolate people for certain reasons, then those people get judged for being “different.” Upon closer inspection it is human nature to deny equal rights because people that do not act, dress, or look the same are labeled as strange, and unfortunately, many times are not accepted by the majority of society. This gives authors a way to shine a light on society’s flaws.
Secondly, “the most the human race has to loose by playing around with cloning is that the genetic diversity would be lost (Andrea Castro, 2005).” Reducing the genetic differences will produce clones that are grossly overlarge, many animals will be born with genetic mutations, and there will be a higher “risk of disease transfer (Saskaschools, 2003). “A review of all the world's cloned animals suggests that every one of them is genetically and physically defective (Leake, 2002).” Mutations will be passed on to the younger generation because if a cloned species has a mutation in their DNA this mutation will be passed on. Cloning has been linked with diseases of ageing, arthritis and, cancer.
Never Let Me Go is a mysterious story to the reader at first, but as they begin to get more in-depth, find out it’s more than one could think. Kazuo Ishiguro’s vivid imagination reflects well into his book Never Let Me Go, as the book explores one’s own morality into real life as they read it. Kazuo Ishiguro reflects the ideas of Post-Modernism and his own life and imagination through Never Let Me Go, which explores the morality of humans and their fate.
Societies vary greatly throughout the world, as do human experiences. What it means to be a social being in Japan, may not equate with what it means to be a social being in Central Africa. Throughout this essay I will argue that, while society may vary, the desire to be social exists in all cultures throughout history. The world may have always had its recluses, those who attempt to live a solitary life, but even these people can be seen as a reflection of their previous culture and society, fulfilling a role and remaining tied to their pre-existing relationships, using and being used by society like any other social being (Stone 2010: 6). Throughout this essay I will use the example of the Japanese and Central African social being to show how experiences of society change and are shaped by one's location. Further I will explain what it is to be a social being, and how society shapes our experiences, whether we remain within it or not, through the experiences of various hermits and recluses throughout history.