Never Let Me Go: An Ethical Analysis

Kazuo Ishiguro in Never Let Me Go introduces us to a world, where kids are created to become donors. The student’s faith is set since the minute they were created. I will argue that is cloning wrong because it becomes a process of the fabrication of life to benefit a certain group of people because clones are not as individuals. Through the fabrication of life, humans are extending their lives making the donor's life disposable, ultimately showing that we do not value life equally.

Ishiguro shows a world where cloning becomes integrated into society. He presents the story through the perspective of Kathy H. who has been a carer for 12 years to show how cloning has become part of the society. In the novel cloning is a linear process where the

The fabrication of life through cloning feeds a system that allows individuals to be disposable. Carola Jolynn Whitlow in her work, An Ethical Analysis of Human Cloning Using Kant’s Notion of Personhood, states, “If cloned humans begin to be viewed as objects whose value lies not in themselves, but have an external value place on them then their intrinsic worth becomes diminished” (Whitlow p.76). Whitlow shows cloning devalues the human life because it puts a price in what the clone possess. This is shown in the novel because the clones are valued based on their organs not as who they are as individuals. Additionally the society has established a low value in regards to the life the clones lead but a high value on their organs making them commodities. Furthermore she goes on to show how life becomes a commodity, “If certain attributes of a person can be bought, sold, or traded then the person becomes viewed as a commodity” (Whitlow p.77). Although the students aren’t monetarily being rewarded for organ donations, the clones are given an education according to Miss Emily (Ishiguro p.261). Therefore the students are qualified as commodities. Through the process of fabricating life the students are also turned into commodities because the organs they posses are easily accessible to the humans. This leads to the clones being overlooked as people and just as object and lack of respect

Ruth, Tommy and Kathy’s desires to live normal lives are crushed because they need to fulfill their duty as donors. Ruth’s aspiration was working in an office but they were crushed when Miss Lucy explained they couldn’t live normal lives. Miss Lucy says, “None of you will go to America, none of you will be film stars. And none of you will be working in supermarkets” p.81. The students are denied their dreams and aspirations. But the harsh reality of cloning is that it’s only done to benefit the humans. Organ donations is the sole purpose of clones therefore society don’t value the need of the clones. Additionally Tommy and Kathy want a deferral but they can't them because they must serve their duty as clones. The deferrals did not exist and Miss Emily explains, “Back when Hailsham was considered a shining beacon, an example of how we might move to a more humane and better way of doing things, even then, it wasn’t true” p.258. The students are never able to have a normal life free of duty to the society because at some point they must render their lives to donations. Regardless of the progression made in society, students will never be able to live a normal life even if it’s just for a few more years. Even if clones get some freedom they will never be free of their duties as clones. When the students live in the cottages they are free to travel around England. But at