Organ Donors in Kazus Ishiguro´s Never Let Me Go

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.
Kathy and Tommy’s special connection has been evident since the beginning of the story when Kathy tries to calm down Tommy during one of his tantrums. When they are around 16 years old, Tommy and Ruth start dating and for a brief period of time, Ruth and Tommy break up. Many of Kathy’s peers noticed the connection between Kathy and Tommy and deemed her the “natural successor” of who should date Tommy next. However, Ruth believed that she and Tommy belonged together and asked Kathy to convince Tommy to get back together with her. Tommy and Ruth begin dating again and remain dating until they leave the Cottages. With Kathy’s loyalty to both Ruth and Tommy, Ruth and Tommy’s relationship constantly complicates the dynamics of their friendship. However, Ruth saw the special relationship between Kathy and Tommy all along and did not admit it until she and Tommy are donors and Kathy is a carer. Ruth asks for Kathy’s forgiveness and admits that keeping Tommy and her apart was the worst thing she did. Ruth then says, “ I’m not even asking you to forgive...

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... then they’ll complete” (282). Kathy finally tries to validate her being a carer by saying, “Of course it’s important. A good carer makes a big difference to what donor’s life’s actually like” (282). In saying this, Kathy believes that she is needed for another reason other than donating her organs. Kathy is challenging her fate as a clone by staying alive under the pretense that she is needed as a carer.
Throughout most of her life, Kathy demonstrates some kind of conformity. It is only until she becomes a carer and has time for herself is when she grows to be more independent and challenges her fate. Throughout the entire novel, Kathy reflects on her life and recalls numerous situations where she wonders why she did not act differently. This shows how much Kathy has changed into a person who acts for herself, not worrying about the expectations of others.