Literature
Introduction
Audiences should remember that as human beings, people should not take advantage of each other through putting others in derogatory situations. In the novel “Never Let Me Go” written by Kazuo Ishiguro, readers get to learn that human beings can be cloned to be benefitted by other people (Ishiguro, 2005). Furthermore, readers get to learn that human beings can treat others bad and not treat others as they want to be treated. This situation is demonstrated when Ruth destroys the relationship of Kathy and Tommy in the novel (Ishiguro, 2005). Numerous moral lessons would be learned by the viewers through reading this novel. Lessons such as dignity, good friendships, and good humanity would be learned through reading this novel.
Body
The teachers in the Hailsham boarding school do not teach the children basic skills, but instead taught them to do artwork and poetry (Ishiguro, 2005). This is not a good thing as the children, even though they are young, need to be able to learn the basic skills in order to enable them to soon become independent. The teachers may likely have let the students know nothing about basic skills so they (the teachers), can forever control the students to do what the teachers want them to do (being clones donating children). A lot of readers would likely get frustrated with the teachers in the boarding school, as everybody will likely be in shock that there are people who can be that cruel.
A woman named “Madame”, takes away the artwork and stores them in a secret gallery (Ishiguro, 2005). “Madame” keeps it a secret from the guardians that they have the children do some artwork and poetry (Ishiguro, 2005). She is probably keeping the artwork a secret because she does not want the word to get out that their teachers do not teach the children the basic skills in life, and instead have them do artwork. Guardians are likely to be frustrated to the teachers when the latter find out how the teachers clone their children. Teachers would likely be sued by the guardians once it has been found out that the teachers clone the children.
The three main characters in the story are children named, Kathy, Tommy and Ruth (Ishiguro, 2005). Kathy is an introvert who prefers to watch things happen from the sidelines without getting involved (Ishiguro, 2005). Tommy is a little boy who is often a victim of bullying (Ishiguro, 2005). On the other hand, Ruth is an extrovert who makes things happen, but does not seem to have it all (Ishiguro, 2005). These characters are cloned by the teachers in the boarding school. These characters also provide the love triangle in the story. Ruth seems to be the selfish character who would do anything to destroy the happiness of Kathy and Tommy, knowing that these two characters are in love with each other. Ruth is not a good role model to the readers because she is perceived as a negative character. More likely than not, a lot of readers hate Ruth because of her selfishness and greedy personality.
Kathy and Tommy are fond of talking by the pond whenever Tommy was bullied (Ishiguro, 2005). The pond signifies the peacefulness where Tommy and Kathy can talk without any other people disturbing. The body of water also signifies the beauty of nature that the pond offers while intimate talks ensue. Tommy and Kathy may formulate their intimate moments whenever they talk beside the pond. The water imagery may enable the couple to imagine themselves taking a bath in the pond and just being with each other.
Kathy helps Tommy by talking to him whenever he is bullied, however, Ruth steps in by having sexual relations with Tommy (Ishiguro, 2005). This action of Ruth just goes to show how much of a backstabber Ruth is. She already well knows that Kathy and Tommy are beginning to develop their romantic relationship, and yet, she still steps in to destroy the relationship of these two people. Developing sexual relations with someone you like by another person is something that can hurt tremendously. If a person is sensitive, he/she would not resort to taking away someone well already on the way of developing romantic relationship with another person.
There was a time when Ruth and Tommy broke up, and instead of getting into relationship with Tommy, Kathy helps Ruth and Tommy get back together (Ishiguro, 2005). Ruth asks Kathy to help her get back together with Tommy (Ishiguro, 2005). This action on Ruth’s part, is kind of an evil thing to do. Ruth should have taken the opportunity to be happy for Kathy and Tommy when Ruth and Tommy broke up. It is obvious that Kathy and Tommy are really in love with each other. It is also obvious that Tommy is not in love with Ruth.
The children moving to the “Cottages”, even made the situation even worse due to the fact that there is nothing to do for the clones in the mentioned places (Ishiguro, 2005). The teachers are making the clones suffer even more, with the clones now being teenagers. The clones now have their own minds as to making decisions on how to fight for their rights against the teachers who treat them inhumanely by using them as clones. Poor Kathy is the peacemaker of the relationship of Tommy and Ruth (Ishiguro, 2005). It seems like Tommy and Ruth do not care that Ruth’s feelings are hurt due to the fact that it hurts her to act as mediator in the relationship of the guy she loves and another girl.
During their time in the “Cottages,” the clones travel to Norfolk, where they are informed that they may be exempted from being a clone donor for three years if they can prove that they have truthfully fallen in love (Ishiguro, 2005). This action may be difficult to accomplish by Ruth and Tommy. This is because these two people are not reciprocating in being in love with each other. Ruth is the only one in love with Tommy, while Tommy is not in love with her.
Tommy thought that “Madame” would use the students’ artwork to tell if the students are telling the truth about being in love (Ishiguro, 2005). Tommy thought of completing the most outstanding artwork in order to convince the people concerned that he is truly in love (Ishiguro, 2005). Tommy does not like the fact that he is being cloned, that is why he is doing his best to make it appear that he is in love. Everybody who is being forced into being cloned would not like the fact that they are doing something that someone makes them do, and not something that they want to do themselves.
Conclusion
People should always remember to do good deeds to other people. They should remember to always put their shoes in other people’s shoes. The incident that took place in the novel, the cloning of individuals and the destroying of the relationship of others, is a common phenomena in our society. People should know that actions such as these actions can ultimately situation which would make the party aggravating the other party guilty. One cannot go on with his/her day to day life if he/she is guilty of doing something wrong. Guilt would ultimately follow the individual throughout his/her life. Fear would always follow the individual if he/she is always carrying guilt. Guilt and fear do not make people happy, but instead are the main sources of loneliness in this world. Lonely people do not get by their days easily. It is better to be always happy without worrying about anything.
Bibliography:
Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go (United Kingdom: Faber And Faber, 2005), 5-10.
