Characters in "Never Let Me Go"

The novel centers around three main characters, all of whom are clones raised at Hailsham:

1. Kathy H.
   • The narrator and protagonist
   • Age 31 at the start of the novel
   • Works as an efficient carer
   • Reserved and introspective
   • Involved in an emotional triangle with Tommy and Ruth since youth
   • Eventually becomes Ruth's carer, and later Tommy's carer and lover

Highlight: Kathy's role as narrator allows readers to experience the story through the perspective of someone deeply embedded in the clone system, yet questioning it.

2. Ruth
   • Kathy's best friend
   • Often portrayed as manipulative and commanding
   • Has a relationship with Tommy
   • Keeps Tommy and Kathy apart for much of their youth
   • Asks for forgiveness before her death

Quote: "I kept you and Tommy apart because I was jealous. But I also kept you apart for another reason... I wanted to be the one to tell you."

3. Tommy
   • A social outsider due to his tantrums and perceived lack of creativity
   • Initially in a relationship with Ruth, later with Kathy
   • Begins painting in an attempt to get a deferral from donations

Other significant characters include:

4. Miss Emily

   • Hailsham's head guardian
   • Respected and feared by the students
   • Advocates for better treatment of clones but doesn't tell them the whole truth about their future

5. Madame

   • Collects the students' artwork at Hailsham
   • Seems afraid of the clones but also feels sorry for them
   • Attempts to prove that the clones have souls through their art

6. Miss Lucy

   • A popular and idealistic guardian at Hailsham
   • Wants the students to be more aware of their future
   • Hints at the clones' future purpose
   • Eventually has to leave Hailsham due to her honesty

Example: Miss Lucy's attempts to tell the students the truth about their future illustrate the tension between protecting the clones' innocence and preparing them for their fate.

These characters and their interactions drive the narrative of "Never Let Me Go", exploring themes of friendship, love, and the search for identity in a world that denies their humanity.

Key Facts About "Never Let Me Go"

Never Let Me Go is a critically acclaimed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, published in 2005 and later adapted into a film in 2010. This dystopian science fiction work is set in an alternate version of England in the late 1990s, offering a haunting exploration of ethics, humanity, and the consequences of scientific advancement.

The narrative structure of the novel is particularly noteworthy:

1. It employs a first-person narrator, with the story told entirely from the perspective of the main character, Kathy H.
2. The story is presented in retrospect, with Kathy recounting her experiences and memories.
3. The narrative is non-chronological, weaving between different time periods in Kathy's life.

Highlight: The non-linear storytelling technique adds depth to the characters' experiences and enhances the emotional impact of the revelations throughout the novel.

Vocabulary: Dystopian - relating to or denoting an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice.