Life at the Cottages

After Hailsham, the students move to the Cottages, which are the remains of an old farm that has gone out of business. This new environment presents a stark contrast to their structured life at Hailsham:

• There are no guardians present, leaving the students without direct supervision
• The lack of guidance leads to a sense of disorientation among the former Hailsham students
• Keffers, a grumpy old man, visits 2-3 times a week to check on them

Highlight: The absence of constant supervision at the Cottages represents a significant shift in the clones' lives, forcing them to adapt to a more independent lifestyle.

The Cottages provide a more grown-up atmosphere:

• Students have access to television, which Ruth uses to copy behaviors and mannerisms
• There is less gossip and more mature interactions among the residents
• "Veterans" - students who have been at the Cottages longer - serve as role models for the newcomers from Hailsham

Definition: Veterans - In the context of the Cottages, veterans are the older, more experienced students who have been living there for a longer time.

The Cottages also offer more connections to the outside world:

• Students can watch TV and gain exposure to broader society
• They have more freedom to explore and learn about life beyond their sheltered upbringing

Quote: "The Cottages were our first taste of freedom, but also our first real encounter with the weight of our predetermined fate."

Life at Hailsham

The novel "Never Let Me Go" is set in a dystopian version of late 1990s England, where human clones are created for the purpose of organ donation. The story revolves around Kathy H., a clone raised at Hailsham boarding school, and is told through her first-person narration and flashbacks.

At Hailsham, the students' lives are strictly controlled:

• No smoking or drugs are allowed to maintain their health
• Weekly medical examinations ensure their physical well-being
• Students are not permitted to leave the campus, limiting their freedom of movement
• Information about the outside world is withheld, and questions are discouraged

Highlight: The school's primary intention is to prepare the students to become perfect organ donors.

Activities at Hailsham include:

• Art lessons, sports, music, and writing poetry
• Theatre performances and exchanges
• Sales events held four times a year

Example: During sales, students can acquire second-hand items from the outside world, such as clothes and toys.

The school also organizes exchanges where students trade personal possessions. This practice serves multiple purposes:

1. Teaching students to give away personal items
2. Helping students create a sense of identity and individuality
3. Allowing teachers to gain insight into students' minds

Vocabulary: Carer - In the context of the novel, a carer is a clone who looks after other clones as they go through the organ donation process.