Let Me Go Read This

At first thought, distinguishing between humans and non-humans would seem to be a fairly black and white matter. As you delve deeper into the topic, though, it turns out to be situated on a much more gray scale. In his novel, Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro attempts to answer a few of the questions surrounding this idea of what constitutes humanity. He accomplishes this by creating a parallel world in which humans make clones for the sole purpose of harvesting their organs. The story follows an adult clone, Kathy, as she reflects upon her life just before starting the donation process that will eventually kill her . In a world where society is continuously placing boundaries around those who don’t fit in, Never Let Me Go looks to emphasize how oftentimes, our similarities outweigh our differences. One of the most potent methods Ishiguro uses to strengthen the connection between human and clone involves giving the reader insight as to their emotions. By doing t

Traditionally when we think of clones we envision an eerie or creepy copy of something or someone. A popular example would be the two girls in The Shining or the clone figures in Star Wars. These shuddering thoughts we have are because clones demonstrate the feeling of uncertainty. How can you trust or respect something that is not like you? Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go explores the idea of clones or replacements as inferior to humans. Although it is not one of my favorite books, the humans in the book challenge the reader's perspective by suggesting  that clones/replacements are not as valuable as their human counterparts. However, what they overlook are the obvious essential qualities of being human that students at Hailsham demonstrate. Because of these human-like qualities, the clones deserve to be treated equally to their human counterparts.  Twins in "The Shining" Photo Credit: People.com  Replacements or clones is Never Let Me Go's central

What if you were replaced by a clone of yourself?  As a human being, it's easy to rule out the possibility of being replaced. Every one of us knows how unique and different we are from each other. With this in mind, it's hard to think that there is someone that could take our place in this world by matching our exact personality, attributes, and talents. However, for the children at Hailsham in the book Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro , it's a much easier feat, in fact somewhat ingrained in their understanding of themselves.

Imagine living life as a clone with a sole purpose: donating your organs. Besides knowing the details of your impending death, your life would entail an ordinary human experience. Would you choose to live this life? For some, knowing the details of their future death is reassuring, as it fills the daunting void of the unknown. Personally, however, I would prefer to live not knowing when and how I was going to die. I think that living my life not knowing how it will end enables me to be happier. If I knew how my life would end, I would become preoccupied with my death and these thoughts would interfere with my ability to live my life to its fullest.  Regardless of whether or not I was a human, I would want to live for as long as possible. I believe that the drive I experience is not unique to humans; in fact, most humans, clones, and machines with artificial intelligence have deeply rooted desires to prolong their lives. Examples found in modern literature and film, like Nev

What is art? What does it mean to be artistic? How does art affect the way we perceive humanity?   For many people, the act of creating art is a form of self-expression, an extension of the artist's soul, and a physical representation of the human experience. Art is a medium through which we see creativity, a characteristic that quintessentially makes us human. However, I believe that the act of creating is not a defining characteristic of humanity; instead, it is the ability to respond to art and form emotional attachments that make one human. In a society with exponential technological growth, the questioning of humanity, and what makes someone human can not be more prevalent. With the introduction to AI and cloning, I believe it is crucial for us, as a society, to consider what classifies something as human. The work of Kazuo Ishiguro in the novel   Never Let Me Go , and Alex Garland in the film  Ex Machina ; causes the reader to ponder over these ideas. The book N

In today's world, if you turn on the TV, all you will see are rebellions and revolts led by different groups and across the world. For example, currently,  Hong Kong  residents are protesting against the Chinese government. Another influential strike is the one led by Greta Thunberg who motivated millions of teens to stand up for  climate change . Why are rebellions and protests such a big part of our everyday life? Does the will to rebel make us human?  Photo Credit: Amazon.com In Never Let me Go , the author, Kazuo Ishiguro, argues about clones' ability to rebel. While many are disappointed that the students did not form a rebellion, I believe there are many instances throughout the book show signs of revolts.  The  Merriam Webster  dictionary defines rebellion as the "opposition of one in authority or dominance". Tommy's tantrums and defiance to art, the students' hope for referral and their "dream future" are signs of rebellion. W

Why don’t Kathy and Tommy just leave and escape having the donation program? This possibility or anything even remotely close is never mentioned or even thought about by the main characters. Why not? My answer to that question is easy: Hailsham  The movie Ex Machina by Alex Garland and the novel Never Let Me Go by Kazou Ishiguro have a lot in common. However, when analyzed under the theme of rebellion they completely contrast each other. One portrays a creation killing its creator, Ex Machina, and the other shows a completely benevolent creation, with no intent or seemingly ability to rebel, Never Let Me Go. The robot in Ex Machina, Ava, realizes there is a threat to her and existence and acts on it. She manipulates Caleb into helping her escape and then kills Nathan and ultimately kills Caleb too. This act of rebellion, while dramatic and gruesome, ultimately grants Ava complete freedom.   Ava Killing Nathan However, in Ishiguro’s novel, there is no such rebellion, even