By COLIN G. BALDWIN
COLUMNIST
Human value is found at the heart of many stories, even if it is disguised with romance, coming of age, or tragedy. Discovering one’s potential gives meaning and purpose in life, and finding those who share a similar perspective enhances the time spent looking for this creative capacity.
Kazuo Ishiguro pays close attention to these thoughts in his magnificent novel, Never Let Me Go. The story follows Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy as they go through three distinct periods in time and find out their true purpose.
The beauty of reading this gorgeously constructed book is not knowing much of the plot. The main characters are three of many human beings in England, born solely to become organ donors. The eerie setting is partly due to the fact that these characters grow up under the assumption that this is normal and essential for any human being. These ideas are cultivated at Hailsham, a fictional boarding school where the education is focused around creating art. Time at Hailsham is followed by life in residential communities built specifically for the students. Kathy narrates the story and the difficult struggles within the story are unique to her life.
The most heartbreaking and moving parts of the story occur when the true purpose of these individuals is revealed. The characters of Madame and Miss Lucy provide some of the most compelling dialogue in the novel when they confront the characters with the bitter truth; I shall not go into detail so as not to ruin the intricacy of the novel for future readers.
The power of Ishiguro’s writing is due to the fact that he develops these characters so well and gives them meaning within their lives throughout the book. This is why it is so affecting when the organ donations are factored in. Regardless of the characters’ purpose in life, they function as well as any other human being and share the same hopes, dreams, and fears. The characters even explore love and sexuality.
Ishiguro brings the value of human life to attention again when a love triangle forms between Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy. The lengths of their lifetimes are unknown, and the characters find out too late that time is precious and should be spent with emotionally stimulating people rather than the wrong ones.
Explaining this story is never simple because I find it difficult to discern which parts can be told and which should only be unearthed upon reading the novel. I come across many wonderful stories and characters through literature, film, and television, but Never Let Me Go affected in an unexpectedly powerful way after I finished reading it for the first time. It is one of those rare stories that manages to separate itself from the rest by giving the reader something to think about. The reader experiences the lives of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy, but the themes from the novel can easily apply to anyone, and one leaves the story with a more meaningful outlook on their own life.
This is truly a work of art.