Never Let Me Go: 20

"It's like with my memories of Tommy and of Ruth. Once I'm able to have a quieter life, in whichever centre they send me to, I'll have Hailsham with me, safely in my head, and that'll be something no one can take away" (286-287).

Chapter 22 and 23 wrap up Never Let Me Go. The novel finishes with more curve balls in the action. We find out that the deferrals were nothing but rumors. Also, we find out that everything about Hailsham was just to shelter the kids from what the world really saw them as. It is bad enough that Kathy and Tommy were faced with these facts, but at least Ruth had completed and was not devastated by all of the answers Kathy and Tommy received. Also, we are again confronted with the fact that because Kathy is not a donor, she doesn't fully understand everything she thinks she does. I think Kathy longs to understand and be able to relate to Tommy as he needs, but she cannot bring herself to stop being a carer. Tommy eventually completes during his fourth donation and Kathy is left with just memories of Tommy, Ruth, and Hailsham. She will continue on in her life knowing that she has those memories and will not lose them until she too completes. I wonder how long Kathy is going to remain a carer before she finally begins donations. I wonder if watching her friends and countless strangers go through the process of donations will alter her in any way when it is her turn.

I enjoyed the novel as a whole. It was full of twists and turns. The general plot was different than anything I have ever read. The whole idea of cloning became more relevant and I learned a great deal about cloning and what it would be like to have been a clone. I think the characters throughout represent characters that everyone can identify with. Also, the plot was thrilling and the new aspects were continually revealed keeping the novel exciting. The combination of the two really drew me into the book and kept me yearning to read on and learn more.

Never Let Me Go: 19

" 'You speak to them. It's you they've come to speak to.'
'I suppose it is' " (255).

Once again, the author leaves readers in suspense going into chapter 22. Throughout the talk of deferrals, it has been implied that Madame was the person with the power. However, we are now confronted with the fact that it is not Madame but Miss Emily. The author has Madame let the children explain their reason for coming to her and their theories about the Gallery before Miss Emily emerges because he wanted to build up the suspense. The suspense is also effective because it throws yet another curve ball into this world that we keep learning more about. This is also and example of situational irony because the children and readers are led to believe that Madame created the Gallery to grant deferrals when, in reality, Miss Emily seems to be the one to grant deferrals. The suspense and situational irony work well together to produce a feeling of unknown going into the next chapter. They are both effective because readers are drawn into the action even more and are anxious to see what comes next.

Never Let Me Go: 18

"With us there for support, she seemed to lose her fear of the fence" (223).

Chapter nineteen focuses on the reunion of Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy during their journey to the boat. I think that the three of them, despite their separation, realize what they meant to each other so many years ago. Journeying together has reminded them of their friendship that they experienced so many years before. I think that for Ruth, the journey to the boat was really just an excuse to tell the others what she really wanted to say. It was very big of her to apologize for keeping Kathy and Tommy apart. She was very considerate and genuinely wanted them to be together. I think this reveals a characteristic of Ruth that readers may have over looked to this point. Ruth truly cares about her friends and wants them to be happy. We see that she truly trusts her friends and, despite their difference, wants nothing more than for them to be happy. We see in the above quote that Ruth knows her friends love her and she loves them. We see the return of the bond that the three of them had at Hailsham.

Never Let Me Go: 17

"But we were both of us by then acutely aware of something we'd not yet mentioned, and I think we both sensed there'd be something wrong about us parting like that. In fact, I'm pretty sure now, at that moment, our minds were running along exactly the same lines" (211).

Chapter eighteen is still a flashback of Kathy's experiences, but we are much closer to the present. Kathy begins her job as a carer and is able to cope quite well with all of the stipulations like loneliness, working with "whitecoats (metonymy)," and dealing with the donors. The above quote seems to have relevance in multiple scenarios in Kathy's life. When this quote is actually used, it explains that Laura and Kathy were about to part without mentioning the closing of Hailsham, a place that was a major part of their lives. I; however, find that this quote could also be used in reference to the way Kathy and Ruth met again. Neither mentioned their prior falling out at the Cottages. I think that the above quote is cleverly used by the author to show the commonality of the things not said, but known inside by both parties.

I think that Kathy makes a good carer and has been successful for so long because she enjoys the peacefulness and solitude, and she knows how to stand up for her donors. Kathy enjoys her work and does it quite well. She heard rumors that traveled from centre to centre and kept her in the know. She eventual began Ruth's carer, but she could not shake the feeling that Ruth still did not trust her. Readers are left in suspense as the chapter ends with plans for Kathy and Ruth to pick up Tommy and go see the boat. This is important because it leads into the next chapter and the action to come.

Never Let Me Go: 16

"We didn't really talk properly again at the Cottages, and before I knew it, I was saying my goodbyes" (203).

Chapter seventeen leads readers in suspense. Kathy has suddenly decided to begin her training and has to say goodbye to the Cottages and everyone there. Kathy's decision was a surprise, yet understandable given the separation of the three good friends (Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth) over the past few chapters. Kathy is growing apart and unable to connect with them as she could before. The suspense's purpose is to leave readers wondering what the future will bring for all of the characters. It is effective because it follows many small arguments amongst the group, but readers already know that Kathy will see both Tommy and Ruth again during her job as a carer. The suspenseful final sentence leaves readers with unanswered questions and theories about what will follow. Will anyone follow Kathy in her decision? Will Ruth and Tommy stay together? Will Kathy be satisfied with her choice? Part Three will begin with many changes and hopefully some answers to the questions floating in readers' minds.

Never Let Me Go: 15

"It was like suddenly every cloud had blown away, and we had nothing but fun and laughter before us" (171).

Chapter fifteen brings a mood change after Tommy and Kathy separate from Ruth, Chrissie, and Rodney. Chapter fifteen follows Tommy and Kathy after the split. The mood seems to change into one of frolic, friendship, and a general good time. Kathy and Tommy seem to really be enjoying their time together and their adventure. Neither one wants the feeling to end. The purpose of this new mood is to foreshadow the transition that the group as a whole will experience on the way home. This mood is a sharp contrast to the tension and disappointment that was prevalent in the middle of the trip. The mood is effective because it is shown through actions, thoughts, and dialogue rather than a direct statement. The mood is much more enjoyable for the characters as well as the reader. The new atmosphere is welcomed by all. The new mood's purpose is foreshadow that more positive things are to come.

Never Let Me Go: 14

"There were the potted palms, the shiny machines and swooping desk lamps. People were moving about between desks, or leaning on a partition, chatting and sharing jokes, while others had pulled their swivel chairs close to each other and were enjoying a coffee and sandwich" (158).

The above quote utilizes parallelism in the description of the office in which Ruth's "possible" works. The parallelism is effective in this position because it demonstrates that the office is just right (just as Ruth has pictured for years). The parallelism shows that everthing was just right because everything fits well in the flow of the sentence. The parallelism that describes the office leads into the children finding the "possible." The "possible" seems to fit the profile in both her surroundings and her view from afar. However, despite these promising beginnings, the "possible" turns out to be a dud. Once the children follow her and listen to her, they realize that this could not be her. Everyone has their own reasons why, but the general realization is that this is not Ruth's possible. The parallelism that begins their journey shows promise, but the quest ultimately ends in defeat on more than one level, They did not find Ruth's possible, but Kathy and Tommy are losing Ruth even more. The group splits up in a strong contrast to the togetherness of the parallelism at the beginning.

Never Let Me Go: 13

"I could see that Ruth was making a big effort to present not just herself, but all of us, in the right way to Chrissie and Rodney" (148).

In chapter thirteen, readers are exposed to Ruth as a round character. She is beginning to really show that she has multiple dimensions to her character. Ever since arriving at the Cottages, she has begun to stray from her usual self. She is trying to fit in amongst the veterans, specifically Chrissie and Rodney. She is forgetting about Kathy and Tommy's feeling because she is trying to prove that she fits in with the veterans. Sometimes she tries to bring Kathy and Tommy into it too, but they think she has just changed. One dimension of Ruth's character is that she cares about Kathy and Tommy and their future as good friends. Another dimension of Ruth's character is trying to present herself as worthy to the veterans. We see Ruth caring about Kathy and Tommy when they were admiring the eyes drawn in the o's of look and laughed together. However, we see Ruth presenting herself to Chrissie and Rodney when she bashes Tommy and reminds everyone of how he used to be the school tease. We see both dimensions together in the above quote when Ruth is trying to present herself, as well as Kathy and Tommy, to the veterans. She still cares about her friends, but wants to be accepted and liked by everybody. I think Ruth is acting both ways because she wants to fit in and feel important in the Cottages, but she doesn't want to loose her friends from Hailsham. Ruth as a round character is important to the story because it allows readers to realize the hardships and struggles the Hailsham students experience when they move on. Also, Ruth's character getting close to the veterans allows readers to learn more about Chrissie and Rodney and their thoughts and ideas.

Never Let Me Go: 12

"That's why she often looked more like the Wicked Witch than a movie star- an impression reinforced by her irritating way of jabbing you with a finger the second before she said something to you" (141).

The author uses an allusion in this instance to add to the characterization of Chrissie. Chrissie has been mentioned throughout Part Two, but she is finally characterized on page 141. When Kathy is describing Chrissie, she uses the allusion to the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz to describe how Chrissie crouches to be the same height as everyone else. The author uses the allusion without much explanation because he assumes that everyone will understand the comparison and be able to get a visual of Chrissie without the explanation. Also in the description of Chrissis, the author insinuates that Chrissie did not go to Hailsham by just saying that she asked many questions about Hailsham. The author also includes a description of what Chrissie wears to allow readers to infer things about her personality because people can associate the characteristics of people that they know who dress like Chrissie to Chrissie. The allusion adds variety to the characterization of Chrissie.

Never Let Me Go: 11

"I suppose, in gerneral, I never appreciated in those days the sheer effort Ruth was making to move on, to grow up and leave Hailsham behind" (130).

I think this is another good time for another reaction posting. The time has come when all of the students in Kathy's year have left Hailsham and are adjusting to their new locations and their next step. Some are obviously doing better than others, like in a year when the class of 2012 graduates, some people will have a much easier transition to the college lifestyle than others. The extent to which we want to and will move on will be unique to everyone. The "graduation" from Hailsham that Kathy, Ruth, Tommy, and the others in their year have recently experienced has brought on a whole new world for each of them. Some are welcoming the changes, while others are hesitant to let go of the past and are holding on to everything they can. As Kathy put it, "we were all of us struggling to adjust to our new life" (131). Ruth is trying to move on and be a new person amongst the veterans at the Cottages. Kathy is not yet ready to completely give up Hailsham, even though she too is changing. I think that they all need to move on from Hailsham and get used to where they are in their lives now. All of the Hailshams need to stick up for each other and help each other out. They need to not partake in the petty arguments and disagreements to look at the bigger picture and what lies ahead. Not everyone was changing in the same way and the same rate. Everyone is adapting in their own way to their new surroundings and new way of life. Kathy has picked up on porn magazines. Ruth is living a double life in trying to be nice to Kathy and still imitate the veterans. Tommy is looking out for everyone and doing his best to get by and keep everybody happy.

Never Let Me Go: 10

"It was like when you make a move in chess and just as you take your finger off the piece, you see the mistake you've made, and ther's this panic because you don't know yet the scale of disaster you've left yourself open to" (124).

Kathy uses many analogies throughout her flashbacks to her time and Hailsham and beyond. This analogy is particularly significant in the message of the novel. This analogy effectively reveals something about Kathy's character. It effectively shows that she is analytical and strategical. It also shows that she really knows her best friend and realizes she has just made a huge mistake. She has left herself vulnerable to Ruth's next "move." The purpose of the analogy is not only to reveal something about Kathy's character, but also to show how well Ruth and Kathy relate to each other and can basically understand each other's thoughts because they have been so close for a long time. The analogy is effective because 99% of readers know exactly the feeling that Kathy is referring to, whether this feeling was experienced in chess, football, a conversation, or another circumstance. The analogy gives readers the opportunity to identify with Kathy and what she is feeling at that particular instance. The analogy can also foreshadow more feelings similar to this to come because the Hailsham students are all beginning a new chapter in their lives and are bound to make mistakes that they hope are not as disastrous as they have the potential to be; however, all of them will probably experience the anxious feeling that Kathy has just described.

Never Let Me Go: 9

"Someone would wander up and ask: 'What's the sound?' and if they liked the answer, they'd sit down on the grass and wait their turn" (103).

A synechdoche is used here in "sound." The sound refers to the music playing on their newly acquired Walkmans. The music playing on these Walkmans would be more than just sound; there would be the music and lyrics. Even if there were no words on specific tapes, the music is still more than just sound. The "sound" represents the musical and lyrical arrangement as a whole. The synechdoche's purpose is to relay to the reader, in a less indirect way, the laidback, peaceful, good atmosphere that was becomming pretty regular on the Hailsham campus. The synecdoche is effective because it not only relays the atmosphere of the time, but it also describes the setting. In England, they may refer to music as sound. They may refer to many things in a synechdochal manner that seems foreign to us, but is quite common to them. The synecdoche displays the regional dialect of the children at Hailsham.

Never Let Me Go: 8

"What I didn't know at the time was that something pretty significant had happened" (92).

This quote foreshadows an anecdote to come. I was expecting it to be in chapter eight; however, it is not so all the more suspense it creates leading into chapter nine. The purpose of this foreshadowing is to lead the reader into what is coming next. Also, this foreshadowing precedes an interlude in which much is going on with the students at Hailsham. It seems that they have uncovered sex in a new way. Everyone is doing it, and if they aren't they feel like they are missing something. This new experience for them ties into the foreshadowing of what happened between Miss Lucy and Tommy. The new sex craze relates because their are significant things happening in all of their lives because the majority of them are hooking up and are confused as to if it is something the guardians want or are warning them against. Either way, it is happening left and right, or so people say. The foreshadowing above is effective because it gives just a hint of what is to come before switching topics, leaving a hint of curiousity about what happened with Tommy in the back of readers's minds, while they are distracted by the onset of the sex craze. I for one was led to believe that what had happened involved sex, but thus far it does not seem this way. Hopefully this remains true and even though they should not be engaging in sex at this age (and it should not be condoned by the guardians), they really should not be engaging in it with the guardians. The foreshadowings purpose is to draw in curiousity and capture the readers attention for what is coming next, even if it is not what the readers expect and the thing being forshadowed is later on in the plot.

Never Let Me Go: 7

"You were brought into this world for a purpose, and your futures, all of them, have been decided" (81).

Time to take a break from all those literary terms and just react. There is plenty to react to in chapter seven, especially the long awaited revelation as to the donations that keep being casually mentioned without explanation and the special purpose of the children at Hailsham. First off the kids were created just to donate their vital organs. It seems a bit cruel to plant, nurture, and harvest the children's organs after they have already gotten used to living and will be way to young to be giving their lives up. However, they were created just for this purpose and have "special" characteristics like the lack of ability to have children that suggest they were not created in the same way as you and me. I am not going to go into the details on that. Anyways, not only are these children basically sacrificed before they get a chance to live their lives for themselves, but they are in a way caught off guard because the guardians either tell them about their future when they are too young to understand or in the midst of another lesson that captures the children's attention and puts the other information (the information about the donations) on the back burner. Just fyi, my gut reaction on this chapter (mainly the paragraph that lays out the future for these kids) is who came up with this plan and what were they thinking? Obviously, whoever it was did not have children of their own because otherwise they would never justify kids (no matter how or why they were created) giving up their vital organs. I am just baffled by the very idea because according to Kathy, they are about our age when this whole process begins. I can not even imagine having to understand why I had to give up MY organs to people I don't even know. Anyway, that's my reaction on the whole situation of these poor children of Hailsham who will soon be awaiting the removal a vital organ. I am ready to read on and see how or if these actions are justified and how the characters are affected by their future experiences.

Never Let Me Go: 6

" 'But it's also something of a lost corner.' A lost corner. That's what she called it, and that was what started it. Because at Hailsham, we had our own 'Lost Corner' up on the thrid floor, where the lost property was kept; if you lost or found anything, that's where you went." "Norfolk was England's 'lost corner,' where all the lost property found in the country ended up" (66-67).

The above quote demonstrates the literary term of connotation. Miss Emily told the students that Norfolk was a lost corner, so they immediately assumed it served the same purpose as the "lost corner" of Hailsham where the lost property was kept. They associated the term "lost corner" with lost property because that is what they grew up knowing it to be. They did not explore the literal meaning or try to discover what Miss Emily had meant because they knew what their "lost corner" was and assumed that a lost corner was a lost corner. The purpose of this demonstration of connotation is for the author to show that the students at Hailsham are living in their own world. They have a "lost corner" just as the real world does. They truly see or at least are under the impression that they are there own little world similar yet separate from the outside. The connotation of the "lost corner" also shows that the students are a bit naive and sheltered from the outside because they are not exposed to other interpretations of words and phrases. It is effective because it reiterates the fact that they are not like the rest of the world, in fact, they are like their own little corner of the world.

Never Let Me Go: 5

"Once, not so long before we all got to Hailsham, a boy had had a big row with his friends and run off beyond the Hailshap boundaries" (50)

Chapter 5 contains an anecdote beginning with the above quote. This anecdote comes at a time when Kathy is describing the supposed plot to kidnap Miss Geraldine that somehow involves the woods behind Hailsham. The purpose of the anecdote is to describe a story that relates to the woods and the "plot" at hand. Another, underlying, purpose is to reveal a sort of truth about Hailsham. This truth, though not directly stated, is that stories (whether they are true or not) are passed from grade to grade so that the whole Hailsham family knows them. This means that the new students learn from those who came before them who learned from those before them who learned from those before them until no one knows the origin of the story or the truth about it, only that it "happened." This fact of passing things along through the years either means that the students (I am now beginning to realize that they are more than that students, but I am not exactly sure what all this "boarding school" at Hailsham entails) don't want things to be forgotten, or they need something to keep thim going from day to day, something to entertain themselves in this place that they won't be leaving anytime soon. I believe that the anecdote is effective because it not only tells of the ominous nature of the woods behind Hailsham, but it also explains one element of the relationship between the previous and current students at Hailsham and the passing on of stories to different groups of students.

Never Let Me Go: 4

"But usually with Miss Emily nothing too awful would come out of it" (44).

Chapter four contains an example of situational irony. Towards the beginning of the chapter, Kathy explains that all students were pretty scared of Miss Emily. She says that the students' hearts sank if they were somewhere they weren't supposed to be and saw Miss Emily coming because it was as if she had an "extra sense" and always knew where they were hiding. This is ironic because in the above quote, Kathy says that "nothing too awful would come out of it." Students wouldn't be yelled at or punished like they would if another teacher caught them. It is situational irony because people would expect that if the students are scared of Miss Emily and hearts sank when she caught them that it would be because she gave the harshest punishments. This is not the case at all. The only downfall of being caught by Miss Emily was that "you'd fallen in her estimation" (44). Readers wouldn't think that this would matter to teenagers; however, this irony further illustrates that these students are not your average teenagers. They are (in more ways than I think I understand right now) different. Normal teenagers could care less about what their teachers or other adults think about them as long as they have their friends. The students of Hailsham are different. They still value their friendships; however, they ironically fear being seen as someone who does not follow the rules more than the punishments for not following the rules. For this reason, Miss Emily who does not scream or take away privileges is more feared by the students than all the other guardians. The purpose of the author using situational irony was to explain the quirks of Miss Emily's character, as well as her effects on students. The situational irony is effective because it stresses another way in which these students are not average teenagers in a way that still fits in to the storyline and provides another anecdote about Kathy's time at Hailsham.

Never Let Me Go: 3

"It's like walking past a mirror you've walked past every day of your life, and suddenly it shows you something else, something troubling and strange" (36).

Six students planned to test the theory of whether or not Madame was afraid of the children; however, they got more than they bargained for. They did confirm their theory, but they were also confronted with another answer to a question they had purposefully avoided asking themselves. They were different than everybody else. People don't hate them or wish them harm, but they shutter at the thought of them because of how they were brought into this world and why (36). This simile above proves that they had been avoiding this confrontation with themselves for a very long time, but they couldn't avoid it any longer. It as if one day they finally understood they were different and there was nothing they could do about it. Not only did they finally see themselves differently then they had previously perceived, but also they saw that they were not accepted in the outside world because they were different. The children's eyes were opened to this devastating reality that was the real world, away from the shelter of the guardians and secluded haven of Hailsham. They were feared as people fear spiders (35). The simile about the mirror is effective because it truly shows how their views about themselves as regular children that had remained constant for so many years were shattered by one instance in which Madame confirmed (by her actions, not words) their theory that they were different.

Never Let Me Go: 2

" 'A couple of months back, I had this talk with Miss Lucy... What she said was that if I didn't want to be creative, if I really didn't feel like it, that was perfectly alright. Nothing wrong with it, she said' " (23).

In another flashback, Kathy reminisces about Tommy's rapid transformation from the kid who was the target of immature pranks to just a normal teenager. It was strange how "the way he looked people in the face and talked in his open, good-natured way" (22) was different from before. The motivation for this transformation was a simple talk with one of the guardians. The author reveals Tommy's motivation after leaving only one page for readers to form their own speculations. This is effective because it does give readers a chance to form their own ideas without making them speculate for chapters only to find out their original thinking was wrong and they have been analyzing the book with false information. The motivation provided by a direct statement from the character to a trusted friend reveals why Tommy seems more confident and less susceptible to the pranks he has been tormented with for years. However, the direct statement is still a bit vague, creating suspense moving into the third chapter. The declaration of Tommy's motivation for his dramatic change is effective because it doesn't directly state everything at once; it gives just enough information to keep the reader in suspense and wanting to find out how this simple statement motivated Tommy to be such a different person. The purpose of telling Tommy's motivation is to describe why he changed and tell readers more about his character and the people that are important to him. Tommy's declaration to Kathy proves that he trusts her as a friend. Likewise, Tommy trusts Miss Lucy because he took their conversation to heart and was able to become a friend and classmate rather than the kid who throws tantrums and is the recipient of a ridiculous number of pranks everyday.

Never Let Me Go: 1

"On the particular afternoon I'm now thinking of, we were standing up on stools and benches, crowding around the high windows" (7).

The first chapter of Never Let Me Go embraces the technique of flashback. Kathy's flashback to an incident at the exclusive boarding school of Hailsham is appropriately situated after a patient of hers is thoroughly intrigued by her past (even if he is only intrigued because he wants to forget his). The patient's interest brings back her memories of the place she just cannot leave behind. She flashes back to an instance that provides a connection to one of the attributes she used when describing herself at the beginning of the chapter. "But it means a lot to me, being able to do my work well, especially that bit about my donors staying 'calm' " (3). The flashback elaborates on this characteristic and shows that even as a teenager she possessed the trait of being able to keep people calm in the face of difficult times. In the flashback, Kathy is able to calm Tommy, a boy who is commonly picked on, after he has just been humiliated once again when he was not picked for a football team even though he was the best player there. The flashback is very effective in providing an anecdote to show how Kathy has used her ability to calm people in the past. In the main storyline, Kathy calms people before and after a donation. The flashback provides a comparison of how Kathy has grown yet remained the same throughout her life. Also, it shows how her characteristic traits have developed as Kathy has gone through her life.