In Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005), the students at Hailsham acquire little knowledge about their predetermined future until Miss Lucy discloses the truth. Their lack of knowledge is important because it reveals the complicated structure of Hailsham and the process used to inform the student’s of their fate. The novel ultimately suggests that Hailsham’s façade is exposed when its core beliefs of revealing the student’s destiny turns past the point of return. Early in the novel, Ishiguro creates a sinister mood, hinting that Miss Lucy strongly disagrees with the manner in which the students learn of their fate. He demonstrates this dissent by having Miss Lucy passionately fulminate to her optimistic students about the matter; “‘The
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Instead, the novel’s deeper meaning involves the interest in people who are used by society. When Kathy and Tommy visit Miss Emily and Madame, they learn the truth. Miss Emily explains; “You see, we were able to give you something, something which even now no one will ever take from you, and we were able to do that principally by sheltering you” (268). By sheltering the students, and concealing details about their destiny, Hailsham’s system allowed the students to revel in their short lives without dreading what’s to come. Miss Emily admits “Yes in many ways we fooled you…Lucy was well meaning enough. But if she’d had her way, your happiness at Hailsham would have been shattered” (268). If the system was run by Miss Lucy’s standards, and the students completely understood what was to come, they would have had more time to comprehend their unjust future. Miss Emily then asserts, “You built your lives on what we gave you. You wouldn’t be who you are today if we’d not protected you” (268). She claims that Hailsham protected the students by concealing their knowledge. Miss Emily’s stance supports that the student’s ignorance in the face of unchangeable conditions allowed them to be happy. Throughout the novel, even at 31 years old, Kathy is blissfully conscious of the fact that donations are killing everyone around
Instead, the novel’s deeper meaning involves the interest in people who are used by society. When Kathy and Tommy visit Miss Emily and Madame, they learn the truth. Miss Emily explains; “You see, we were able to give you something, something which even now no one will ever take from you, and we were able to do that principally by sheltering you” (268). By sheltering the students, and concealing details about their destiny, Hailsham’s system allowed the students to revel in their short lives without dreading what’s to come. Miss Emily admits “Yes in many ways we fooled you…Lucy was well meaning enough. But if she’d had her way, your happiness at Hailsham would have been shattered” (268). If the system was run by Miss Lucy’s standards, and the students completely understood what was to come, they would have had more time to comprehend their unjust future. Miss Emily then asserts, “You built your lives on what we gave you. You wouldn’t be who you are today if we’d not protected you” (268). She claims that Hailsham protected the students by concealing their knowledge. Miss Emily’s stance supports that the student’s ignorance in the face of unchangeable conditions allowed them to be happy. Throughout the novel, even at 31 years old, Kathy is blissfully conscious of the fact that donations are killing everyone around