Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks

Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a true story about a poor black woman whose cells were taken from her without her consent, becoming an important tool in science. Through the use of research and storytelling, Skloot tells the story of the life of the woman who unknowingly donated her cells to science, greatly advancing the medical institution, while her family struggled to pay health insurance. Skloot tells the emotional story of the Lacks family, answers questions about the HeLa cell, addresses the racial and ethical issues in medicine, all while using storytelling and credibility in order to expose the truth about Henrietta Lacks and her cells. Rebecca Skloot begins the novel by introducing the idea of the lack of …show more content…
The author uses an example of Roland H. Berg, a press officer for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP) who contacted George Gey due to his interest in the woman behind the HeLa cell in order to show the reader the importance of storytelling. After denying Berg of revealing Henrietta’s name, Berg writes back, “You do not engage the attention of the reader unless your story has basic human interest elements” (106), after wanting to publish an article about HeLa cells for a popular magazine. Skloot agrees, and suggests that a strong narrative that engages the reader can only be achieved if personal and emotional stories are used in order to make the author seem vulnerable and connect with their audience. She uses Berg’s opinion throughout the book by telling stories of her interviewing Henrietta’s family and doctors, as well as using stories from Henrietta’s family as if she experienced it first-hand herself. This plays into the novel’s nonlinear progression of the narrative, to give the reader background information and incorporation of storytelling in order to balance factual and storytelling elements of the author’s narrative