Summary of the work - Sykalo Eugen 2023

Short summary - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go" is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the meaning of life itself. It tells the story of three friends - Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy - who grow up together in a world where human cloning has been perfected, and the clones are raised to be organ donors for their human counterparts.

The novel is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different stage in the lives of the three friends. In the first part, we are introduced to Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy as they live together in Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside. The students at Hailsham are encouraged to be creative and artistic, and the school is a mysterious and idyllic place. However, as the story progresses, we begin to see that there is something deeply unsettling about the school and the way the students are being raised.

As the three friends grow older and leave Hailsham, they are moved to a group home called The Cottages. It is during this time that they begin to understand the true nature of their existence. They learn that they are clones raised to donate their organs to their human counterparts. The clones are harvested for their organs, and they will not live beyond their third or fourth donation.

The third part of the novel sees the three friends reunite as adults. Tommy has become increasingly anxious about his future as a donor and begins to seek answers about their purpose in life. Ruth, who is now in a relationship with Tommy, becomes jealous of the close bond between Tommy and Kathy. The novel ends with Kathy reflecting on her life and the memories of her time at Hailsham.

The novel is a powerful commentary on the nature of humanity and the ethics of cloning. It raises important questions about the value of life and the morality of using one group of people to prolong the lives of another. The story explores themes of love, friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice, and it does so with a deep sense of sadness and melancholy.

Ishiguro's writing is hauntingly beautiful, and the story is told with a quiet intensity that draws the reader in and keeps them captivated until the very end. The characters are complex and nuanced, and their relationships are portrayed with great sensitivity and depth. The novel is a masterpiece of contemporary fiction, and it is a must-read for anyone who is interested in exploring the complexities of human nature and the meaning of life itself.

In conclusion, "Never Let Me Go" is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. It is a testament to the power of literature to explore the most profound questions of human existence, and it is a book that should be read by anyone who wants to understand what it means to be human.