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April Lu

Ms. Gardner

English 10H, Per. 6

20 October 2016

The Origins of Ishiguros Never Let Me Go

"Black Market Organ Trade." Day To Day, 8 June 2007. Literature Resource
Center, http://bit.ly/2enlhzu.

In a radio broadcast, Scott Carney, an investigative journaliste stationed in Chennai, India, shares

his findings about the honest experiences of the thousands of people who sold their own flesh in

the kidney trade. Through the heartbreaking story of Malika and her son, Carney explains how

many people are cheated out of their money by brokers and often face severe physical

consequences in the end. He expresses clearly how thousands have almost identical stories to

Malikas and later when asked questions, he answers with tragically large numbers.

Carneys stories from Chennai are broadcasted to spread awareness to the danger of the kidney

trade and to those living in poverty who think it is the answer to their problems. By using a

subjective picture, Carney is able to explain the desperate situation to a larger audience. Much of

his report, nonetheless, consists of dry facts to drain the pity from his listeners/readers. While

Carney exposes the organ black market as a clear issue, Kazuo Ishiguro treats it as something

completely different in his dystopian novel Never Let Me Go: a lifestyle.

Fisher, Mark. "Precarious Dystopias:
The Hunger Games, In Time, and Never Let Me Go." Film

Quarterly, 65.4 (2012): 27-33. Vol. 355. Rpt. in C

ontemporary Literary Criticism. Ed.

Lawrence J. Trudeau. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Literature Resource Center, http://bit.ly/2ew5rYt.
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Mark Fishers article compares movies/novelsThe Hunger Games, In Time, and
three

Never Let Me Goand how their dystopian settings create very different moods that set

each apart. He brings attention to a similar issue that sparks conflict among each: a

shortage of something, which they attempt to fix by plundering the people of, in these cases,

time, organs, and even life itself. The characters may be trapped within comparable

problems; however, Fisher explains that the difference is how they fight back, if they even

do.

Fisher provides a concrete interpretation for the different responses to the same dystopian

By using the pop culture blockbuster, The Hunger Games, as a comparing factor, this
topic.

article can be used to better understand the imprisonment of these worlds, along with also

appealing to the popular interest in dystopian themes. To emphasize the contrast, Fisher

uses a juxtaposition between The Hunger Games and N

ever Let Me Go; he interprets how

characters in one act like theyre in slavery, while the other pretends to not be. Fisher, in

conclusion, supports the various original approaches to a dystopian novelIshiguros Never

Let Me Go, for example, can be seen as a euphemism for these dark worlds.

Ishiguro, Kazuo. "Kazuo Ishiguro: Thatcher's London and the role of the artist in a time of political

change." The Guardian, 27 Jun. 2016, pg. 18. eLibrary, http://bit.ly/2fqlnb6.

In an interview to publicize the 30th anniversary of his award-winning novel An Artist of the

Floating World, Kazuo Ishiguro discusses not only the influences and backgrounds to his novels,

but also the insights of his personal life before and after his transition into becoming a full-time

author. He shares the obstacles that got in the way of his writing, including his internal battle
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while working as a television screenwriter for Channel 4: Why write a novel if it offered the

same experience as turning on the TV? To conclude his interview, Ishiguro adds an explanation

for how his Japanese background has impacted his novels and what effect he wants his readers to

get from it.

This article shares the important backgroundstories, influences, dedicationsof the

development of Ishiguros novels, nimbly used to better understand the rhetorical purpose of his

style and language. His tone does not beg for peoples attention; instead, he conveys honesty

through telling his story to those who are listening. By opening eyes to his own personal

experiences, readers can find relations between Ishiguros writing and his real life.

Kass, Leon. "Human Cloning and the Quest for Immortality." Global Viewpoint. Oct. 27 2004. SIRS

Issues Researcher, http://bit.ly/2etL60g.

Leon Kasss article highlights an undeniable obsession with life, health, and longevityif it

can cure disease, we want it; if it can offer immorality, we need it. By questioning his

audience on if their enthusiasm about immortality affects their views, Kass attempts to

spread awareness of why human cloning needs to be regulated. He then includes an excerpt

from an article by Ian Wilmut, the father of Dolly the cloned sheep, that defends the use

of cloning in scientific research. Wilmut points out a popular controversy with human

cloning: he sets apart the embryo as a human being and as only a potential human being.

Although the articles author, Leon Kass, is chairman of the President's Council on

Bioethics in the United States, he uses relatable language, instead of jargon, to reach out to
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a larger audience. By incorporating many cases of anaphora: The Brave New World, It

is not, the tone has a clear desperationdesperation to persuade the readers to really

think, not just act by their craving for immortality. While the first person point-of-view sets

Kass in a biased situation, his use of including a counter argument creates a creditable

position for his claim.

Petrakis, John. Never Let Me Go. The Christian Century (Chicago), Vol. 127, Iss. 22, 2 Nov. 2010, pg.

43. Proquest Learning: Literature, http://bit.ly/2fooT5X.

John Petrakis article describes how Ishiguros plot for Never Let Me Go is rare among the

dystopian world of novels. While a great amount of dystopian novels and movies take place in the

future, this one is set in 1990s U.K., in some parallel universe where many fatal diseases are

curable. Also, he indicates that Ishiguro doesnt use the expected plot twist to shape the novels

conclusion and message. Besides its originality, Petrakis then points out how the novel is

encompassed by the imprisonment of organ harvesting; however the plot deals with deeper

themes as the characters realize their futures: can they mend their relationships before time runs

out?

Petrakis supplies a simple, easy-to-follow summary of the novel, as well as positive criticism on

its movie, that together, engage readers to Ishiguros works. He also creates an interesting front

for the novels themes that can catch the audiences eye just as easily as the plot summary.

Through an explanation of how humanity creates the core of this novels morals while the

children are debated about even being human, strategic irony is utilized to mirror the characters

playful nature even after they have already been condemned to death. While Petrakis notes that
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they can keep their optimism, author Ishiguro clears that they cant keep each other. Using

informal, but powerful language while describing plot observations, Petrakis effectively brings

sympathy to the articles audience in subjective summarizations of the childrens futuresthey

are doomed to too-short lives.

ontemporary Novelists. Susan Windisch Brown. 6th

Taylor, Anna-Marie. "Kazuo Ishiguro: Overview." C

ed. New York: St. James Press, 1996. Literature Resource Center, http://bit.ly/2e1Gv5V.

This article by Anne-Marie Taylor, summarizes the themes within Kazuo Ishiguros earliest three

novels, pointing out a consistent trait: the constant dwelling in ones conflicted past. Among the

three strong novels, she tracks Ishiguros references to his own Japanese-born past, as if he were

trying to reconnect with the unfinished business of his former days. His books echo his floating

worldhis own escape. Through their reflective journeys of regret and dissatisfaction, Taylor

points out a new optimistic view obtained by Ishiguros characters, exalting their abilities to make

changes and solve their problems.

With a marveled tone and a goal to publicize, Taylor praises Ishiguros connections among not

only the three separate novels, but also to himself. Each novels description coheres to Ishiguro

with its characters abstract ideas, along with subjective themes to relate to the readers emotional

mindset. Brief summaries are illuded to seem fuller with the abundant use of Latinate diction.

Although making no reference to his famous novel Never Let Me Go, Taylor purposefully brings

attention to Ishiguros thematic reputation, which then sets an expectation for the rest of his

works.