NRJ #2: Cloning

For this journal I am going to choose the subject of cloning and what it meant to the novel. The entire basis of the novel revolves around the highly controversial idea of human cloning. Even though the actual concept of cloning is not mentioned until the end of the novel, when Kathy and Tommy go to seek their deferral, we are aware of its presence very early. The idea is alluded to many times in the early parts of the story with strange word usage such as "donors" or "carers" and by other parts of the plot such as the absence of any parents at Hailsham and the odd things the children learn. The secret is finally revealed in chapter seven when Miss Lucy reveals who the children really are and the meaning behind their existence by stating; "You'll become adults, then before you're old... you'll start to donate your vital organs" (81). From this point on, the idea and concept behind human cloning is in the back of every readers mind and plays a major part in how we interpret the actions of the characters for the rest of the book. The idea is not brought up often in the actual context of the story, but its presence is always there. It silently dictates how many of the events will play on later in the book.

Ishiguro was probably not writing this book with the intention of causing a debate over the ethics and morales of human cloning. Cloning is not a focal point by any means within the story, except for it brining the eventual end to their lives. Ishiguro wanted his readers to focus on the other aspects of life that are talked about much more in the story, but ultimately are based around the fact they are clones. The actual idea of human cloning is highly controversial, and for this exact reason. Clones are essentially exact copies of normal human beings, which is proven by their actions and emotions throughout the story. Yet besides this, they do not posses any rights and they are killed in order to maintain the health of the rest of the population. This unfair ideal is brought up at the end of the story during the conversation between Kathy and Tommy and Madame and Miss Emily. We learn about how Hailsham and the other schools were attempting to end this unfair treatment, but failed due to people regaining fear over a genetically superior group of humans. This may be Ishiguro's way of giving his input on the notion of cloning, but this remains the only real stated area of discussion over the ideals of this theme anywhere in the novel.

NRJ #1: Art and Creativity

I chose the theme of art and creativity because I feel that it plays an important role in the way the children are brought up, especially in the early parts of the story. The children are never told exactly why they do so much art in their early years. We only find out later in the story that it was an attempt to prove that the clones had soles and were more than just a source for organs for the rest of society. But the children never learn this and instead just assume that this is part of their daily lives and that creativity is a very important aspect of who they are. Towards the beginning of the book, Kathy confronts Tommy about his newly changed attitude and when Tommy replies that he was told by Miss Lucy that “if I didn't want to be creative... that was perfectly alright." (Ishiguro 23) Kathy takes this as a complete lie. She doesn't see how it is possible to be okay to not be creative. Creativity is so far implanted in the minds of the children at Hailsham that it has become a part of their daily lives and is basically considered a necessity. Tommy was previously out casted by the other boys for his below average ability at creating art (and because of his tantrums). Being creative was more than just a way of life at Hailsham, it was nearly a necessity for the children to survive the rigorous social climate of the school.

Ishiguro was very obvious about the children's need for art in their daily lives. This does not make very much sense until we learn the true meaning behind Hailsham, and the entire plot, at the end of the novel. We suddenly realize the much deeper meaning that Ishiguro was implementing. The children's art was meant to prove that they were truly human beings, the same as everyone else in society, and not just slabs of flesh that contained organs to be harvested from. The art they were making could have potentially saved their lives by proving that they were actually intelligent and thoughtful. The entire goal of Hailsham was to get society to understand this through the children's art and to hopefully change public opinion on the entire subject of harvesting organs from clones. When Miss Lucy mentioned to Tommy that he didn't have to be creative, I believe she was alluding to the fact that their efforts at Hailsham were failing. That the art the children were creating were not persuading anything from the public. And so she knew that no matter what Tommy did with his creative side, he would eventually be a donor and would die like all of the other clones.

This theme can easily mean many different things to different people. From my understanding though, Ishiguro was suggesting, among many other things throughout the plot, that our society is losing grasp on its creative side. Due to the fact that all of the hard efforts of the children to create various forms of art fell through and failed, Ishiguro suggest that our society is so unmoved by creativity that it cannot even save the lives of the children who drew them. Despite the obvious creativity and intellectual ability the children possess, the greedy society fails to see this ability and instead only sees what they want from the clones. Ishiguro is suggesting that if our society still valued art and creativity like it once did, then these children and the lives of future clones could be saved.