While this novel is dystopian, I believe the most interesting part about it is the realistic way in which it depicts the relationships between Tommy, Ruth, and Kathy. Although Tommy and Ruth and Tommy and Kathy form romantic relationships, the three are still a sort of family to one another. Without parents, siblings, or any resemblance of a "normal" upbringing, all of the Hailsham students created their own family instead. In their time at Hailsham, this looks more like what kids who go to school together behave. The students have their own social groups, as well as inside jokes. Secrets and games are the focus, especially considering the lack of familial events and relationships in their lives. Overall, they act like kids in school with their friends.
Even once the smaller group of students has moved to The Cottages, they behave in a similar way that most college freshman do: sticking with those they know in their new environment at first. Of course, this looks a bit different for The Hailsham students, as they are also facing their certain death. Even so, they are adolescents, and there is plenty of working hard to find one's identify that each of the characters does, as well as working hard to fit into the social group at The Cottages. The fights between Ruth and Kathy begin to resemble fights between siblings or family members. Much like siblings, Ruth and Kathy fight and then make up, assuming that they are always going to be there for one another. While they do eventually fight badly enough to convince Kathy to become a Carer sooner, they do eventually come to terms with one another later on.
Overall, these relationships all feel so human to me. That seems to be Ishiguro's point, as we see the story through Kathy's perspective. We do not see any of the real hatred and ideals of otherness that are felt by the Guardians towards the students until the very end of the story, which is also towards the end of Tommy and Kathy's lives. Therefore, although the backdrop of the story is not necessarily normal, Ishiguro focused on the humanness of the characters and their very human relationships with one another.
The human relationships within this novel are what shape the plot line and build the characters. I agree that Tommy, Ruth, and Kathy all act as a family and a group of people that count on one another. However, this type of family to me is one that isn’t relatable to the families and relationships we form in the “real world”. For example, when growing up and going to school we form these close relationships with friends and consider them our “family” but they aren’t the ones we go home to every night. Our actual families are a different sector of people that we jump to outside of the relationships we bond at school. Even in college, our family is a phone call away from the relationships we build at school. In this dystopian society, this group of individuals that you form in Hailsham is the only group you get to cling to and call your home. Instead of being given your parents and siblings to call your family, it is up to the orphans (donors) to go out and find that replacement. In addition, this element of finding a family rather than being given one is one reason that the author proves to the reader that they are not “humane” individuals and are just there for a purpose of others rather than living their life.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with this post. In a way, it feels as if the dystopian society is meant to bring out the true importance of the relationships that take place within this society. Even with all the fighting that occurred within the friend group of Tommy, Ruth and Kathy, they were a family, and Kathy "really understood, just how lucky we'd been---- Tommy, Ruth, me"(Ishiguro 4). The characters build off each other through their struggles and genuinely care for each other. While there are certainly times of tension, especially between Ruth and Kathy, they learn to forgive and forget by the next day and resume their comfortable relationship. The book truly highlights the importance of relationships and appreciating what you have as a group. While they weren't family by blood, no one can deny they were family by heart and love. Once Tommy and Ruth pass away, Kathy holds onto her memories very strongly, even stating that she "lost Ruth, then I lost Tommy, but I won't lose my memories of them" (Ishiguro 286). The memories are what Kathy holds onto after they pass, similar to the memories held on to after a family member passes away. The dystopian society further brings out the struggles and love of family, and is why I view this book as a great book to help show the strength and importance of family and relationships.
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