"I was talking to one of my donors a few days ago who was complaining about how memories, even your most precious ones, fade surprisingly quickly. But I don't go along with that. The memories I value most, I don't see them ever fading. I lost Ruth, then I lost Tommy, but I won't lose my memories of them." pg.286
It is sad to think that most donors don't remember their most precious memories. I think the loss of memory probably had to do with donations. As the donors' bodies grew weaker after each donation, I imagine their memories grew weaker as well. Kathy does not think her memories will ever fade. But I think they will when she starts donating. She seems to have a great memory, but she has not had any donations yet. I hope none of her memories fade but I think they will because even Tommy and Ruth forgot things about their pasts. Kathy seems to have a very strong memory so maybe she will retain everything until the very end. I, however, will not retain everything; I already forgot what the other book I read was about.
Friday, August 12, 2011
NLMG: the truth is revealed
"You see, we were able to give you something, something which even now no one will ever take from you, and we were able to do that principally by shetering you....sometimes that meant we kept things from you, lied to you....But...we gave you your childhoods."
In some ways, I think Miss Lucy was right. The guardians should not have kept so many secrets from the students and they should have explained things better while the children were still at Hailsham. However, I also think there is some truth to the statement above. In the context of the whole story it is a pretty valid arguement. Although I think the guardians should have been more open with the students, I also believe they did the students a favor by keeping some secrets. As Miss Emily said to Kathy and Tommy, the guardians gave the students their childhoods. By not knowing what lay ahead in their futures, the students were able to live carefree and fun lives as children.
In some ways, I think Miss Lucy was right. The guardians should not have kept so many secrets from the students and they should have explained things better while the children were still at Hailsham. However, I also think there is some truth to the statement above. In the context of the whole story it is a pretty valid arguement. Although I think the guardians should have been more open with the students, I also believe they did the students a favor by keeping some secrets. As Miss Emily said to Kathy and Tommy, the guardians gave the students their childhoods. By not knowing what lay ahead in their futures, the students were able to live carefree and fun lives as children.
NLMG: Litotes
"I wasn't not wanting to go..." pg. 221
The quote above (spoken by Tommy) is a litote. It is an understatement in which the positive form is emphasized through the negation of a negative form. Tommy is telling Kathy and Ruth that he wanted to go see the ship but he was unable. He is saying that he hasn't gone yet because he didn't want to but because he couldn't. What he is talking about going to see is a beached ship. Kathy came to his center and pocked him up and took him, along with Ruth, to see the ship that everyone was talking about. As they were driving, Tommy was asked if he had already seen it and his response was no because he was unable.
The quote above (spoken by Tommy) is a litote. It is an understatement in which the positive form is emphasized through the negation of a negative form. Tommy is telling Kathy and Ruth that he wanted to go see the ship but he was unable. He is saying that he hasn't gone yet because he didn't want to but because he couldn't. What he is talking about going to see is a beached ship. Kathy came to his center and pocked him up and took him, along with Ruth, to see the ship that everyone was talking about. As they were driving, Tommy was asked if he had already seen it and his response was no because he was unable.
NLMG: Metonymy
"They don't know what to say to the whitecoats, they can't make themselves speak up on behalf of their donor." pg. 208
This quote shows how out of place the students are. It shows they don't fit into the outside world. The carers do not even know how the interact with normal humans. They don't know how to address the doctors so they call them whitecoats because that is what doctors wear. Identifying the doctors by something associated with them is called metonymy. This use of metonymy shows the students lack of interaction with the world outside their schools. I feel like the guardians did not prepare the students well enough for the outside world because they do not feel comfortable around doctors. The carers should be able to speak up on behalf of their donors, but they can't because they were not taught how to interact with normal people.
This quote shows how out of place the students are. It shows they don't fit into the outside world. The carers do not even know how the interact with normal humans. They don't know how to address the doctors so they call them whitecoats because that is what doctors wear. Identifying the doctors by something associated with them is called metonymy. This use of metonymy shows the students lack of interaction with the world outside their schools. I feel like the guardians did not prepare the students well enough for the outside world because they do not feel comfortable around doctors. The carers should be able to speak up on behalf of their donors, but they can't because they were not taught how to interact with normal people.
NLMG: Foreshadowing
"After that I think we went back to talking in a more or less friendly way...But the atmosphere never quite righted itself, and when we said our goodnights...we parted without our usual little touches on the arms and shoulders." pg. 202
Ishiguro uses foreshadowing a few times in the novel. One example in particular is the quote above. Kathy and Ruth got into another arguement and it did not end well. Usually at the end of the day they will make up and forget about their arguments. However, this time was different and it foreshadows more tension in their friendship. This event made me feel like something bad was about to happen in their friendship. Then, sure enough something happened. Later in the chapter, Kathy applied to start training as a carer and they never really made up. Soon Kathy was gone and things didn't really end well forthe two friends.
Ishiguro uses foreshadowing a few times in the novel. One example in particular is the quote above. Kathy and Ruth got into another arguement and it did not end well. Usually at the end of the day they will make up and forget about their arguments. However, this time was different and it foreshadows more tension in their friendship. This event made me feel like something bad was about to happen in their friendship. Then, sure enough something happened. Later in the chapter, Kathy applied to start training as a carer and they never really made up. Soon Kathy was gone and things didn't really end well forthe two friends.
NLMG: Turning Point
"But I didn't say or do anything. It was partly, I suppose, that I was so floored by the fact that Ruth would come out with such a trick....I decided just to turn and go." pg. 195
This scene in the book is the turning point. The point where Ruth has pushed things too far. Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were having a conversation when Ruth went too far and things couldn't be fixed. Ruth just doesn't know when to stop. She doesn't really care how other people feel and she just speaks her mind as she pleases. She made Tommy feel bad about himself and made Kathy sound like a bad friend. That's what pushed Kathy over the edge, and swayed her decision to apply she applied to be a carer and set out on her own.
This scene in the book is the turning point. The point where Ruth has pushed things too far. Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were having a conversation when Ruth went too far and things couldn't be fixed. Ruth just doesn't know when to stop. She doesn't really care how other people feel and she just speaks her mind as she pleases. She made Tommy feel bad about himself and made Kathy sound like a bad friend. That's what pushed Kathy over the edge, and swayed her decision to apply she applied to be a carer and set out on her own.
NLMG: Imagery
"...a lovely old church about half a mile from the Cottages, which had behind it rambling grounds with very old gravestones leaning in the grass. Everything was overgrown, but it was really peaceful and Ruth had taken to doing a lot of her reading there, near the back railings, on a bench under a big willow." pg. 192
Imagery is a great literary device to help the reader develop a mental picture of the scene taking place in a story. Ishiguro uses imagery to describe Ruth's favorite reading spot. I can picture Ruth sitting on a bench under the willow tree reading one of her books for her essay. The imagery created a great mental pictue of a quite little churchyard that would be greatfor reading. I am not much of a reader, but when I do read I like to be by myself so I can concentrate. So the bench in churchyard seems like the perfect place for me to read. I could almost see myself reading in the churchyard becasue the imagery is so effective.
Imagery is a great literary device to help the reader develop a mental picture of the scene taking place in a story. Ishiguro uses imagery to describe Ruth's favorite reading spot. I can picture Ruth sitting on a bench under the willow tree reading one of her books for her essay. The imagery created a great mental pictue of a quite little churchyard that would be greatfor reading. I am not much of a reader, but when I do read I like to be by myself so I can concentrate. So the bench in churchyard seems like the perfect place for me to read. I could almost see myself reading in the churchyard becasue the imagery is so effective.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)