Clones As Other A Study Of Clones’ Identity In Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go

The Japanese-born British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro is one of the most renownedcontemporary fiction writers in the English speaking world. Among all of his six novels,the latest one Never Let Me Go came out in2005, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.Upon its publication, the novel has attracted plenty of critic attentions not only because ofits science fiction qualities and the author’s superb narration skills but also indebted to thethought-provoking universal themes it reveals.This thesis, which mainly focuses on the identity of clones as “other”, mainlyapproaches this topic from the following three aspects: detailed description of the identityof clones as “other”; the underlying reasons for the clones’ resignation to their fate as themarginalized other; and the establishment of their identity as full human beings instead ofother. Specifically speaking, this thesis consists of five parts. The introductory partincludes domestic and overseas situation of research of this novel, the theoreticalframework and main points of this study. Chapter One elaborates on the identity of theclones as “other” from both biological and social perspectives. Chapter Two analyzes theunderlying reasons for the clones to resign themselves to their wretched fate as otherizedorgan providers, mainly the boarding school Hailsham, a panopticon-like institution thatsurveils the clones’ body and controls their mentality, thus depriving them of free will topursue a better life. In Chapter Three, the clones’ establishment of their identity as fullhuman beings with emotions and creativity are expounded. The final part points out thatNever Let Me Go, though clothed in the cloak of science fiction, is in essence a culturalmetaphor for human conditions.Though the identity of clones is repeatedly discussed by critics, few, if any, have everapproached this issue from the framework of Michel Foucault’s Panopticon theory.Hopeful this thesis will provide an enlightening insight into the research of this novel.