The Construction Of Kathy’s Subjectivity: A Lacanian Study Of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go

This thesis aims to approach Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go from theperspective of psychoanalysis, with Lacan’s theory of mirror stage in particular. Bymeans of textual analysis, the thesis looks into the construction process of theprotagonist Kathy’s subjectivity and explains that Kathy’s psychological developmentin the three stages of her life, including childhood at Hailsham, adolescence at theCottages, and adulthood being a carer, coincides with the three stages of humanbeings’ psychological development in Lacan’s theory of mirror stage—pre-mirrorstage, mirror stage and post-mirror stage. In this way, Ishiguro’s intentional use ofclones as a metaphor for human beings could be made apparent. The novel, via thisliterary metaphor, shows a vast contrast between the humanity of human beings andthat of clones; accordingly, it reveals Ishiguro’s concern over the crisis of thealienation of humanity, which could be a possible outcome of the abuse of technology.In addition, the novel also alludes to the enormous imbalances of economicdevelopment and the resulting social hierarchy and injustice among different groupsin England in the late20thand early21stcenturies. In this sense, the novel informs usthat it would be necessary to reflect on the present injustice and the pros and cons ofthe booming technologies.