A Traumatic Study Of Kathy's Identity In Never Let Me Go

The Japanese-born British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro is one of the most celebrated contemporary fiction writers in the English speaking world.He is widely acknowledged as one of the “Three Greatest Immigrant” in British literature.Never Let Me Go was his sixth novel and came out in 2005,which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.Upon its publication,the novel has attracted plenty of critic attentions not only because of its science fiction qualities and the author's superb narration skills but also because of the thought-provoking universal themes it reveals.However,few scholars analyze it from the trauma theory,especially linking trauma with the protagonist's identity.After a meticulous reading of the novel,this researcher finds that the protagonist Kathy's identity pursuit and transformation from a marginalized clone and social person to a self-master is connected with traumatic memory and traumatic experience,and Kathy's construction process from identity lost to identity reconstruction coincides with the process of trauma and recovery in trauma theory.This thesis tries to analyze Kathy's identity from the perspective of trauma theory.This thesis is divided into three parts,namely an introduction,a three-chapter main body and a conclusion.The introductory part includes general introduction to Kazuo Ishiguro and his novel Never Let Me Go,as well as domestic and overseas situation of research of this novel,the theoretical framework and main points of this study.The main body includes three chapters.Chapter One analyzes Kathy's identity lost as a traumatic clone.Hailsham,the boarding school,is in essence a panopticon,which triggers her anxiety of being an imprisoned clone;the guardians look on the clone students as non-human beings,which causes Kathy's anxiety as a parentless clone;the perception of her destiny of dying from brutal organ donations makes Kathy feel desperate.As a clone,Kathy is imprisoned,belongingless and futureless,she lives under the supervision of guardians and human world.Chapter Two analyzes Kathy's identity lost as a traumatic clone.As a social person,firstly,she is marginalized by the mainstream society and loses the right to speak out and master her own life.Secondly,there are also some problems in her interpersonal relationships.She breaks up with her best friends,and drifts apart with Hailsham group.Thirdly,she wanders between taking responsibility and seeking freedom.Chapter Three analyzes Kathy's recovery from trauma by constructing a new identity—self-master.Her construction of self-identity as a self-master is not only a combination but also a sublimation of her former two identities.By reconnecting with her friends and the environment,Kathy constructs the identity as an intimate companion.By remembering and mourning,Kathy says goodbye to the past trauma and regain the confidence as a Hailshamer.By restoring autonomy and empowerment,Kathy takes the courage to shoulder the responsibility as a carer.Through the three chapters of the argument,this paper draws a conclusion that combined with his own traumatic experiences,Ishiguro bravely unfolds marginalized people's psychological trauma and reveals the identity crisis caused by the abuse of biotechnology and the lack of humanity,and thus conveys the necessity of getting rid of the traumatic plight and the importance of self-reconstruction so as to recover from traumas.By combining trauma theory with identity,this thesis not only explores a new perspective to interpret this novel,but also has certain social and realistic significance in helping people cope with traumas in the past and present.This novel also reflects the plight of the marginalized people and even human existence,which shows Ishiguro's humanistic concern to vulnerable groups and their living conditions.