To Become Social Persons:An Analysis On The Role Identification Of Clones In Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro(1954-),an outstanding Japanese-British writer,won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017.He has been honored as the “Three Migrant Giants” in British literature world as well,along with Rushdie and Naipaul.His novel Never Let Me Go has attracted wide attention in the literary circles soon after its publication in 2005 and was nominated for the Booker Prize.Never Let Me Go tells the tragic story of a host of clones growing up and being educated in Hailsham,finally ending up their lives with donating organs.Till now the novel has been explored by scholars from different perspectives,including themes,narrative skills,identity etc.,however,the role identification of the clones in the novel has been rarely touched yet.Role identity and identity confusion are the main concepts of Erikson’s identity theory which emphasizes one’s sense of self-certainty.Erikson claims that individual’s identity can be obtained through these phrases: getting perplexed about one’s identity(or role),figuring out one’s social role,achieving the role identity.From the perspective of identity construction,this thesis mainly illustrates the clones’ identity confusion,as well as the process and result of their role identification.By interpreting the reasons why the clones in the novel are puzzled about their identity,and illustrating the process of their identity exploration as well as role identification,the thesis discusses the clones,represented by Kathy,Tommy and Ruth,have gained self-certainty and social identity by realizing the role identity as a “creator”,a “carer” and a “donor”,and have constructed their identity as social persons with souls like ordinary people.Furthermore,the thesis concludes that the novel is actually a microcosm of human’s quest for identity.Ishiguro aims to express his meditation on human life in the novel: human life is a process of seeking self-identity and social roles,and then fulfilling the obligations of the roles.With the guidance of Erikson’s identity theory,the thesis analyzes the clones’ identity exploration through role identification in Never Let Me Go,which enriches the related researches of this novel and provides some references for the future in-depth studies.Meanwhile,the thesis confirms Ishiguro’s internationalism that he attempts to convey his contemplation on human existence through his works.