The Clone Wars

In British Literature we are halfway through Kazuo Ishiguro's novel Never Let Me Go. We would be remiss if, in discussing a book that is centered around notions related to human cloning, we did not address the moral, political and religious debate that often surrounds the notion of cloning.

For this week's blog post, I want students to read these two opposing views on human cloning and then offer their perspective. This first link supports the idea, while this second link is decidedly against the practice. (Note: In a world consumed currently by the idea of "alternative facts", I do want to note that neither of these websites seem to be trusted, verified scientific sources so I would view claims that both make with some level of suspicion. That being said, I do think both websites highlight the typical arguments made for and against cloning.)

So, students, give them both a read and then let your readers know how you feel about this issue. Be sure to include some discussion of what you have encountered in Never Let Me Go to support your argument.

Innocence Lost?

Last week we began reading Kazuo Ishiguro's acclaimed novel Never Let Me Go as our final text for British Literature this year. Much of the early part of the novel is set at Hailsham, a boarding school-like setting where the main characters spend their childhood and teenage years.

Within the first few pages of the novel, readers can tell that children like Kathy, Tommy and Ruth aren't entirely "normal" and that all at Hailsham might not be what it seems. In flashbacks, Kathy remembers her time at Hailsham and focuses, in Chapter Three, on one incident in particular when the children truly began to realize that they weren't like other children. After "swarming" Madame to see how she reacts to them, Kathy remembers realizing that they were different and seems to claim that, in many ways, this is a universal experience we all go through. She writes, "So you're waiting, even if you don't quite know it, waiting for the moment when you realize that you really are different to them; that there are people out there, like Madame, who don't hate you or wish you any harm, but who nevertheless shudder at the very thought of you-- of how you were brought into this world and why-- and who dread the idea of your hand brushing agains theirs. The first time you glimpse yourself through the eyes of a person like that, it's a cold moment."

Do you have your own "cold moment"? For this week's blog post, I would like for you to write about a time you can remember where a bit of innocence was lost; where you felt different for the first time and this caused you to reflect on who you were and what your place was in the world. This could be a small or big moment, one that changed your life dramatically or simply made you see the world in a slightly different light. Thank you, in advance, for sharing!