Never Let Me Go
Chapter 20: Twenty
by Ishiguro, KazuoThe chapter begins with Kathy becoming Tommy’s carer at Kingsfield, a year after their trip to see the boat. Tommy is recovering from his third donation and is given a spacious but oddly shaped room, which they adapt to comfortably. Their days are peaceful, filled with reading classics like *The Odyssey* and casual conversations, rekindling their bond. Despite the idyllic atmosphere, there’s an underlying tension as they navigate their new roles and the unspoken weight of their past.
Their relationship takes a new turn as they begin a physical intimacy that had been absent for years. Kathy initiates it cautiously, aware of Tommy’s recovery and their shared history. While the act brings them closer, it’s tinged with melancholy, as if they’ve missed their chance for a deeper connection earlier in life. Tommy’s quiet acceptance and the lingering sadness hint at the inevitability of their circumstances, even as they try to lose themselves in passion.
The chapter also explores Tommy’s continued fascination with his imaginary animal drawings, a creative outlet from his youth. Kathy notices his meticulous work on a frog-like creature, sparking curiosity about his artistic process. The sketches, detailed and imaginative, serve as a reminder of their shared past at the Cottages. Yet, the topic remains delicate, as it’s tied to unresolved emotions and the possibility of seeking a deferral, a plan once suggested by Ruth.
Throughout the chapter, the contrast between their tender moments and the looming reality of their roles as donors creates a poignant tension. The frosted glass of Tommy’s room, the sounds of other donors outside, and Tommy’s occasional remarks about his declining vitality underscore their fleeting time together. Their attempts to hold onto each other, both physically and emotionally, highlight the bittersweet nature of their relationship, caught between love and inevitability.
FAQs
1. How does the physical description of Tommy’s room at Kingsfield reflect the broader themes of their situation?
Answer:
Tommy’s room, a converted bathroom with frosted glass and limited views, symbolizes the constrained and clinical nature of their existence as donors and carers. The high window offering only a view of dense shrubbery mirrors their limited perspective on life and future possibilities. The room’s L-shaped layout allowing space for a school desk—a relic from its past—creates a poignant contrast between childhood innocence and their current reality. These physical details underscore the themes of confinement, lost potential, and the way their environment shapes their experiences (as seen in Kathy’s observation that even the autumn-like light contributed to their melancholy).2. Analyze the significance of Kathy and Tommy’s sexual relationship in this chapter. How does it reflect their emotional state and broader circumstances?
Answer:
Their sexual relationship, initiated by Kathy as a deliberate step toward intimacy, represents both connection and missed opportunities. While it brings them closer physically, the persistent sadness Tommy exhibits (“what a pity we left it so late”) highlights the emotional weight of their delayed relationship—a metaphor for their constrained lives as clones. Kathy’s efforts to make their encounters passionate yet her inability to dispel the underlying melancholy reflect their futile struggle against their predetermined fates. The juxtaposition of their intimacy with donors’ sounds outside (versus nostalgic memories of student discussions) reinforces how their relationship exists within the harsh reality of their roles.3. How do Tommy’s animal drawings serve as a narrative device in this chapter? What might they reveal about his character and their shared history?
Answer:
Tommy’s drawings of hybrid creatures (like the part-tadpole frog) symbolize his attempt to reconcile contradictions—much like their own existence as clones with emotions and creativity. The meticulous detail and materials (metal vs. rubber) suggest his ongoing exploration of identity and vulnerability. The notebook’s reappearance echoes their past at the Cottages, linking to Ruth’s earlier influence and the unresolved question of whether art could prove their humanity. Kathy’s emotional reaction to seeing the sketches underscores how these drawings represent both Tommy’s uniqueness and the painful memories of their lost hopes for deferral.4. Critical Thinking: Why does Kathy describe their time at Kingsfield as both “idyllic” and tinged with sadness? How does this contradiction reflect the novel’s larger themes?
Answer:
The “idyllic” moments—reading classics, easy companionship—highlight their deep bond and fleeting normalcy, contrasting with their institutionalized lives. However, the pervasive sadness (Tommy’s quiet resignation, Kathy’s need to “keep the feeling away”) exposes the inescapable reality of their roles as donors. This contradiction mirrors the novel’s exploration of humanity within dehumanizing systems: even in warmth, the shadow of their shortened lives remains. The autumn-like light and Tommy’s comments about his declining health (“I can’t do it twice anymore”) reinforce how time, once wasted at Hailsham, now feels cruelly limited.5. Application: If you were to design a discussion question about this chapter for a book club, what would it be and why?
Suggested Question:
“How does Ishiguro use sensory details (e.g., the frosted glass light, sounds of donors outside) to create emotional tension in Kathy and Tommy’s relationship?”
Rationale:
This question encourages readers to analyze the author’s craft while connecting setting to theme. The sensory imagery—like the muted light evoking transience or the donors’ sounds replacing student chatter—subtly underscores loss and inevitability. Discussing these layers would reveal how Ishiguro builds atmosphere to amplify the characters’ inner conflicts without explicit exposition.
Quotes
1. “It was amazing really, the way the years seemed to melt away, and we were so easy with each other.”
This quote captures the bittersweet intimacy between Kathy and Tommy as they reconnect during his recovery. It highlights the comfort of their long history together while subtly foreshadowing the temporal urgency of their relationship.
2. “What I mean is, right from that first time, there was something in Tommy’s manner that was tinged with sadness, that seemed to say: ‘Yes, we’re doing this now and I’m glad we’re doing it now. But what a pity we left it so late.’”
This poignant observation reveals the central tragedy of their relationship - the belated physical intimacy that carries the weight of their impending separation and mortality. The quote encapsulates the novel’s themes of lost time and inevitable endings.
3. “I’d put my hand over his mouth, whenever he said things like that, just so we could go on lying there in peace.”
This visceral image demonstrates Kathy’s coping mechanism against the painful reality of Tommy’s declining health. It symbolizes their mutual attempt to preserve moments of happiness despite the encroaching shadows of their donor fate.
4. “The very fact of my having become his carer served as a reminder that we weren’t there to mark time.”
This statement underscores the urgency driving their relationship forward, with Kathy’s caregiver role serving as a constant reminder of their limited time together. It reflects the novel’s exploration of mortality and purpose.
5. “Kath, I just want you to tell me. Tell me honestly.”
Tommy’s request about his animal drawings represents his continued search for meaning and validation through art. This moment echoes their shared history at Hailsham while demonstrating how Tommy maintains his creative spirit despite his circumstances.