Never Let Me Go
Chapter 21: Twenty-One
by Ishiguro, KazuoKathy and Tommy arrive in Littlehampton after a fraught journey marked by car troubles, delayed medical tests, and Tommy’s carsickness. Despite their exhaustion, they press on, searching for Madame, a figure from their past at Hailsham. As they walk through the town, Tommy spots her dressed in her signature grey suit, and they follow her at a distance. The straight, sunlit seafront road makes it easy to track her, and the rhythmic sounds of their footsteps and Tommy’s bag create an eerie tension as they trail her toward her home.
Upon reaching Madame’s house, Tommy grows agitated and speeds up, forcing Kathy to restrain him. Madame initially seems unaware of their presence until Kathy calls out, startling her. Her reaction is cold and wary, as if she recognizes them as former Hailsham students but views them with discomfort. After a tense exchange, Kathy reassures her they mean no harm, and Madame reluctantly invites them inside. The narrow, dimly lit hallway and the faint sounds from upstairs add to the unsettling atmosphere as they enter.
Inside, the house feels frozen in time, with Victorian furniture and a sealed fireplace. A poorly lit watercolor of Hailsham sparks a quiet argument between Kathy and Tommy about its accuracy, revealing their lingering attachment to their past. The tension escalates when they hear voices upstairs, including Madame’s, suggesting someone else is present. The chapter ends with Kathy and Tommy waiting uneasily in the front room, uncertain of what will happen next, as Madame’s cryptic words and the house’s eerie silence deepen the mystery.
The chapter captures a pivotal moment of confrontation and unresolved tension. Kathy and Tommy’s journey to find Madame reflects their desperation for answers, while her ambiguous reaction hints at deeper secrets. The setting—both the town and Madame’s home—mirrors their emotional state: worn, uncertain, and haunted by the past. The unresolved ending leaves readers questioning Madame’s motives and the significance of the voices upstairs, setting the stage for further revelations.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter contrast Kathy and Tommy’s expectations of meeting Madame with the reality of their encounter?
Answer:
Kathy had envisioned a tense scenario where they would nervously wait at Madame’s door, but their actual arrival was more abrupt and unexpected. The chapter highlights this contrast by showing how they coincidentally spot Madame in town and follow her home, bypassing the anticipated anxiety of ringing her doorbell. However, the encounter still carries tension, as Madame initially reacts with cold recognition before reluctantly inviting them in. This juxtaposition underscores the unpredictability of their quest and Madame’s lingering unease around clones like Kathy and Tommy.
2. Analyze the significance of the Hailsham watercolor in Madame’s house. What might it reveal about her character?
Answer:
The obscured Hailsham watercolor symbolizes Madame’s conflicted relationship with the school and its students. Though she keeps the painting, its neglect—covered in cobwebs and poorly lit—suggests a repressed guilt or unresolved attachment. Tommy’s insistence that it depicts a specific Hailsham scene contrasts with Kathy’s uncertainty, mirroring their differing emotional ties to their past. The painting’s presence hints at Madame’s inability to fully sever her connection to Hailsham, even as she maintains emotional distance from its clones.
3. How does the chapter use physical spaces (e.g., the narrow hallway, the front room) to create atmosphere and reflect the characters’ psychological states?
Answer:
The cramped, dimly lit spaces mirror the tension and claustrophobia of Kathy and Tommy’s mission. The narrow hallway, where they feel “you could touch the walls just by stretching out your elbows,” reflects their constrained lives and the oppressive weight of their request. The front room, with its sealed fireplace and Victorian furniture, feels frozen in time, much like Madame’s unresolved past with Hailsham. These settings amplify the unease, suggesting that both the house and its occupants are trapped in unresolved histories.
4. Why might Madame’s initial reaction to Kathy and Tommy (“as if a pair of large spiders was set to crawl towards her”) be significant in the broader context of the novel?
Answer:
This dehumanizing simile reinforces the societal prejudice against clones, portraying them as unsettling or inhuman. Madame’s visceral revulsion aligns with the broader theme of how clones are othered and feared, even by those who oversee their upbringing. Her eventual composed demeanor—masking her discomfort—highlights the hypocrisy of her role at Hailsham, where she curated their art while privately recoiling from their existence. This moment underscores the novel’s critique of systemic exploitation and denial.
5. What role does Tommy’s agitation play in this chapter, particularly in contrast to Kathy’s demeanor?
Answer:
Tommy’s erratic behavior—his sudden speed, his insistence about the Hailsham painting—reveals his emotional volatility and desperation for validation. Unlike Kathy, who remains cautious and diplomatic, Tommy’s actions (e.g., clutching his bag of art, interrupting Madame) suggest he views this meeting as a last hope for meaning. His physical sickness earlier in the day metaphorically mirrors his psychological turmoil, emphasizing how deeply he is affected by their quest for answers about their purpose and humanity.
Quotes
1. “The way it turned out, though, we got lucky and were spared that particular ordeal.”
This opening line sets the tone for the chapter’s theme of unexpected reprieves amidst tension. It introduces the protagonists’ fragile emotional state as they approach a pivotal encounter, foreshadowing the mix of relief and dread that characterizes their reunion with Madame.
2. “And as her gaze fell on us, a chill passed through me, much like the one I’d felt years ago that time we’d waylaid her outside the main house.”
This powerful description captures the visceral impact of Madame’s presence and the deep-seated fear she inspires. The comparison to their school days at Hailsham underscores how past traumas continue to haunt the characters in their adult lives.
3. “‘From Hailsham,’ she said, and a small smile actually went across her face. ‘Well, this is a surprise. If you aren’t here to give me trouble, then why are you here?’”
Madame’s ambiguous reaction reveals the complex relationship between the guardians and their former students. Her smile suggests either genuine recognition or cruel irony, leaving the true nature of their connection deliberately unclear at this turning point in the narrative.
4. “We were in a hallway so narrow you felt you’d be able to touch the walls on either side just by stretching out your elbows.”
This vivid physical description metaphorically represents the characters’ constrained lives and limited choices. The oppressive architecture mirrors their psychological entrapment as they step deeper into Madame’s domain and toward an uncertain revelation.
5. “‘It’s Hailsham,’ he whispered… ‘You must be able to remember. If you’re round the back with the pond behind you, and you’re looking over towards the North Playing Field…’”
Tommy’s emotional insistence about recognizing Hailsham in the distorted painting highlights the characters’ struggle to reconcile their memories with reality. This moment poignantly shows how their childhood home remains both vivid and elusive in their minds.