Frankenstein by Mary Shelley & Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Edexcel A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes

Comparative Key Quotations

Humanity and Alienation

Both Frankenstein and Never Let Me Go explore themes of humanity and alienation, depicting characters who grapple with their sense of self and struggle to belong in a world that views them as "other."

Frankenstein

"I am solitary and abhorred… I was in reality the monster."

• The creature's use of "solitary" and "abhorred" emphasises his profound isolation, both physical and emotional.
• The juxtaposition between his internal reality and the external label of "monster" highlights his internalised alienation.
• Shelley employs first-person narration for the creature's speech, granting him a voice that humanises his suffering and challenges the reader's perception of him.
• The phrase "in reality" suggests the power of societal judgement in shaping identity, forcing the creature to see himself through the lens of others' prejudice.

Never Let Me Go

"We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time."

• The phrase "we all complete" reflects the clones' passive acceptance of their predetermined fate, highlighting their inability to escape societal control.
• The use of "maybe" and "none of us really understand" suggests an underlying ambiguity, portraying the clones' existential confusion and alienation.
• The tone is reflective and melancholic, underscoring the clones' quiet resignation and their yearning for a fuller human experience.
• The idea of "enough time" evokes universal human concerns about mortality, aligning the clones' plight with broader existential questions.

Isolation and Loneliness

Both Frankenstein and Never Let Me Go highlight the emotional toll of isolation and loneliness, emphasising how rejection and separation shape the characters' understanding of themselves and their relationships with others

Frankenstein

"Increase of knowledge only discovered to me more clearly what a wretched outcast I was."

• The phrase "increase of knowledge" underscores the paradox of enlightenment, as the creature's growing awareness intensifies his suffering.
• The word "wretched" conveys the creature's deep despair, while "outcast" reinforces his exclusion from human society.
• Shelley contrasts the creature's intellectual growth with his emotional and social isolation, heightening the tragedy of his existence.
• The emphasis on "discovered" reflects the creature's painful realisation that knowledge cannot resolve his alienation but instead deepens it.

Never Let Me Go

"I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold on to each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end, it's just too much."

• The river metaphor symbolises the relentless passage of time and the inevitability of separation, mirroring the clones' struggle to preserve connections.
• The repetition of "holding on" conveys the characters' desperation to maintain their bonds despite external forces pulling them apart.
• The phrase "it's just too much" reflects the emotional exhaustion and resignation faced by the characters as they confront their mortality.
• The use of vivid imagery and conversational tone adds poignancy, making the metaphor relatable and evocative.

Power and Control

Both Frankenstein and Never Let Me Go examine power dynamics, portraying how external forces manipulate and dominate individuals, often leading to a struggle for autonomy and agency.

Frankenstein

"You are my creator, but I am your master;—obey!"

• The inversion of roles between creator and creation is highlighted through the juxtaposition of "creator" and "master".
• The imperative "obey" underscores the creature's assertion of dominance, marking a dramatic shift in their power dynamic.
• Shelley uses the creature's language to emphasise Victor's failure to take responsibility for his creation, exposing the consequences of neglect.
• The quote reflects broader themes of rebellion and the struggle for autonomy, as the creature attempts to reclaim agency.

Never Let Me Go

"We took away your art because we thought it would reveal your souls. Or to put it more finely, we did it to prove you had souls at all."

• The removal of art symbolises the clones' dehumanisation, as their creativity is dismissed as a test rather than an expression of individuality.
• The phrase "to prove you had souls" underscores the ethical and existential questions surrounding the clones' humanity.
• The contrast between "took away" and "reveal" reflects the manipulative control exerted over the clones, denying them autonomy and self-expression.
• The use of clinical, detached language by those in power highlights the systemic oppression and moral failures of the society.

Knowledge and Ignorance

Both Frankenstein and Never Let Me Go delve into the tension between knowledge and ignorance, revealing how partial truths and the pursuit of understanding can lead to suffering and ethical dilemmas.

Frankenstein

"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been."

• The juxtaposition of "knowledge and wisdom" with "serpent to sting" draws on biblical imagery, suggesting that the pursuit of knowledge can lead to downfall.
• Victor's warning to Walton reflects his own regret and serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of overreaching ambition.
• The metaphor of the serpent implies the danger of forbidden knowledge, alluding to themes of hubris and the limits of human understanding.
• The phrase "as mine has been" personalises the warning, grounding the abstract theme in Victor's tragic experience.

Never Let Me Go

"The problem, as I see it, is that you've been told and not told."

• The phrase "told and not told" reflects the clones' partial awareness, emphasising the deliberate withholding of crucial truths about their purpose.
• This ambiguity mirrors broader societal tendencies to obscure uncomfortable realities, forcing individuals to confront incomplete or manipulated truths.
• The conversational tone creates a sense of intimacy, making the reader complicit in understanding the ethical dilemma.
• The quote highlights the tension between knowledge and ignorance, suggesting that awareness is both a burden and a necessity.

The Body and Identity

Both Frankenstein and Never Let Me Go explore the relationship between the body and identity, showing how physical form and societal expectations shape self-perception and the way individuals are treated.

Frankenstein

"I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers—their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions; but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool!"

• The contrast between "perfect forms" and "terrified" underscores the creature's internal conflict about his appearance and its role in his rejection.
• The use of the reflective pool as a symbol mirrors themes of self-perception and identity, highlighting the gap between self-image and societal judgement.
• Shelley's focus on "grace, beauty, and delicate complexions" critiques superficial standards of acceptance and worth.
• The moment of self-awareness is pivotal, marking the creature's realisation of how physicality dictates his isolation.

Never Let Me Go

"Your lives are set out for you. You'll become adults, then before you're old, before you're even middle-aged, you'll start to donate your vital organs."

• The blunt language of "set out for you" reflects the clones' lack of agency and the inescapability of their predetermined fate.
• The repetition of "before" emphasises the truncated nature of their lives, underscoring the tragic limitations imposed upon them.
• The use of "vital organs" objectifies the clones, reducing them to biological resources rather than individuals.
• The quote encapsulates the tension between individuality and the commodification of the body, a recurring theme in the text.