"I did wonder. If I were to continue Josie, if I were to inhabit the new Josie, then what would happen to… all this?"
The quote occurs during a conversation between Klara and Josie's mother, where the Mother is contemplating the possibility of Klara replacing Josie if she were to die. This scenario brings forth the ethical and emotional complexities of artificial intelligence and human relationships. Klara's question highlights her awareness of her identity and the existential dilemma posed by the idea of replacing a human. This moment encapsulates what it means to be human and the potential for AI to replicate human consciousness and relationships. Klara's concern about "all this" suggests her recognition of the intangible qualities that make Josie unique—her memories, personality, and essence. This raises questions about the limits of technology in capturing the fullness of human experience or the moral implications of attempting to do so.
"The Sun always has ways to reach us."
This quote captures the novel’s underlying theme of hope and connection. Klara, an Artificial Friend (AF), views the Sun as an almost divine entity that can heal and nurture. The Sun’s ability to reach us symbolizes the persistent nature of hope and the potential for renewal. Throughout the novel, Klara’s belief in the Sun’s healing power is unwavering even in the face of human skepticism and scientific reality. Klara’s faith in the Sun reflects her understanding of the world, which is limited yet profound. As an artificial being, she interprets the Sun’s rays as a source of energy, which is analogous to how humans might view spiritual sustenance. This belief system drives her actions, particularly her efforts to save Josie, the sick girl she was purchased to befriend and support. The Sun's omnipresence and its symbolic reach also echo themes of interconnectedness. Even in times of darkness, there is an inherent belief that light and warmth will find their way through.
"There was something very special, but it wasn’t inside Josie. It was inside those who loved her."
This quote delves into the essence of what makes us human and explores the concept of relational identity. Though Josie’s uniqueness is an intrinsic quality, it is deeply intertwined with the love and connections she has with others. This perspective challenges the notion of individualism suggesting that our identities are amplified by the relationships we cultivate. Ishiguro juxtaposes the mechanical and the organic or the artificial and the real. Klara is designed to observe and replicate human behavior, yet she perceives the profound truth that Josie’s essence is reflected in the hearts of those who care for her. This insight highlights the limitations of technology in replicating the full spectrum of human experience. It emphasizes that love and emotional bonds are fundamental to our sense of self. This reinforces the idea that human beings are more than just their physical and behavioral attributes.
"Would I then feel, as Manager had put it, pain alongside my happiness?"
Klara is fascinated by the emotional reunion between Coffee Cup Lady and Raincoat Man, and when she mentions it to Manager, Manager tells her that it may have been a painful and pleasurable moment. Klara wonders in this quote if she can feel the same thing, considering what might happen if she and Rosa were reunited after a time. But it isn't Rosa Klara is fated to feel the complexity of love and sorrow with—it's Josie. This is exactly how Klara is going to feel at the end of the novel, after she's been set aside in the Yard and is left only with her memories.
"Eventually the Sun was almost behind the RPO Building, and Beggar Man and the dog were exactly as they had been all day, and it was obvious they had died, even though the passersby didn't know it... I wished someone would notice."
Klara notices Beggar Man and his dog not moving, and concludes they've died. She is struck by how no one seems to notice, and even though she does not say it, how no one seems to care. This is a glimpse of the society Klara inhabits, one that replaces workers with robots, genetically engineers its children to get ahead, pollutes the Earth, and moves towards fascism. Regular people like Beggar Man are totally inconsequential; they've been left out of the forward momentum. But what strikes the reader by the end of the novel is that for all of its futuristic elements—the main example being the AFs—this society is very, very similar to ours at this exact moment.
Josie laughed and said, "Now I'm starting to think I should have."
At the interaction meeting Josie behaves in a way Klara isn't used to, using a commanding tone and uttering these words about how she should have gotten a B3 AF instead of Klara after Klara refuses to listen to the cruel kids at the meeting. It's understandable that Josie, a young teenager, wants to be cool and fit in with her peers. Klara was behaving oddly, and she was simply joking. However, it is also understandable why this would hurt Klara. Josie had not spoken like that before, and it is reminiscent of the mean child and their sad AF. Klara has a hard time forgetting this comment.
"It must be great. Not to miss things. Not to long to get back to something. Not to be looking back all the time..."
The Mother is ruminating on her lost daughter and the potential of losing her second. Her words are painful and melancholy and it is not hard to sympathize with her. And while she might not fully understand what Klara is capable of, and thus these words aren't intended to be cruel, they come across that way, not to mention deeply ironic. Klara does feel things. Klara thinks about Rosa and Manager and, later, of course, she thinks about Josie. Her entire narrative speaks to her wistfulness, her desire to remember, her love of Josie and fulfilling her role as an AF.
It was the first time she'd called me "honey." I replied, "Yes, of course..."
The fact that Klara remarks upon this is an indication of her desire to be loved as a daughter. She clearly found it worth noting, and she notes other times that the Mother uses that term or touches her in a motherly way. She is a professional, of course, and does not offer any sort of insight into her feelings about the Mother or wanting a maternal figure, but the reader can intuit the meaning behind these utterances in Klara's narrative.
"Leave our Klara be. Let her have her slow fade."
The Mother does not want Mr. Capaldi to take Klara and open her up to see how AFs really work, even though he says it would be in service to society, which might be better able to harness the power and knowledge of AFs to improve their lives. But the Mother would rather give what she thinks Klara wants—the "slow fade" into obsolescence, which she will do in a scrap yard. That does not seem like a prize ending for the beloved friend who may have saved Josie's life. Yet it's hard to really know which Klara would prefer because she does not give us many insights into her mindset, forever remaining polite, opaque, and sweet.
The Sun continued to relentlessly shine on her, and she shifted till she was on her back, propped up by the pillows and headboard... there was an obvious new strength to the way she'd maneuvered herself.
This is a beautiful and moving and dramatic scene, and Ishiguro keeps us guessing about what really happened. Was this all a major coincidence? The Sun was particularly bright this day and Josie was getting better and the rays shone on her at this moment? Or, is there some truth to Klara's reverence for the Sun, and he actually chose to save Josie at that moment? We do not know, but it is okay. It is Klara's touching—very human—faith, perseverance, love, and sacrifice that matters most. She was just supposed to be a friend, a companion, yet she gave everything she could to Josie.
