The Significance of Water Imagery in 'Never Let Me Go' Tiahna Ludborzs 10th Grade

In Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Never Let Me Go, one significant recurring image is water. Throughout the book, water imagery surrounds many events, despite having no immediate connection to any of these scenarios. Water imagery occurs in both positive and negative situations, in many different forms, but through the use of the boat as a symbol for freedom, water is shown to be symbolic of organic life and its unpredictability.

Some notable examples of water imagery’s innate positivity occur early in the novel. Kathy and Tommy have a conversation in which a major part of life at Havisham is questioned at a large pond. This conversation could have taken place anywhere, yet the pond is described in great detail. At the time, Kathy also remarks on how odd she finds this, stating that “It wasn’t a good place for a discreet conversation” (Pg. 21), but also notes it had a “a tranquil atmosphere” (Pg. 25). It is important to note that both participants leave the conversation intrigued and enlightened. When Kathy, Tommy and Ruth take a field trip to Norfolk, a place “jutting into the sea” (Pg. 65), they discover a valuable item thought to be lost, and when they see a woman who at first glance appears to be Ruth’s possible they see her at an...