Comparing Films Made From Books Never Let Me Go and...

Never Let Me Go The novel and film of Never Let Me Go both portray the ennui that results from living in a dehumanizing society in which a persons fate is predetermined. The plot outline clearly borrows from canonical texts like Aldous Huxleys Brave New World and George Orwells 1984. However, Never Let Me Go differs in that it is more deeply indebted to the coming-of-age, bildungsroman form. Although the book and film adaptation share a number of commonalities (it is a testament to the film that it is able to closely adhere to the book), there are nevertheless important differences pertaining to characterization and narrative structure. Both the novel and film share the same three main characters, Kathy, Ruth and Tommy. Moreover, the narrative trajectory is generally similar in both, with a three-act structure describing the childhood, adulthood, and donation period. While both share this general plot structure, the book is more challenging since it takes greater temporal risks. Where the book often jumps around between past and present through a number of flashbacks, the film adheres to a strict linear structure. There are a number of explanations for this; it is virtually impossible for the film to include all of the plot elements in the book since films are generally shorter than books. Nevertheless, it is important to take notice of which elements of the book were edited out. An additional explanation for the linear trajectory of the film is that it is beholden