Never Let Me Go 13

"She told Roy that things like pictures, poetry, all that kind of stuff, she said they revealed what you were like inside. She said they revealed your soul." pg. 175

I don't know how much I agree with Tommy's theory. I do believe that the artwork reflects the person's soul, and I do believe that there is some sort of deference policy. But, I don't think it has to do with being truly in love. To me, it seems like Kathy was able to have a very long deference because she has yet to make any donations and Ruth and Tommy both have. If it has to do with love, I don't know who Kathy would be in love with other than Tommy. But, he has already made donations which makes me think that it has nothing to do with love after all. However, I have no other idea of what it could be. Or, perhaps Kathy wasn't deferred at all and something happens to her later on that prevents her from making donations. Therefore, she is forced to remain a carer for an extended period of time. It seems to me that Kathy's tape is a very important part of the story. I have two idea of what its purpose is. One is that it symbolizes her love for Tommy. When she was at Hailsham, they always payed special attention to each other. Then, the tape goes missing and Ruth and Tommy become a couple. Later on, Kathy finds the tape and Tommy and Kathy's feelings for each other resurface again. My second theory is that the tape influences Kathy to do something that makes her unable to be a donor. Maybe she somehow gets hold of cigarettes and develops a lung disease. That could explain why Kathy hasn't made donations and Ruth and Tommy have. Why else would Kathy be a carer for 12 years? She even says that's an unusually long length of time to be a carer. Could she be unable to donate? Or, could she have been deferred?