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Stéphanie asked this question about Klara and the Sun:
Anyone already finished & want to discuss the ending?
Jim Purposely, Ishiguro left a lot of questions unanswered. Lifted versus unlifted? It's briefly mentioned that it's a DNA modification issue with some in…morePurposely, Ishiguro left a lot of questions unanswered. Lifted versus unlifted? It's briefly mentioned that it's a DNA modification issue with some inherent risk.

The way the story is told, the sun itself is an important character. Since there's no other evidence of mysticism in the novel, I think we're meant to take Josie's recovery as literal. So I would conclude that lifting means inserting something into the DNA that enhances intelligence and may require solar power. She was dying because the technology, like Klara's model of AFs, wasn't as efficient when it came to using solar power. Perhaps the storm created some sort of refraction effect that generated enough sunlight in Josie's bedroom to jump-start her DNA.

I'm guessing that the Manager was another model of AF, and the limp some indication that she was breaking down and no longer able to work effectively at that job. Or, we could speculate that something interfered with the birth rate, and Josie and her "lifted" friends are all another model of AFs, while Rick was one of the increasingly rare "real" children.

Who knows? That's the magic of Ishiguro - he never spells everything out.(less)
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Klara and the Sun
by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author)
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