The specific medical condition affecting Josie in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun is never explicitly named. The narrative suggests a progressive and debilitating illness impacting her physical strength and overall health. Indications point to a disease that threatens her life and necessitates interventions like the “lifting” procedure.
The ambiguity surrounding the exact diagnosis is significant. It allows the story to focus on the emotional and social ramifications of illness, the anxieties of parents facing a child’s mortality, and the ethical considerations of advanced medical technologies. The absence of a concrete label universalizes the experience, making Josie’s plight relatable to anyone who has witnessed or experienced a severe health crisis.