The Outside

"The sales were important to us because that was how we got hold of things from outside." Page 41

What is going on in the world that is not part of Hailsham is unanimously referred to as the "outside." The vague description gives a sense of mystery and wonder which adds some irony because really the mystery to the rest of the world, and the reader really, is what is going on inside Hailsham. The students have no idea what happens outside the walls of their school. This limited access to the world would cause great curiosity and stuff from the mysterious world would be a hot commodity, one would think. But that is not what happens, the world outside the walls is accepted as something they will never know about. They don't question or try to see what it is like; rather, they just graciously make their purchases at the sale to get what they need. One would also expect boredom or quite the opposite, people going crazy inside the walls without going out into the world, but that does not seem to be the case. They make their own fun on the campus and imagine alot. For example, one girl has horses (but not really). Also the students involve themselves in a secret guards mission to protect one of the guardians supposedly in danger. It seems that the students are content with their position away from the outside, but they might not remain that way as they become more intrigued in the mysterious outside.