Klara and the Mother’s Complicated Trust

Klara and the Sun

The Mother’s relationship with Klara moves from scrutiny to reliance and protection, but remains entangled with the possibility of using Klara as Josie’s substitute.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The First Examination The First Examination from "Klara and the Sun". Suspicion at the Store Testing the AF The Mother asks Klara to recall Josie’s features and reproduce her walk.

The First Examination from "Klara and the Sun". Suspicion at the Store Testing the AF The Mother asks Klara to recall Josie’s features and reproduce her walk.

Suspicion at the Store Testing the AF The Mother asks Klara to recall Josie’s features and reproduce her walk. Her narrowed gaze makes the selection feel like a high-stakes assessment. Trust Begun Carefully Klara passes, and the Mother agrees to take her home. The relationship begins with admiration and caution rather than easy warmth.

Growing Appreciation Growing Appreciation from "Klara and the Sun". Acknowledged Help Calm in the Household The Mother tells Klara that Josie has become more cheerful since her arrival.

Growing Appreciation from "Klara and the Sun". Acknowledged Help Calm in the Household The Mother tells Klara that Josie has become more cheerful since her arrival.

Acknowledged Help Calm in the Household The Mother tells Klara that Josie has become more cheerful since her arrival. She says she has grown fond of Klara and invites her on the Morgan’s Falls outing. A Personal Question The Mother asks whether Klara is happy and misses the store. Her curiosity suggests that she sees more than an appliance, though she is unsure what an AF’s feelings mean.

An Impossible Imitation An Impossible Imitation from "Klara and the Sun". Comfort and Distress The Mother’s Request The Mother asks Klara to behave as Josie would have behaved at the picnic table.

An Impossible Imitation from "Klara and the Sun". Comfort and Distress The Mother’s Request The Mother asks Klara to behave as Josie would have behaved at the picnic table.

Comfort and Distress The Mother’s Request The Mother asks Klara to behave as Josie would have behaved at the picnic table. Klara speaks in Josie’s voice and reassures her. A Sudden Rejection The Mother breaks off, distressed by the imitation and by memories of Sal. Her response makes clear that trust in Klara does not eliminate the pain of substitution.

The Promise of Love The Promise of Love from "Klara and the Sun". Klara Asked to Continue Josie A Private Appeal The Mother asks Klara to inhabit the artificial Josie if the original dies.

The Promise of Love from "Klara and the Sun". Klara Asked to Continue Josie A Private Appeal The Mother asks Klara to inhabit the artificial Josie if the original dies.

Klara Asked to Continue Josie A Private Appeal The Mother asks Klara to inhabit the artificial Josie if the original dies. She promises to love Klara as Josie and urges her to learn the girl completely. Care Mixed With Need The request is sincere but instrumental: the Mother wants Klara both as a companion and as a way to survive possible bereavement. Klara accepts without fully knowing what this would demand.

Protection at the End Protection at the End from "Klara and the Sun". The Mother Defends Klara Capaldi’s Proposal Capaldi returns to ask Klara to assist research into AF minds.

Protection at the End from "Klara and the Sun". The Mother Defends Klara Capaldi’s Proposal Capaldi returns to ask Klara to assist research into AF minds.

The Mother Defends Klara Capaldi’s Proposal Capaldi returns to ask Klara to assist research into AF minds. The Mother refuses and says Klara deserves a slow fade. A Changed Form of Care The Mother’s earlier wish that Klara replace Josie gives way to protection of Klara as herself. Their relationship has shifted from reliance on Klara’s service to concern for her fate.

when Josie brings Klara home

after Klara has settled into the house

during the Morgan’s Falls trip

after the first studio visit

after Josie leaves for college