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The Effects Of Memories In The Giver By Lois Lowry

Decent Essays

The richness of life is derived from memories both good and bad. When people aren’t allowed to have memories the experience of life is taken away from them. People’s individuality and uniqueness is defined from the memories of their experiences. In the book ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry, Jonas lives in a community that relinquished memories of the past leading to an emotionless community of sameness. Lois Lowry clearly reflects the impact on Jonas’s community as a result of them having to give up their memories. This essay discusses the effect that no memories have on people’s emotions, their knowledge and the effect of memories on Jonas who is the Receiver of memory.
Jonas’s world is dictated by many strict rules that prohibit individuality …show more content…

When Jonas had said to the giver “My instructors in science and technology have taught us about how the brain works, it is full of electrical pulses…” The giver had responded to Jonas saying “They know nothing” The giver had also said “Oh your instructions are well trained… without the memories they are all meaningless” He is trying to say that people are not able to use their knowledge if they do not have memories because they are not wise enough and do not understand what they learn. People in this community are not able to make decisions. They are unable to make any decisions because it is believed it is too dangerous for them to make decisions and make mistakes. Without memory one is unable to make knowledgeable decisions. However, in reality it is necessary for people to make mistakes and learn from mistakes and become stronger. They go to school to get an education but they the people are not able to use the knowledge they learnt in their jobs. The people are not even able to select their own job. They are not allowed to have a mind of their own and they are …show more content…

The Giver had once told Jonas "Without wisdom I could not fulfill my function of advising the Committee of Elders when they call upon me." This means that the Receiver of Memory does help the Committee of Elders. The giver had said that his advice comes from his wisdom and his wisdom had come from the memories. Nothing will change for the community for generations to come if the memories are not put back into the community. Relinquishing memories of the past to get rid of the pain for people in the community have made the Receiver of Memories suffer with unbearable pain; this is than not achieving sameness because one person has to bear the pain for all. It is also unfair for one person to have to take in all the

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