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The Giver Comparison

Decent Essays

Lois Lowry’s original novel ‘The Giver,’ is indeed honoured by the film adaptation, directed by Phillip Noyce, although in the film, it doesn’t do great justice to the deeper understandings and morals behind the original plot. However, both adaptations do share the same messages that relate to sameness being an awfully sinister way to rule a society, despite being portrayed in both texts as an ethical, utopic way to live. Accordingly, this demonstrates that achieving a perfect utopian paradise is seemingly impossible. In relation to this, the more fundamental element displayed in the book is that memories are the one true thing to help prevent mistakes and to prevent utter chaos because it teaches people to move on and learn from it.

The novel …show more content…

In both texts, the main plot is revolved around an ‘overcontrolling’ society where everyone is expected and must behave the same way. However, further into the plot, Jonas begins to come to terms with the harsh reality of his society and that they’ve attempted to transform everyone into being ultimately similar and ‘predictable’ so that there may be no conflict. Although, Jonas more importantly notices the fact that the ‘Committee’ has ‘terminated real emotion’ so that people can’t be ‘different’ or unique, and because ‘everything is the same’ no one can ‘wake up in the morning and decide things’ for themselves. Jonas discovers more and more after he accumulates time spent with ‘The Giver,’ that without ‘sameness,’ ‘there could be love’ and many other emotions, and the freedom to make your own …show more content…

One of the main messages, much like the novel is that of memory. Both texts exclusively select Jonas to become the new ‘Reciever’ of his society. The chief elder mentions Jonas was ‘observed meticulously’ which indicates to the audiences of both texts that this job requires great ‘courage’ and ‘wisdom’ because it includes countless amounts of ‘pain’. Jonas is given happy and enjoyable memories of pleasures and amusments from the previous ‘Reciever’ who was selected before him, who calls himself ‘The Giver’. However, these happy aspects were removed from the society by the ‘Committee’ for unexplained reasons other than ‘it’s what they’ve chosen’ for all the people and themselves to be ‘protected’ and live ‘orderly’ and ‘predictable’ lives. As Jonas progresses into experiencing ‘pain like no other,’ he is met with the harsh reality of ‘poverty, hunger, and terror,’ and the ‘deep and terrible suffering of the past,’ which helps Jonas to comprehend what a sick and twisted world he lives in and the destruction that once took place. Complementary to the novel adaptation, the film does cover this, although some aspects seem rushed and not explained in much detail. Jonas can see that people live ‘ordinary lives, free of anguish,’ but the fact

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