The Fear In Society Imagine waking up one day, but everything seems wrong. You have a different job and realize you can’t see there is no color. It feels like it is a different world. Everything feels different because you don't know your parents or even when you were born. You go up to ask somebody why this happens and the answer is even weirder. They tell you that life has always been like this because if it was not there would be chaos. The world has to be this structured, otherwise there is chaos. At that moment, you realize this is a different world. This world is that of the one in The Giver by Lois Lowry. In the book The Giver by Lois Lowry, the Elders control the people because they are terrified of chaos that might happen if the society …show more content…
Jonas starts to question why only the Giver and him have memories. “The Giver sighed,” he said. You're right," he said. But then everyone would be burdened and pained. They don't want to be that. And that's the real reason The Receiver is so vital to them, and so honored. They selected me — and you — to lift that burden from themselves'''' (Lowry 113). This quote helps show the reason why there is a receiver. They created this system to help take the burden of having the memories of the people. This all implies that they are scared of what would happen if the memories were actually released to everybody. In this scene, Jonas learns about snow. The giver has transferred a memory of snow, which makes Jonas ask "Climate Control." Snow made growing food difficult, limiting the agricultural period. Unpredictable weather makes transportation almost impossible at times. It wasn't practical, so it became obsolete when we went to Sameness.”’ This quote is able to help highlight another system that the society has. In essence, all of this shows how the elders were terrified of what could have happened with some things like snow, so they created systems like the climate control system that would just stop …show more content…
Jonas asks the Giver to watch the ceremony of release that day. And as he watches it, he realizes what actually happens and it leads him to say “‘He killed it! My father killed it, too! Jonas said to himself, stunned at what he was realizing. He continued to stare at the screen numbly. “This scene is at the very start of the book. In this scene, the pilot had made a wrong turn and had flown over a neighborhood.” Desperately, the pilot was trying to make his way back before his error was noticed. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WILL BE RELEASED, the voice said (Lowry 2)” This quote along with the previous quote helps support my claim because the previous quote shows what actually happens when you release. Releasing means that you die. Dying is not a light punishment usually, but in this world, even for the tiniest mistakes. For example, this quote describes how the pilot is getting released for a wrong turn. This shows how they are scared of minor imperfections and they are killing people just because they are scared. In short, the author created releasing as a key part of the society and it can really emphasize on how much is hidden from people and that's because the elders are scared of what could happen if it
As Jonas receives memories from the Giver, he realizes that knowledge is useless without them. For example, the Giver explains his role with the Committee of Elders, “‘...when they are
It wasn't practical, so it became obsolete when we went to Sameness.” ’ This quote is able to help highlight another system that the society has. In essence, all of this shows how the elders were terrified of what could have happened with some things like snow, so they created systems like the climate control system that would just stop
The theme of Memory and the Past is shown throught the novel when The Giver shows Jonas all of the memories and how it is important to attain wisdom. The community also wants to remove memory in the poeple’s lives, because without memory, they won’t experience painful feelings such as guilt, regret, grief, etc. This also shows how Jonas’s father felt nothing when he released one of the twins.
People do not have memories of the past, except for the Giver. He is the one who hold memories such as war, death, and pain, so the people don’t have to hold them. However, he also holds the memories of color, taste, smell, and happiness. People cannot see color, cannot tell the difference between life and death, and have no true emotions. Jonas was selected as the receiver of the memories,
Jonas is unaware of the outside world and unaware of the feelings that could be felt along with the rest of his community. Only one holds the true memories and secrets of elsewhere. That is The Giver. As Jonas becomes the new receiver, receiving new memories of the outside world. Jonas becomes curious about change.
Having memories is an important part of life. Memories help everyone learn from immoral things that have happened in the past and relate to them. Memories also help us relate to the feelings fellow humans experience throughout their daily lives. When Jonas becomes the Receiver, he starts to realize what feelings actually are. The Giver had been transmitting the feelings to Jonas throughout his training, and he specifically transmits one that has to do with the feeling love. When Jonas finally realizes what love is from his memory about Christmas and family, he goes home to ask his parents if they love him. His mom says they do not use such “meaningless” words, they use real words and “take pride” in his presence. When Jonas goes to training one day in the office, the Giver is hunched over remembering a painful memory from the past, and Jonas decides to stay and take the
The Giver transmits memories to Jonas. The Giver transfers the memories of the past and shows Jonas different emotions such as joy and grief, and also, love. But all the things Jonas learns should stay with him, and should not be shared to other people in his community. More than Feelings Jonas discovers about the daughter of the Giver named Rosemary.
As the Reciever, Jonas’ job was to collect all the memories from past generations from the Giver. This was a very important job for Jonas’ community, for memories were eradicated. For instance, as Jonas was describing the memory of family, he said, “Warmth, Jonas replied, and happiness”(155). Jonas never knew about the memories, family
He wants to know about Elsewhere and the real meaning of release as well as other hidden things. At the Ceremony of Twelve where he is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, he becomes more curious and observant. Jonas can see when people need help, and is considerate to offer help and sharing. It seems that he knows how important the connection between people is. When Jonas first meets The Giver, Jonas says to him “If you gave some of it to me, maybe
Jonas is called given this position by the leaders because they believe he is strong enough to handle the pain, suffering, and trauma of the memories. Of course Jonas accepts the task of becoming the next Giver but does not realize what he will see in the time to come. When he goes to the place where the Giver lives he is to receive training for the taking in of memories. Eventually the Giver teaches Jonas about Color, love, weather, snow, pain, and war through the
If Jonas had bad memories regarding love, he could asked the question to his parents differently, or not asked the question at all. Despite evidence supporting the theme that people should be able to express themselves any way they want, Lowry’s theme that one person should not carry all the bad memories of the community is much stronger. One day when Jonas shows up to the annex room, he sees that the Giver is in a lot of pain. “I’ll come back tomorrow, sir,” he said quickly. Then he hesitated “Unless, maybe there’s something I can do to help.” The Giver looked up at him, his face contorted with pain. “Please,” he gasped, “take some of the pain.” The Giver is burdened with carrying all of these memories, memories of many different kinds of emotions, love, anger, sadness, etc. All of these memories make him act certain ways, and can impact the way he feels or thinks. Jonas was asking questions regarding why they were the ones burdened with all of the memories
The Giver teaches us about the importance of memory. For example, the Giver tells Jonas he holds onto memories of past generations to advise the Committee of Elders. The Giver states, “Only when they are faced with something that they have not experienced before. Then they call upon me to use the memories to advise them.” (130).
The importance of memory and the necessity of remembering the past is arguably the most prevalent and important theme throughout The Giver. This theme is linked to the character of Jonas, The Giver and the Committee of Elders. Although in the dystopian society that Jonas lives in there is no communal memories, the committee of elders still recognizes the significance of memory. The Receiver is the sole keeper of all memories and therefore he/she is the only individual with wisdom. The Giver explains to Jonas that a memory “is how wisdom comes.
The person who is giving the memories to Jonas, the Giver, realizes he must she the other side of the memories. The Giver was the last to blessed with the memories. His goal is to get Jonas, the Receiver, to understand and appreciate the memories. Both Jonas and the Giver struggle with the fact that they both want to release the memories back to society.