The Giver Group

Question:

messyjames1
messyjames1
Student
High School - 11th Grade

At the end of The Giver, do Jonas and Gabriel die together in the snow, or is Jonas dreaming?

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Posted by messyjames1 on Sunday May 13, 2007 at 7:11 AM and tagged with characters, ending, gabriel, jonas, the giver, themes.

Answers:


  1. angelacress Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    That's an interesting question, and one I think can only be answered by the individual reader. Lois Lowry most likely left the ending ambiguous so that the reader might decide for himself what were the fates of Jonas and Gabriel. I have always felt that they did die at the end of the book. In order to feel like the book was complete, for me to get a sense of closure, I needed to imagine an ending that made sense to me. According to the enotes entry, "The novel's ending is ambiguous, but circular. Reunited with memories of light, snow, and sleds that the Giver gave him, reunited with memories of music, peace, joy, and freedom of choice that he found within himself, Jonas, along with Gabriel and the community that he left behind, has finally arrived in a better, more wholesome, place."

    I agree with everything they say, however, I feel like the ending is more final than Jonas merely finding a better place. I feel that since the world from which Jonas came was so horrific and unforgiving that the only escape possible (that made sense to me) was death. It seemed to me that Jonas and Gabriel would only find escape, and perhaps a better place, in death.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/giver

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    Posted by angelacress on Sunday May 13, 2007 at 4:57 PM


  2. brendawm Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The ending of The Giver is very ambiguous, allowing for the reader to make his or her own interpretation of what happens in the end. As Jonas and Gabriel make it to the bottom of the hill they hear singing, and see warmly lit homes that they know are filled with love and memories. The question and the ambiguity come into question when the reader realizes the peril of the situation the two boys were in--tired, hungry, and freezing. Did they survive to make it to the other side of Sameness; if so the ending was a happy one. If not, then they are delusional and freezing to death, in which case the ending is very sad and heartbreaking. You actually have two possible endings one thoroughly optimistic and one completely pessimistic; however, in my opinion, there is another way to view it. Jonas and Gabriel's end is happy to a certain extent either way because they have reached a happiness that neither has ever known before. In the end, they both know love, peace and happiness.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/giver/summary

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    Posted by brendawm on Saturday December 29, 2007 at 6:00 PM

  3. snowfairy12
    snowfairy12 Student
    Graduate School

    Jonas lives, and Gabriel lives too (i think) because in the Messenger (3rd book of triology) Jonas appears again as a young adult, as the leader. Gabriel lives too because in the end, the book says that the people were waiting for the baby, too.

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    Posted by snowfairy12 on Friday February 8, 2008 at 7:33 PM

  4. bap
    bap Student
    High School - 10th Grade

    for me in the end all his memories come back and the helicopter takes him back but gabriel dies of hunger.

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    Posted by bap on Sunday September 21, 2008 at 4:35 AM


  5. totallybooklover Student
    High School - 12th Grade

    I think that he did actually die at the end.. which is quite disapointing... if he actually did live I think that the next book would most likely have to be about him and Gabriel in Elsewhere instead of talking about COMPLETELY different characters......

     

    hope this is helpful!!!

    :)

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    Posted by totallybooklover on Tuesday March 10, 2009 at 5:17 PM

  6. izerdem
    izerdem Student

    I think they are went back to their community again. They ride , ride and ride they did not know they were going to their community, but now it is changed because they have all of Jonas's memories.

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    Posted by izerdem on Wednesday March 18, 2009 at 8:41 AM

  7. bulletman
    bulletman Student
    College - Senior

    its really up to us the readers to decide. so your right and wrong at the same time messyjames1

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    Posted by bulletman on Thursday April 23, 2009 at 11:47 AM

  8. y66k
    y66k Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    I think the ending is ambiguous and i believe the live because in the next book called Gathering Blue Kira the main character sees a pale eyed boy which Lois lowry says you can decide if it is jonas or gabe

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    Posted by y66k on Saturday April 25, 2009 at 8:01 PM

  9. lexi515
    lexi515

    Well, if you think about it. Using religion logic. They end up "elsewhere" on Christmas Day. Jonas has a baby that everyone was waiting for so (if your catholic/christian) you can use the perspective that Gabriel is baby Jesus. The baby that everyone was waiting for. And in a way i guess Jonas is Joseph showing him off for all people to see. That's the way i see it anyway. Hope i helped:)

     

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    Posted by lexi515 on Sunday July 5, 2009 at 11:16 AM

  10. mlack
    mlack Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    i dont think they die because they are two other books

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    Posted by mlack on Wednesday September 23, 2009 at 5:37 PM

  11. winniebabyyy
    winniebabyyy Student
    High School - 11th Grade

    read the 2nd book it only says one sentence about them but it does say the answer(:

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    Posted by winniebabyyy on Wednesday October 14, 2009 at 5:07 PM

  12. heart-breaking
    heart-breaking Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    I think personaly that they die because in the situation they're in doesn't seem very likely to survive. When I finished the book i imagined Jonas and Gabe on the hill Gabe has already passed. While Jonas is freezing to death he imagines his first memory filled with joy. Remembering snow and lights and his most loved memories. So personaly i think they die. Very few people in my grade has read this book at my school. So i don't have many people to discuss it with.

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    Posted by heart-breaking on Thursday December 10, 2009 at 5:18 PM