How is The Giver a Cautionary tale?

Expert Answers

| Certified Educator

Lois Lowry's novel, The Giver, takes place in a constructed world in which emotion, choice, and memory have been removed from the human community. Upon first introduction, this world seems perfect. Everything has an order to it, and nothing seems to ever go wrong. However, once more of Lowry's world is revealed, we see that there is actually a lot wrong with it. Humans do not love, nor do they feel pain. Jonas learns that individuals that do not fit perfectly into the community are "released" (killed). The humans in this community are living lives without passion or personal purpose.

The Giver is a cautionary tale that warns against giving too much power to governing bodies in exchange for comfort. Individuals living in the world of The Giver want for nothing in terms of daily comfort. Their dwellings, partners, family units, and occupations are arranged for them. In exchange for this security, however, they have forfeited personal choice. The Giver shows that while this ordered world seems perfect, it is actually far from it. The world Jonas ultimately flees lacks dimension meaning, and beauty.

See eNotes Ad-Free

Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

Already a member? Log in here.

Approved by eNotes Editorial