Jonas
Extended Character Analysis
Jonas starts the novel at age eleven and is apprehensive about the Ceremony of Twelve. He does not have clear, specific interests the way his friends do, and he is self-conscious about his light-colored eyes. At the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas is selected to be the Receiver because of his intelligence, integrity, capacity for courage and wisdom, and ability to “see beyond.”
Jonas as an Average Child
At first, Jonas considers himself an average child. He has not excelled in an obvious way like his groupmate Benjamin or shown any particular talents or inclinations. We first learn how Jonas is different when Lily remarks that Jonas and Gabriel have the same light eyes. We also learn that it is considered rude to point out differences among people. Jonas is not naturally rebellious, and he follows the majority of the community rules without question. He readily takes the pill for the Stirrings when he reports his dream about Fiona.
Jonas and Seeing Beyond
Although Jonas does not understand it, his first instance of seeing beyond occurred when he was playing catch with his friend Asher. The apple they were playing with “changed.” It happens again at the Ceremony of Twelve, when Jonas sees the faces of the community change briefly, and again when he observes Fiona’s hair. The Giver explains to Jonas that he is beginning to see color, specifically red, and that Jonas will start seeing other colors and experiencing other senses more fully.
Jonas as Receiver of Memories
When Jonas receives the memories, he is immersed in a reliving of those memories. As Jonas experiences new sensations and colors through the memories, he becomes increasingly frustrated by the complacency of his friends and family. He tries to transmit the memory of these colors to them. He longs to share the vitalizing aspects of the memories that have enriched his life. He learns about the community’s policy of Sameness. He learns, too, that in order to keep tight control over communal life, the community had to do away with things like deeply felt emotions and colors. Still, Jonas yearns for deeper connections with people and a more vivid experience, in spite of how “logical” many of the community’s past decisions are.
Jonas as an Individual
On the unscheduled holiday, Jonas realizes how different he has become. He has stopped taking the Stirrings pill, allowing him to permanently see colors. He experiences almost euphoric happiness when he sees his friends. He is then brought to the verge of tears when he recognizes his friends’ game as a version of warfare, which he recognizes from a memory shared by the Giver. He tries to convince his friends to stop playing the game altogether, but Asher will not listen to Jonas’s reason and merely apologizes. Jonas begins to understand the isolation and difficulty of being the Receiver.
When Jonas discovers the truth about Release, he is furious and determined for things to change. He agrees to go along with the Giver’s plan and escape during the December ceremonies. However, when Jonas learns that Gabriel is scheduled to be released, he makes his first truly independent decision: to leave the community that same night with Gabriel. Jonas was supposed to receive memories of courage from the Giver to sustain him, but he proves to have enough courage to make it to another town outside of the community on his own.
Expert Q&A
Jonas's Character Development, Relationships, and Societal Impact in The Giver
In The Giver, Jonas's character development is marked by his empathy, independence, and growing awareness of societal flaws. Initially, his empathetic and responsible nature is evident, but he becomes increasingly aware of his differences, such as his unique ability to see beyond, which foreshadows his selection as the Receiver of Memory. This role isolates him, leading to internal conflicts as he gains wisdom and questions the community's values. His experiences, including witnessing love and warmth in memories, drive his desire for societal change, ultimately rejecting the imposed sameness of his community.
The major conflicts and complications that Jonas faces in The Giver
Jonas faces several major conflicts and complications in The Giver. He struggles with the realization that his community suppresses emotions and memories to maintain control. His internal conflict intensifies as he learns about the true nature of "release," leading him to question and eventually reject the society's practices. Jonas's journey culminates in his decision to escape, seeking a life of authenticity and freedom.
Jonas's Experience and Understanding of Color in The Giver
In The Giver, Jonas's experience with color begins when he notices the red of an apple, marking his Capacity to See Beyond. The Giver helps him further understand color by transmitting memories, such as of a rainbow. Color, particularly red, symbolizes emotion, difference, and individuality, contrasting with the community's enforced Sameness. The society eliminated color to prevent choice and maintain control, but Jonas's ability to see color opens his eyes to alternative, more vibrant possibilities beyond his community's restrictions.
Quotes about choices and Jonas's thoughtfulness in "The Giver."
In The Giver, Jonas's thoughtfulness about choices is highlighted when he realizes that without the ability to make choices, people lose their individuality and freedom. He reflects on how the community's strict control over choices, like the selection of spouses and jobs, limits personal growth and autonomy, leading him to question the value of such a controlled life.
Jonas's Escape in The Giver
In The Giver, Jonas decides to escape his community to release the memories he holds back to the people, forcing them to experience emotions like pain and joy. His urgency increases when he learns that Gabriel, a baby he cares for, will be "released" (euthanized). Originally, Jonas and the Giver plan a strategic escape during the December Ceremony, but when Gabriel's life is threatened, Jonas hastily flees with him on a bicycle, abandoning the original plan.
Significance of Jonas's Received Memories in The Giver
In The Giver, Jonas's received memories are crucial for his development and understanding of emotions absent in his dystopian society. Among the first memories he receives are of sledding down a snowy hill, experiencing sunshine, and feeling the warmth and love of Christmas. These memories introduce Jonas to concepts like cold, color, and love, expanding his emotional depth and leading him to question the community's lack of genuine emotions. This newfound awareness plays a pivotal role in his eventual rebellion against societal norms.
In The Giver chapters 16-19, what question does Jonas ask his parents and how do they respond?
In chapters 16-19 of The Giver, Jonas asks his parents if they love him. His father laughs and tells him to use precise language, while his mother explains that "love" is too generalized and almost obsolete. She suggests using "Do you enjoy me?" instead. Jonas realizes his understanding of love differs greatly from theirs and responds with his first lie, saying he understands.
Jonas's demonstrations of courage in "The Giver."
Jonas demonstrates courage in "The Giver" by accepting the painful memories transmitted to him as the Receiver of Memory, questioning the society's rules, and ultimately deciding to escape the community to save himself and Gabriel, despite the risks involved. His actions show bravery in the face of physical and emotional challenges.
Jonas's Experience with Lying to His Parents in The Giver
In Lois Lowry's The Giver, Jonas tells his first lie to his parents after experiencing a memory of love through the Giver. When Jonas asks his parents if they love him, they dismiss the concept as imprecise and obsolete. This moment highlights a significant emotional gap between Jonas and his community, which values "precision of language" over genuine feelings. Jonas's lie signifies his growing awareness of the community's emotional void and his alienation from its values.
Jonas's Apprehensions and Isolation in The Giver
In The Giver, Jonas feels apprehensive about the Ceremony of Twelve, where he will be assigned a lifelong job, as he is uncertain about his future role. After being selected as the Receiver of Memory, he feels isolated due to the secrecy and unique nature of his position, which separates him from peers and family. His fears intensify with the knowledge of the pain and responsibilities his new role entails, challenging the community's enforced sameness and emotional suppression.
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