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In The Giver, how does the author foreshadow Jonas's gift?
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The author foreshadows Jonas's gift of "seeing beyond" through his experiences with the apple and his growing apprehension about the Ceremony of Twelve. When Jonas notices the apple changing color, it hints at his ability to see colors, a part of his unique capacity. Additionally, his unease about the ceremony and his empathy, shown during his care for Larissa, foreshadow his future disillusionment with his society and role as Receiver of Memory.
Jonas’s gift is the capacity to see beyond. This means he can see things that are not part of the regular world of the community, such as color. He also has the ability to receive memories, which exist beyond the community. We are first told what this ability is during the Ceremony of Twelve when the Chief Elder explains why Jonas was selected to be Receiver of Memory.
The author foreshadows this ability in the incident with the apple. Jonas notices the apple change, and takes it home to look at it even if it is against the rules. He looks at it, tosses it, and tries to figure out what is different about it. Jonas is seeing the color red, but he does not know it yet. He is reprimanded for taking the apple, but the incident with the apple demonstrates to the elders that he really does...
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have the capacity to see beyond.
How does The Giver use foreshadowing?
There are numerous examples of foreshadowing in The Giver.
First and foremost is Jonas' apprehension about the Ceremony of Twelve. This annual ritual is the biggest event in the life of the community, and Jonas should feel positive about his forthcoming entry into adulthood, not least because Jonas is about to be appointed as Receiver of Memory, a great honor in this society.
And yet Jonas can't help feeling uneasy all the same. We sense that this is a young man who will eventually become thoroughly disillusioned with his role as Receiver of Memory and with the norms and values of his society. And that's precisely what happens as Jonas bravely takes his stand against the prevailing culture of death, with its utter contempt for human life.
Another example of foreshadowing occurs when the 11-year-old Jonas is given the task of bathing an old lady called Larissa at the House of the Old. He proves to be very good at his job—gentle, caring, and empathetic. And it is this empathy for the weakest members of the community, babies as well as senior citizens, that will lead Jonas to turn his back on the land of his birth and its warped values and escape into Elsewhere.