Themes: The Individual versus Society
In the beginning of the novel, Jonas accepts the rules of his community and wants to fit in. There are rules against bragging or pointing out differences or any other indicators of individual distinction. The community rules ensure that people will not do or say anything that breaks or threatens the homogeneity of the community.
However, when Jonas is selected to be the Receiver, he is immediately set apart from the rest of the community, and this new experience of distinction, of becoming an individual, makes Jonas profoundly uncomfortable. Paradoxically, though the Receiver of Memory is precisely what allows the community to exist in a stable, peaceful, homogenous state, Jonas’s personal experiences in this role are what convince him to reject the community’s teachings. When forced to confront the fact that his society is indifferent to the things his Receiver trainings have taught him to care deeply about, Jonas is unable to maintain his relationships with his friends and family and eventually realizes that he can no longer be a part of his society.
Expert Q&A
What are some examples of control within the community in The Giver?
Examples of control within the community in The Giver are that when people enter the workforce, they are not free to choose their paths, which are determined for them by the community Elders, nor are people free to have children or use language that violates strict rules. The weather is also controlled, so the climate is always temperate, and colors have been eliminated.
Why is changing rules in the community difficult in The Giver?
Changing rules in the community in The Giver is difficult due to a lengthy, bureaucratic process. Proposals must first be analyzed by a committee, which can take years. If the rule is significant, the Receiver, who has more knowledge than the Elders, evaluates it. This inefficiency ensures strict societal control and gives citizens a false sense of participation, masking the totalitarian nature of their government.
In The Giver, why can't community members make their own choices?
In Lois Lowry's "The Giver," community members are not permitted to make their own choices because the society values safety and conformity above individual freedoms. The Giver explains to Jonas that the risk of individuals making wrong decisions is too high, hence the concept of Sameness is enforced to prevent potential mistakes. This lack of personal choice suggests that the Elders believe they know the citizens better than they know themselves.
In The Giver, what does The Giver mean when he says "they know nothing"?
In Lois Lowry's The Giver, when The Giver says "they know nothing," he is critiquing the community, particularly the Committee of Elders, for their lack of understanding of the past and true human experiences. Despite possessing factual knowledge, they lack the wisdom and insight that comes from memories of the past. He implies that without these memories, their existence is meaningless, reducing them to mere existences rather than truly living beings.
In The Giver, why are twins unacceptable in the community?
Twins are not allowed in The Giver because, apparently, having identical people would be confusing. Because of this, when twins are born, they are weighed, and then the smaller one is “released,” a euphemism for being killed by lethal injection. The stronger twin is allowed to survive in an attempt to ensure the continued strength of the species.
Why do people in Jonas's community in The Giver take pills for the Stirrings?
People in Jonas's community in The Giver take pills for the Stirrings to suppress sexual desires and censor emotions. This practice ensures conformity, equality, and compliance within the society, preventing natural sexual emotions that could disrupt the social structure, such as the Matching of Spouses. The community aims to control feelings to avoid conflicts like jealousy and fighting.
Why does The Giver hold all the memories instead of the community in The Giver?
The Giver holds all the memories to ensure the community maintains Sameness and avoids pain and disturbance. By entrusting one person with these memories, the community prevents individuals from making personal choices that could disrupt uniformity. The Giver uses the memories to advise the Council of Elders, providing the necessary wisdom without burdening the entire community.
In The Giver, what does the phrase "we gained control of many things, but we had to let go of others" mean?
In The Giver, the phrase "we gained control of many things, but we had to let go of others" means that the community traded freedoms and emotions for safety and order. They gained control over climate, disease, and societal structure but lost individual freedoms, emotions like love, and the ability to make personal choices in areas such as marriage, vocation, and memory.
What power do the Elders exert over the Community in The Giver?
In The Giver, the Elders exert significant power over the Community by controlling all aspects of life, including assignments, marriages, and child-rearing. They choose jobs for children during the Ceremony of Twelve, match spouses, and monitor family units. The Elders' decisions are final and heavily influence the societal structure, ensuring that individuals have little autonomy.
What is the theme of The Giver and what three examples support it?
Conformity versus individuality is a primary theme examined throughout The Giver, which is depicted by Jonas's struggle to embrace his individuality and challenge conformity. The Committee of Elders controls nearly every aspect of society, and citizens must conform or be released. Citizens conform by using precise language, taking pills for the Stirrings, and obeying the oppressive laws. Jonas challenges conformity by expressing his personal opinions, dismissing certain rules, and fleeing the community to permanently alter the culture of their society.
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