THE GIVER

The Giver



The Giver

Introduction

In The Giver, each family has two parents, a son, and a daughter. The relationships are not biological, but are developed through observation and a careful handling of personality. In our own society, the make up of family is under discussion. How are families defined? Are families the foundations of a society, or are they continually open for new definitions?

Summary

Lois Lowry's The Giver tells the story of Jonas, who lives in a futuristic society and who, until the age of twelve, has led a peaceful and normal, albeit regulated, life. Jonas has two parents, a mother who is happily employed at the Department of Justice, and a father who is happily employed as a Nurturer. Jonas occasionally quarrels with his younger sister Lily, and he enjoys riding his bicycle, visiting with his friends Asher and Fiona, and musing about his future. In Jonas's world, everything (from an individual's desire, to the weather, to a person's career) is regulated. The community's rulers see to it, for example, that every member of this nameless, timeless community occupies a productive role in the society. The plot of The Giver develops out of Jonas's changing perceptions towards his community after he is selected to be the Receiver of Memory and discovers that nothing about his idyllic community is what it seems to be.

In Jonas's community, a child receives a professional assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, at which time s/he becomes an adult. Jonas, who has waited apprehensively to find out what his assignment will be, grows increasingly agitated during his long-awaited Ceremony. His friends have received desirable and appropriate assignments like "Fish Hatchery Attendant," and "Assistant Director of Recreation," but it appears that he, Jonas, has been bypassed. Finally, after all of the other Twelves have received their assignments, Jonas learns that he, because the elders recognize his intelligence and courage, and because he has the "Capacity to See Beyond" (the ability to see colors), has been selected to become the next Receiver of Memory.

Discussion

The Giver is written from Jonas's point of view. We see his community through his experiences. At first, his community seems to be a good place to live. There is no pain. Everyone is polite. Everyone has what they need. They have a home and food. They have a job that fits their interests and abilities. As the story progresses, we learn more about the community. Some of it is unsettling. Children are born to Birthmothers who never see them. After their first months in the Nurturing Center, they are given to compatible couples who have applied for a child. Each family can include two children, no more. When the children are grown, the parents go to live with the Childless Adults. Later, when they no longer contribute to the community, they go to the House of the Old until they are released. Release happens to the Old, unacceptable new children and those who break three rules. Release is actually death, but is not called ...