Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York, New York: Houghston Mifflin Company, 1993. 180 pp. (Front pages, title page, dedication, Books by Lois Lowry, 23 chapters, end pages.)
The Giver is a story about young Jonas, a twelve year old boy who lives in a futuristic, seemingly utopian, community that has chosen “Sameness” – the absence of choices, color, and differences. After Jonas is selected to have the honor of taking upon him the memories of the society before Sameness, he begins to question the forced state of contentment that the community has chosen for its citizens.
Each year, fifty Newchildren are born, and they progressively move up through the age groups, Twos, Threes, Fours, etc. as each year passes. The children are taught precision of language, manners, punctuality, and skills carefully regulated by the leaders of the community. They are not to call attention to any differences they may possess or notice in others. Once they become Twelves, they are given Assignments – careers chosen carefully by a group of Elders – and become adults and official members of the community. They remain in their Assignments until they are no longer able to contribute to the community, and, if they wish, they may petition to the Elders to have a spouse and two children assigned to them. Later in life, they enter the House of the Old, where they are taken care of until their time of Release. Release is almost a taboo subject – it is an honor for the Old, a time of sadness for the Newchildren, and a punishment and source of shame for citizens who cannot abide by the Rules of the community. All that the people are told of Release is that the people are sent Elsewhere.
Once Jonas is selected to become the Receiver of Memory, he begins his training in this job of great importance and honor. The previous Receiver, who tells Jonas to call him the Giver, transmits the memories of the world before Sameness to Jonas. He is given memories of joy, hunger, pain, love, war, fear – all of which the current community has never experienced. He is also enlightened on the subject of Release, which turns out to be a form of euthanasia. As this young boy is given the rare opportunity to gain knowledge, he is able to see clearly that the lives of his family and peers are void of fulfillment and true emotion. He quickly comes to the realization that the act of choosing is important and that, without differences, true emotion cannot be felt.
What begins as the story of a young man trying to fit into his closely regulated community becomes the story of the young man learning and fighting for the importance of agency. Although the people surrounding him are content in their ignorance, Jonas begins to realize how much more there can be to life, and that the chosen Sameness is actually a limitation on happiness rather than an assurance of it. Because the members of his community are content with their ignorance, Jonas is forced to make his quest with only the help of the Giver, and he must learn to make his own decisions about what is right and wrong. Based on the memories he receives, he is forced to delve into the knowledge he has access to and choose for himself the sory of life he wants to lead. He must not only make these decisions, but he must decide with enough certainty to act upon them.
The book is written in a simple, easy to understand, and straightforward manner. Jonas is logical and seemingly accurate, and the environment is easy to accept and understand although it is not technically a situation that is easily comprehended or believable. The character development pulls you in, and it is easy to feel the same attachments and frustrations felt by Jonas. Lowry takes a strong theme (agency) and places it in a simple story, one that children could read and enjoy. Although told in a simple manner, The Giver is a book that makes you think. The not-completely-resolved ending leaves you with questions, yet with a positive feeling overall. The unique use of vocabulary (Sameness, Sixes, Newchild, Old, Release, Childless Adults, etc.) adds to the feel of the book taking place in its own isolated little world. Yet it is a world that is able to be comprehended in just under 200 pages.
Occasionally, discontinuities would arise (such as the ability to remove the majority of people’s ability to see color, while the Giver and Jonas were still able to see it), but it didn’t interfere with the plot or the overall message. Because the book is written so simply, people may write it off as a children’s story (located in the Juvenile Literature section of the library). The message, however, shines through and is appropriate for people of all ages.
I highly recommend this book to people of any gender or time of life. It’s perfect for people with a busy schedule – it is an easy read that could be completed in an afternoon. The book causes reflection and makes you think, but it doesn’t leave you feeling unsettled. It invoked in me a deep feeling of gratitude for my own agency and ability to experience a full range of emotions and sensations.
Each year, fifty Newchildren are born, and they progressively move up through the age groups, Twos, Threes, Fours, etc. as each year passes. The children are taught precision of language, manners, punctuality, and skills carefully regulated by the leaders of the community. They are not to call attention to any differences they may possess or notice in others. Once they become Twelves, they are given Assignments – careers chosen carefully by a group of Elders – and become adults and official members of the community. They remain in their Assignments until they are no longer able to contribute to the community, and, if they wish, they may petition to the Elders to have a spouse and two children assigned to them. Later in life, they enter the House of the Old, where they are taken care of until their time of Release. Release is almost a taboo subject – it is an honor for the Old, a time of sadness for the Newchildren, and a punishment and source of shame for citizens who cannot abide by the Rules of the community. All that the people are told of Release is that the people are sent Elsewhere.
Once Jonas is selected to become the Receiver of Memory, he begins his training in this job of great importance and honor. The previous Receiver, who tells Jonas to call him the Giver, transmits the memories of the world before Sameness to Jonas. He is given memories of joy, hunger, pain, love, war, fear – all of which the current community has never experienced. He is also enlightened on the subject of Release, which turns out to be a form of euthanasia. As this young boy is given the rare opportunity to gain knowledge, he is able to see clearly that the lives of his family and peers are void of fulfillment and true emotion. He quickly comes to the realization that the act of choosing is important and that, without differences, true emotion cannot be felt.
What begins as the story of a young man trying to fit into his closely regulated community becomes the story of the young man learning and fighting for the importance of agency. Although the people surrounding him are content in their ignorance, Jonas begins to realize how much more there can be to life, and that the chosen Sameness is actually a limitation on happiness rather than an assurance of it. Because the members of his community are content with their ignorance, Jonas is forced to make his quest with only the help of the Giver, and he must learn to make his own decisions about what is right and wrong. Based on the memories he receives, he is forced to delve into the knowledge he has access to and choose for himself the sory of life he wants to lead. He must not only make these decisions, but he must decide with enough certainty to act upon them.
The book is written in a simple, easy to understand, and straightforward manner. Jonas is logical and seemingly accurate, and the environment is easy to accept and understand although it is not technically a situation that is easily comprehended or believable. The character development pulls you in, and it is easy to feel the same attachments and frustrations felt by Jonas. Lowry takes a strong theme (agency) and places it in a simple story, one that children could read and enjoy. Although told in a simple manner, The Giver is a book that makes you think. The not-completely-resolved ending leaves you with questions, yet with a positive feeling overall. The unique use of vocabulary (Sameness, Sixes, Newchild, Old, Release, Childless Adults, etc.) adds to the feel of the book taking place in its own isolated little world. Yet it is a world that is able to be comprehended in just under 200 pages.
Occasionally, discontinuities would arise (such as the ability to remove the majority of people’s ability to see color, while the Giver and Jonas were still able to see it), but it didn’t interfere with the plot or the overall message. Because the book is written so simply, people may write it off as a children’s story (located in the Juvenile Literature section of the library). The message, however, shines through and is appropriate for people of all ages.
I highly recommend this book to people of any gender or time of life. It’s perfect for people with a busy schedule – it is an easy read that could be completed in an afternoon. The book causes reflection and makes you think, but it doesn’t leave you feeling unsettled. It invoked in me a deep feeling of gratitude for my own agency and ability to experience a full range of emotions and sensations.
2 comments:
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What a good book. Isn't it great how a simple "childrens" book can teach us so much? I would have liked to have seen you link Jonas's quest to our own quest, and evaluate the book from a writer's perspective in more detail.You give a great description of the book, and it makes me excited to read the book again!
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