The Giver Essay, Research Paper
Mr. Kester
English
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Giver is a fiction novel about a boy named Jonas and his life
in a perfect world of ?Sameness?. In this world there were no colors,
feelings, or choices. In this world everything was decided by the
Commitee of Elders and took place in a ceremonious way. There was
the Matching of Spouses and the Naming and Placement of new
children. There was also a ceremony of Nines where all the Nines
received their bikes and the Ceremony of Twelve?s where they
received their life long occupations.
In the beginning of the story, Jonas was a normal boy who was
nervous about the upcoming Ceremony of Twelve?s. He was anxious
to find out what job he would be performing for the rest of his life ( or
at least until he was ?released? when he turned 70 years old). Even
though he felt apprehensive about the ceremony, it helped for him to
talk about it at the nightly talks about feelings. Everyone had to tell
how the felt during the day after supper was eaten.
They spoke of feelings as if they were real even though they
have never actually had a feeling. Nobody in the community was
permitted to have confidential feelings for another person either.
When they began going through puberty or what they called ?stirrings?
they had to begin taking a pill daily for the rest of their lives. Both
males and females had ?stirrings? which usually began with a dream
and had to be reported immediately.
It was finally the big day of the Ceremony of Twelve?s. Jonas
heard stories about previous ceremonies that didn?t help the nervous
feeling in his stomach. Jonas was number 19 and stood on stage
between Asher and Fiona. It was almost Jonas?s turn, Asher had
received the job of Assistant Director of Recreation and Jonas was
next. The assignments continued and Jonas became more and more
apprehensive about his Assignment. All of a sudden Fiona?s
Assignment was given. Jonas was shocked, they had skipped him.
He wasn?t sure what it meant and he felt dizzy. The Chief Elder would
never make a mistake especially at the Ceremony of Twelve?s.
When the last Assignment was given the crowd cheered, but
whispers of confusion filled the room. What had Jonas done wrong?
After the applause quieted, the Chief Elder began speaking. He
Announced that Jones would be the new Receiver-in-Training. He
went on that Jonas was chosen because he had all the qualities, such
as, intelligence, integrity, and courage. For the first time Jonas felt
di
from his friends and family. The Chief Elder promised that his
Assignment would give him great wisdom though.
Jonas no longer had to take his medicine to control his
?stirrings?. He began his training immediately and was surprised to
find that the annex was the only building in the community that had
locked and the Giver was the only person who had books. He found
out that his job was to receive all the memories of life that the Giver
alone held for the community. He learned that nobody in the
community had feelings, saw color, or made choices. The first
memory he received was of sled-ridding and snow. He received many
memories of good and bad things and began seeing colors. He
realized that Fiona?s hair was red. It angered him when he heard his
family tell of their feelings because he knew they didn?t have any.
The most horrible thing Jonas experienced during his training
was the ?release? of a baby boy. The boy was a twin and only weighed
5 lb. 10 oz. The regulation weight for a baby was 6 lb. The baby was
considered an inadequate shrimp and Jonas?s father was ordered to
?release? him.
Jonas watched as his father as he cleaned the baby and made
him comfy. He then opened a cupboard and removed a syringe and a
small bottle. He began to fill the syringe with the clear liquid. His
father carefully insert the needle into the top of the baby?s head to
release the liquid in his vein. The baby squirmed and went limp.
Jonas was horrified. He hated his father for killing the baby even
though he didn?t understand what he was doing.
Jonas found out that Gabriel was going to be ?released? and
Jonas decided to run away to another world named ?Elsewhere?.
Jonas planned to run away in the middle of the night before the
Ceremony because the night time attendant wouldn?t be working.
Jonas grabbed Gabriel and was on his way to Elsewhere. When he
left ?Sameness? all the memories he had received would be given to
the community and panic would break loose.
Jonas finally made it to Elsewhere, but faced problems on the
way such as, hunger, coldness, and bad weather. As Jonas and
Gabriel were entering Elsewhere on the sled they heard people
singing and knew that they were waiting for them. ?Behind him,
across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left,
he thought he heard music too. But perhaps it was only an echo,? and
Jonas and Gabriel entered Elsewhere. What happened in the world of
?Sameness? will never be known.