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Choice, or rather the lack of it, is the one of the important themes in "The Giver". The people believe that they have chosen to live in a seemingly perfect and blissful society. Ironically, this "choice" that they have made has caused them to give up their ability to make their own decisions. They have in fact lost the freedom of choice without even realising it. For example, adults cannot choose their own spouses. Instead, they are matched according to their personalities. The members of the community have no memory and therefore cannot make any conscious decisions. They live by a strict set of rules which does not allow for free will. With little individuality and no freedom, choice is a foreign concept and considered inherently dangerous.
From the time that they are born, to the time that they are "released", every aspect of a person's life in Jonas's community is governed by a set of rules, many of which seem trivial and pointless. There are rules which require them to share their dreams at breakfast, their feelings at dinner, take a pill to suppress "Stirrings", use the standard apology phrase, and girls must wear ribbons in their hair until they are nine. There are also rules prohibiting them from doing things. For example, children cannot ride a bike until they reach the age of nine, there must be no fighting or lying, or display of physical affection outside the family unit.
I have deliberately chosen a black and white picture of the river to show how Jonas's society is leeched of colour. The river runs through the community and out to "Elsewhere". It symbolises escape from the community which is like a prison. It also represents unpredictability, which is a very alien concept in this society because everything is supposed to follow a routine and give everyone a false sense of security. Nothing bad is supposed to happen. When little Caleb wandered off and drowned in the river, this was a rare occurrence in the community because it was something that could not be controlled or predicted.
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The baby represents the new child, Gabriel, who has been spared from being released because Jonas's father was willing to receive him into their family unit to give him extra attention and care. Jonas becomes very attached to Gabriel and even begins to consider his as his little brother. Gabriel is a symbol of hope and new beginning to Jonas. In Literature, babies often symbolise hope and regeneration. In 'The Giver", Gabriel is still too young to absorb the customs are rules of the community. However, this also makes Gabriel very receptive to the memories that Jonas wants to transmit to him. Jonas seizes the opportunity to do so. At the end of the book, Jonas flees with Gabriel from the community. In doing so, Jonas saved Gabriel's life as Gabriel was supposed to be "released" the next day. This gesture symbolises Jonas's resolve to change things and start a new life.
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Choice, or rather the lack of it, is the one of the important themes in "The Giver". The people believe that they have chosen to live in a seemingly perfect and blissful society. Ironically, this "choice" that they have made has caused them to give up their ability to make their own decisions. They have in fact lost the freedom of choice without even realising it. For example, adults cannot choose their own spouses. Instead, they are matched according to their personalities. The members of the community have no memory and therefore cannot make any conscious decisions. They live by a strict set of rules which does not allow for free will. With little individuality and no freedom, choice is a foreign concept and considered inherently dangerous.
From the time that they are born, to the time that they are "released", every aspect of a person's life in Jonas's community is governed by a set of rules, many of which seem trivial and pointless. There are rules which require them to share their dreams at breakfast, their feelings at dinner, take a pill to suppress "Stirrings", use the standard apology phrase, and girls must wear ribbons in their hair until they are nine. There are also rules prohibiting them from doing things. For example, children cannot ride a bike until they reach the age of nine, there must be no fighting or lying, or display of physical affection outside the family unit.
I have deliberately chosen a black and white picture of the river to show how Jonas's society is leeched of colour. The river runs through the community and out to "Elsewhere". It symbolises escape from the community which is like a prison. It also represents unpredictability, which is a very alien concept in this society because everything is supposed to follow a routine and give everyone a false sense of security. Nothing bad is supposed to happen. When little Caleb wandered off and drowned in the river, this was a rare occurrence in the community because it was something that could not be controlled or predicted.
The baby represents the new child, Gabriel, who has been spared from being released because Jonas's father was willing to receive him into their family unit to give him extra attention and care. Jonas becomes very attached to Gabriel and even begins to consider his as his little brother. Gabriel is a symbol of hope and new beginning to Jonas. In Literature, babies often symbolise hope and regeneration. In 'The Giver", Gabriel is still too young to absorb the customs are rules of the community. However, this also makes Gabriel very receptive to the memories that Jonas wants to transmit to him. Jonas seizes the opportunity to do so. At the end of the book, Jonas flees with Gabriel from the community. In doing so, Jonas saved Gabriel's life as Gabriel was supposed to be "released" the next day. This gesture symbolises Jonas's resolve to change things and start a new life.
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Name: Nicola
Literature Blog:
The Giver
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Tagboard. Maximum width of 700px. Height can be infinite.
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Name: Nicola
Literature Blog, The Giver
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blog post 6: photo montage
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