The Giver by Lois Lowry

The power of The Giver does not fade with successive readings. Not having read this book since 7th grade, I sat down to read it, and the whole story consumed me once more. Jonas lives in a community that doesn't experience true pain or plesure. Driven by efficiency and order, their community also lacks choice. When children turn twelve, they receiver their job assignments. In addition, families apply to receive a child since one of the professions is birthmother. Once children leave the house, parents live with other Childless Adults and eventually transfer to the House of the Old before they are 'released.' When Jonas becomes the next Receiver of Memory, it is Jonas who learns the collective history of the world. All other community members epxerience 'Sameness' that dominates their every day lives. Faced with the disappointment in his society, Jonas makes his escape and hopes to make it to the land where people feel true emotion and people enjoy both the pain and pleasure of society.

This futuristic tale shows how important individuality is. In Jonas's society governed by multiple rules and laws, politeness, and accurate language, citizens do not fully understand emotions or what it means to act like an individual. They are told what to do and have a morning and nightly routine such as sharing dreams in the morning and "your feelings" at night. In reality, the citizens do not experience a full range of emotions though because they do not understand strong feelings or emotions such as love, pain, sorrow, bliss, etc. This world without color fails to value the unique characters of each individual and lumps the community into 'Sameness.' When Jonas decides to escape, he is escapting from "The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without color, pain, or past" (p. 165). Living only in the present and neglecting the past takes away the normality of the human experience. Without memories of the past, life is incomplete.

Lowry uses rich descriptions to show the vibrancy of the world that this futuristic community fails to experience. The images from the warmth of a fireplace, the love of a family, the sound of music playing, the rich colors, animals, and the beauty of nature provide a glimpse of what we as individuals take for granted. Although there may also be war, hatred, and cruelty mixed in with our experience, it is part of the package that makes human beings well-rounded and complete.

The ending of this story always captures my attention as well. As Jonas reaches the top of the hill at the end of the story, it is a transition between two worlds. The sled and snow, the Giver's first memory transferred to Jonas, reappears. As a symbolic act, Jonas mounts the sled preparing for the unknown. By ending at this spot, Lowry holds the reader in a state of flux. We assume Jonas enters a new community, but will he be accepted? How will Jonas adjust? What will happen to the community Jonas left behind? All of these questions remain unanswered, but we do know that Jonas's decision to leave took great courage and strength. By him leaving, maybe there is hope for the future of humanity in both the community he enters and the community that he leaves behind that citizens of the world can regain knowledge of love, hopes, emotions, individuality, and choice.

In teaching The Giver, I would focus on the idea of a utopian society. Before reading, I would have students brainstorm what they feel would be the perfect society. As students read The Giver, I would have them consider the following questions: Can a society such as this really exist and be successful? Is there really such thing as a utopian society? What things would you be willing to give up in order to have a utopian society? These are dicussions I would have with my students throughout the process of reading this novel.

I would also have students reflect on their own lives and evalutate the themes and motifs in this novel regarding true emotion, memories, family, choice, individuality, etc. In order to incorporate cross-curricular activities, I would have students analyze whether in history, if there have been any attempts to create utopian societies. This would likely lead to a discussion about World War II and Hitler's idea of creating an Arayan race. We can also discuss the flaws of a utopian society.

Another idea I have for teaching this novel would be to have students role play. Students would be assigned different positions in society, whether it is Caretaker of the Old, a Nine, a birthmother, a childless adult, a member of the Community of Elders, etc. They would consider their role in a utopian society. How did this efficent and uniform lifestyle affect them? I feel as though this novel study could go in many different directions because of the many themes and issues present in The Giver.