The Giver

"'We don't dare let people make choices of their own...Definitely not safe,' Jonas said with certainty. 'What if they were allowed to choose their own mate? And chose wrong? Or what if,' he went on, almost laughing at the absurdity, 'they chose their own jobs?'" (p. 98)

I can't imagine a world without music or color. I'm vaguely reminded of Pleasantville and black and white tvs, but even then there was music. It's hard to imagine that in a future world people would willingly relinquish their individuality and human rights for Sameness, a less complicated and more structured life. True, there's no hunger, and true, everyone has a job and a family unit, but this utopia is only perfect on the surface. Jonas and the Giver are the only ones who understand true feelings - everyone else plays along, though there is no depth to their emotions. The community is not even allowed to play with language. Precision is valued above anything else - sarcasm would have no place (and they'd kick me out for sure). Strange, though, that precision is so honored, yet their term for flat-out euthanasia is just 'release'.

Here is a community that believes it can learn from the past, but that not everyone should experience those memories. I can't imagine bearing the memories of the world alone, the strength needed to face other members of the community and know their past even while they do not. In this perfect world, there is much deception, and yet those who deceive others truly believe it is for the good of the community. I've read this book a few times now, and always get chills when I remember that Rosemary was The Giver's daughter. How difficult it would be to place all the joy and then pain of the world on the shoulders of someone so young. On the other hand, wouldn't it be so helpful, especially for teachers, if we could transmit necessary background knowledge to kids? Wow, we could even regulate the background experiences to be all the same...differentiation wouldn't even be an issue. If that worked, we'd have a better grasp on the nature vs. nurture argument.

I've noticed a trend in futuristic science fiction novels that the government regulates the number of children in a family, usually to two (one boy and one girl is usually desired). This was the case in Ender's Game, a book I read recently, and also a newer book called Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix and Cliff Nielsen. I guess population control is really on people's minds. In The Giver, there was little honor in being a birthmother. Another thing I thought was really interesting was the stressed need for interdependence. Though not expressed in love or good works toward others beyond volunteer hours, young children were required to wear jackets that buttoned up the back.

Though this is a short book and a quick read, there is much character development. Jonas is a sensitive and often articulate young boy who soon becomes much different than his robot-like parents and community neighbors. The Giver is, of course, very grandfather-ish and I imagine him to be like my own grandfather. In her writing, Lowry helps the reader identify with Jonas and The Giver quickly and emotionally in their struggle to face the outside world with their knowledge. This is the kind of book that requires some thought afterwards. I came back to the book and read the possible discussion questions at the end, but soon realized that I didn't want to think about Jonas and Gabriel possibly slipping into a cold-induced coma, remembering the joyful memory of family and love and holidays. I'd rather believe he had really found it, that it existed Elsewhere and would take him inside readily. Life is often ambiguous as it is...I need that happy ending.