For this project we had to write about the story the Giver and the ideas that came along with it.
The Giver Essay
A life with no color, choice, or feeling, would anyone want that? Not Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy, who has the displeasure of having the job, chosen for him, Receiver. As a receiver they keep the memories, good and bad, for the community. Jonas is the main character in the exciting novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry. This story consist of how Jonas learns about the world before Sameness, a type of living when all the people are the same. When Jonas has all this knowledge of times before Sameness, he begins to have second thoughts about it. “‘We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.’” (96) Jonas realizes that Sameness has it’s advantages and disadvantages.
A Utopian society is a wonderful way to live and a choice that caught on to Jonas’ community. “‘Our people made that choice, the choice to go to sameness.’” (96) Sameness was not natural. There was a time when people could make their own decisions, but that led to problems and mistakes. So the people of the community made a decision, to make their world better they gave up all freedom for sameness. It ended up for the better of the community. No war, pain, sadness, or true anger. Being adequate isn’t all that it is seems to be. Jonas lost things that bring beauty to the world around us. “‘We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with differences.’” (96) These people lived in a dark, grey world. No love, no joy, and absolutely no true feelings. Sure it is great to have no war or hatred, but no choosing which way you want to go? No choices to make, no wanting? Never knowing how to feel and what to want. Others chose things without asking how anyone else wanted it to be. No color! A grey world, no beauty, no reason to live.
Why be a pack rat and keep things that are not necessities for life? “‘Because it’s a memory when color was.’” (95) Color is not a necessity in life. Some things people do not need are disposable, such as color. Some people are color blind which sets them apart from others. So when the people went to sameness instead of trying to make people see color, they genetically changed the humans ability to see color. “‘I wish we had those things, still. Just now and then.’” (84) When people experience something good it’s wanted more and more. Jonas has color and wants to share it with others. It is like reading a really good book before someone else, and then dying to tell that person the story, but it is not preferred. Jonas’ has color and wants to share, but knows it is wrong to do. He has a decision to make. People have always controlled Jonas’ future and choices. How will Jonas make the right decision.
A choice leads to another choice which could turn into a catastrophe. “‘We really have to protect people from wrong choices.’”(98) Choices? No way. People could make the wrong decision. Why choose to make decisions it is just more work and stressful. People would be hustled with problems and feel overwhelmed. The community would be in havoc, making decisions left and right. Not what the community needs. A choice gives a person freedom. “‘But that choice is not ours.’”(84) Jonas wants to decide, but can’t it is not his to decide. Jonas gets overwhelmed by the want to decide he can’t control himself. He wishes he could decide and have that kind of power. What if Jonas could decide would he decide for the better or for worse?
“‘You will be trained to be our next Receiver of Memory.’” (64) The Giver, by Lois Lowry, throws many curve balls at Jonas, a twelve year old boy, Leading a normal life in a Utopian society. All of a sudden when he receives, his life long task, as Receiver his life gets turned upside down. Now he doesn’t know what to think of his communities life style. This Utopian style community does have ups and downs to it such as no war and, no happiness. If Jonas got his wish to make the decision about sameness would he choose adequate living or modern life. Perfection cannot be accomplished no matter how hard one tries.
The Giver Essay
A life with no color, choice, or feeling, would anyone want that? Not Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy, who has the displeasure of having the job, chosen for him, Receiver. As a receiver they keep the memories, good and bad, for the community. Jonas is the main character in the exciting novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry. This story consist of how Jonas learns about the world before Sameness, a type of living when all the people are the same. When Jonas has all this knowledge of times before Sameness, he begins to have second thoughts about it. “‘We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.’” (96) Jonas realizes that Sameness has it’s advantages and disadvantages.
A Utopian society is a wonderful way to live and a choice that caught on to Jonas’ community. “‘Our people made that choice, the choice to go to sameness.’” (96) Sameness was not natural. There was a time when people could make their own decisions, but that led to problems and mistakes. So the people of the community made a decision, to make their world better they gave up all freedom for sameness. It ended up for the better of the community. No war, pain, sadness, or true anger. Being adequate isn’t all that it is seems to be. Jonas lost things that bring beauty to the world around us. “‘We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with differences.’” (96) These people lived in a dark, grey world. No love, no joy, and absolutely no true feelings. Sure it is great to have no war or hatred, but no choosing which way you want to go? No choices to make, no wanting? Never knowing how to feel and what to want. Others chose things without asking how anyone else wanted it to be. No color! A grey world, no beauty, no reason to live.
Why be a pack rat and keep things that are not necessities for life? “‘Because it’s a memory when color was.’” (95) Color is not a necessity in life. Some things people do not need are disposable, such as color. Some people are color blind which sets them apart from others. So when the people went to sameness instead of trying to make people see color, they genetically changed the humans ability to see color. “‘I wish we had those things, still. Just now and then.’” (84) When people experience something good it’s wanted more and more. Jonas has color and wants to share it with others. It is like reading a really good book before someone else, and then dying to tell that person the story, but it is not preferred. Jonas’ has color and wants to share, but knows it is wrong to do. He has a decision to make. People have always controlled Jonas’ future and choices. How will Jonas make the right decision.
A choice leads to another choice which could turn into a catastrophe. “‘We really have to protect people from wrong choices.’”(98) Choices? No way. People could make the wrong decision. Why choose to make decisions it is just more work and stressful. People would be hustled with problems and feel overwhelmed. The community would be in havoc, making decisions left and right. Not what the community needs. A choice gives a person freedom. “‘But that choice is not ours.’”(84) Jonas wants to decide, but can’t it is not his to decide. Jonas gets overwhelmed by the want to decide he can’t control himself. He wishes he could decide and have that kind of power. What if Jonas could decide would he decide for the better or for worse?
“‘You will be trained to be our next Receiver of Memory.’” (64) The Giver, by Lois Lowry, throws many curve balls at Jonas, a twelve year old boy, Leading a normal life in a Utopian society. All of a sudden when he receives, his life long task, as Receiver his life gets turned upside down. Now he doesn’t know what to think of his communities life style. This Utopian style community does have ups and downs to it such as no war and, no happiness. If Jonas got his wish to make the decision about sameness would he choose adequate living or modern life. Perfection cannot be accomplished no matter how hard one tries.