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The Giver Society

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In Lois Lowry’s The Giver, Jonas likes his society and fits in, until he realizes that its people have no feelings, and will even kill others without even having the slightest care. In the beginning of the novel, Jonas wants to be like everyone else. Once he is selected as the Receiver of Memories, Jonas finds out about the past from the Giver. These new experiences change Jonas, and so he no longer fits in, and no one can relate to him, nor can he relate to anyone else. Jonas can't relate to the people in his society, which causes him to be lonely, and then to eventually reject his society. In the beginning, Jonas tries to fit into his society, and to be like everyone else. Jonas wants to fit in by following the rules and doing what he …show more content…

As a result of his new knowledge, Jonas wishes that the society was still the way that it used to be. Jonas feels that not being allowed to make choices isn’t fair, and he wants to have choices, “‘But I want them,’ Jonas said angrily. ‘It isn't fair that nothing has color!’ ‘Not fair?’ the Giver looked at Jonas curiously. ‘Explain what you mean.’ ‘well…’ Jonas had to stop to think it through. ‘If everything’s the same, then there aren’t any choices” (97). Jonas starts to feel angry about the way that things are, and the memories that the Giver is showing him are changing the way that he feels about his society, making him question the fact that no one has any choices, or even misses not having them. He wants to decide something, no matter how small it is, and even if that means that he is not like everyone else, he would be happy about having a change, “He looked down at himself, at the colorless fabric of his clothing. ‘But it’s all the same, always’. Then he laughed a little. ‘I know it’s not important, what you wear. It doesn’t matter. But - ‘It’s the choosing that’s important isn’t it?’ Jonas nodded” (98). Jonas wants to be able to choose at least the simple things in life like clothes, but he can't, because society has made everyone colorblind. This builds on his anger against his society, because he knows that no one else can choose anything, nor would they want to. Jonas still feels that if things were like they used to be in the memories he receives then life would be more dangerous. The Giver mentions the fact that someone could make the wrong choices, and that could be dangerous, “‘He might make the wrong choices’ ‘Oh’ Jonas was silent for a minute” (97). Jonas realizes that making the wrong choices can be lethal, but he will soon realize that that is a chance he is willing to take. Jonas will eventually feel differently, but he

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