How do chapters 16~18 relate to the theme of freedom and choice?

In the novel I have just finished called, The Giver by Lois Lowry. There are a couple messages that talk about freedom and choices, whether it is discrete or obvious. The themes of freedom and choice are clearly present in chapters 16~18. I think this for a couple of reasons.

Choice:

Firstly, I believe that the chapters related to choices because Jonas had to make a few really important and hard decisions. Jonas was mad a his community after being given the memories of how the town used to be. There used to be colours, emotions and most of all freedom. After Jonas explained this to The Giver, they come up with two options. Jonas could escape to Elsewhere, where life would be like the memories, or he could live life as normal in his community. That was a very hard decision for Jonas to make. Jonas chose to escape to Elsewhere.

For Jonas getting to Elsewhere was going to be a hard journey, even though he begged The Giver to come with him, he knew it was going to be a very difficult and lonely. Jonas would miss his parents, Asher, Fiona, Lily and most of all The Giver (since he told Jonas he couldn't go with him). For Jonas staying in his community would've been hard as well. Jonas,

if he had chosen to stay, would of had to live with no emotions, colour or music. When Jonas thought that all the decision making was over, another difficult choice confronted him, when Jonas' father mentioned that the next day he was going to release Gabriel. Jonas was saddened when his father told him about this. Jonas had recently learnt what 'release' actually meant. "He killed it! My father killed it!" Pg. 150. Jonas then had to make a tough decision.... whether to take Gabriel along or not. That was not an easy decision. Gabriel could suffer more pain then if he were just to be released. Jonas thought that if he was strong enough, he could keep both of them alive on their journey to Elsewhere. Jonas finally decided to take a risk and try to save Gabriel by bringing him along. That was how choice was displayed in the two chapters

Freedom:

I think the two chapters showed freedom because Jonas escaped to Elsewhere, where he was free. Jonas was choosing to be free when he escaped. Jonas knew that when he escaped the world would be like the memories. Jonas wouldn't be captivated in sameness. He would be free! Jonas would be free of sameness, choices, ridiculous rules and free from the hunger of a normal life. "There could be love." Pg. 129.

Before Jonas became the new Receiver he didn't have the right to make his own decisions. When Jonas started training he was able to After Jonas started his training his list of rules entitled him to much freedom. Jonas was not questioned anymore, but Jonas rather questioned. At the end of the book when Jonas escaped and arrived at his destination, Elsewhere, he had fulfilled his happiness....his freedom. Jonas had what he had longed for... a town full of love, joy, colour, music. People in his new town would be like Jonas, they would feel what Jonas feels. They could all see colour, hear music and have emotion! Jonas was...FREE!!!!!!

Image Sources:

- plavstalk.com

- hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com

- worldinconversation.org

Giver #3

I commented on:

- Tiffanys blog (blogpost #1)

- Alexandra's blog (blogpost #2)

Why does Jonas find the instruction about lying so disturbing?

In the novel I am currently reading called The Giver by Lois Lowry, Jonas was given the job

of becoming the new Receiver of Memories. The question I chose got me thinking about the

book in a different sense, that is why I chose it. Enjoy!

Why does Jonas find the instruction about lying so disturbing?

I believe that Jonas found the instruction to lie so disturbing for a couple of reasons.

The first reason is because Jonas lives in an Utopian society, which means lying is a strict rule, that is not mean't to be broken. Jonas probably has never experienced lying or it's consequences. The second reason is because of a personal opinion. I think that Jonas' was bought up to believe lying is a horrible thing to do. For example Jonas said, "He had never, within his memory, been tempted to lie. Asher did not lie. Lily did not lie. His parents did not lie. No one did." (Pg. 71).

The first reason is because Jonas lives in an Utopian society, which means lying is a strict rule, that is not mean't to be broken. "What if they had all been instructed: You may lie?"(Pg. 71). I also said that Jonas has never lied. I think Jonas doesn't understand that there is something called a white lie. A white lie is a small lie that hopefully doesn't hurt anyone, plus it can be for a good cause. All Jonas knew was the lying (in general) was bad-and against the law. Thats just the way he was raised. Jonas thought that lying was rude, disrespectful and above all against the rules. That is probably why Jonas was a little startled when reading the list of instructions, that told him, lying was okay. Although, I can't see the point of lying in such a perfect community, but to everything perfect there is a flaw. I don't think Jonas will use the advantage of lying, because Jonas seems like the kind of person who, no matter how hard they try, can't break a law.

The second reason of a personal opinion. I think that Jonas' was bought up to believe lying is a horrible thing to do. Jonas probably thinks that lying is like committing a crime. "Finally he steeled himself to read the final rule again. He had been trained since earliest childhood, since his earliest learning of language, never to lie."(Pg. 70). The best way to describe something is by making a connection, so I am going to connect Jonas' society and ours. In our community when we break a law, there are consequences, the same goes for Jonas' society. I think Jonas is still scared to lie, even though he was given a free pass. For example, if someone told you that you could do anything against the law, without facing any consequences, would you take up the offer? Or would you politely deny?

All in all, I think Jonas was disturbed by the instruction to lie at times. "Now, empowered to ask questions of utmost rudeness..."(Pg. 71). Mainly because it was against the rules and no one else did it. I also think Jonas doesn't believe there is anything to lie about. Jonas was raised to stick with community rule and doesn't feel the need to go rebellious now.

All sources:

~ middlegradeninja.blogspot.com

The Giver Reflection: Would you want your future to be decided by others ? Why or Why not?

The Giver by Lois Lowry displays a perfect community, or an Utopian society: A place ideal for perfection. The rules in the community are strict, everything is orderly and the community is very predictable. The citizens futures are chosen for them. When picked up the novel for the first time and started reading, my initial reaction was, wow, depressing much? I thought this because every single thing was controlled. This prompt: Would you want your future to be decided by others ? Why or Why not? stood out to me and got my thinking, thats why I chose it.

I think that it depends. In life you either want to decide or don't. Sometimes you don't have the power to decide, like Jonas. In all honesty, life isn't easy. Life isn't served to you on a silver platter. Nor is kicked to you. Life is like a cave. Caves can have multiple paths sometimes. When life does this, you can either guess, decide, or let someone chose for you. Whichever one happens you will follow that cave path you have chosen. It dosen't matter what path you choose, there will be consequences, whether they are good or bad.

No. I wouldn't like to have my future decide. Why? Life is about learning. It doesn't matter if you learn from your mistakes or from others, you learn something new everyday. Life is also about making decisions. Without us making our own decisions we could never learn and we would have to follow others commands. Everyone in The Giver has their jobs assigned to them by the Elder. These are a few examples of how jobs are chosen. If you are gentle and kind then you are either a Nurturer or the Director of the House of Old. If you are imaginative then you are an architect. I think that if learning and decision making were taken away from life then the life as we know it will become dull, grey and lifeless.