Allusions In The Giver Research Paper

The Giver: A Biblical Allusion
Have you ever pictured yourself living in a futuristic world? A world where everything seemed to be perfect? A place where not only memories are nonexistent, but emotions, climate, color, and violence do not exist. A world where people have no knowledge of religion, and you cannot make your own choices. Instead of choosing your significant other or having your own children, you have to nurture someone else's and apply for your spouse. This world is black and white and is called “community.” In this world your house is never your home, but simply a “dwelling.” In this society, individualism isn’t permitted, even to the extent that at the age of twelve you are assigned a job someone else thinks you would be good

The Giver’s character name depicts God since God is the “giver” to everything in life. Therefore, The Giver is the only one who can see the past, and he is also the only one who can transfer memory to an individual. Moreover, the “Elder Committee” (government) asks the giver for help when they are in a difficult situation, just as we ask God for help. Scripture supports this idea, “Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13, New American Standard Bible). The Giver’s gift, just like Jonas, requires them to feel pain. Pain is apparent by the way Lowry describes the pain of the “old man” as Jonas enters the Annex room where training takes place. “The Giver looked up at him, his face contorted with suffering, ‘Please,’ he gasped, ‘take some of the pain.” (Lowry, p. 149) This implies that The Giver has the wisdom, courage, and special gift just as God does. Not to mention, The Giver chose Jonas as God chose Jonah in scripture as his prophecy to be his messenger. The author infers that Jonas is The Giver’s chosen one as his prophecy and messenger just as baby Gabriel gives the biblical allusion of The Angel