Examples Of Individualism In The Giver

Krishnadev Lakshminarayanan

Mrs. Seikkula

LA P2

7 May 2018

Individualism: Building Blocks To An Unorganized But Powerful Society

Imagine life without any color or any art and with no sense of personal expression. In the Giver written by Lois Lowry, the books protagonist Jonas lives in a utopian community in which all senses of individualism are numbed to the lowest extent possible by the community's leaders. They had gotten rid of color,music,art and all senses of personality. In the story, Jonas becomes a receiver and gains memories that enhance his ability to see color and experience a sense of individualism. When Jonas gains the ability to see color and personality he becomes smarter and it seems that he is more happy. Individualism is a crucial part of our growing world that helps the world be better than if the world was in complete Sameness.

As Jonas progresses in his training he begins to learn about colors.

When he begins to see them in real life he starts to be frustrated at the fact that he can't keep them. When the giver approaches him regarding this subject Jonas tells the giver that he does not believe that not having color is fair as he believed that it would be more enjoyable and exciting if the we could make decisions which would only possible if there was variation or color. We can see he is quite dejected when he says “It’s all the same anyways.”(Lowis,123) I think Jonas’s reaction shows that humanity is a creative race and we show a need to make decisions. We are a species which thrives because of our ability to creatively think and make decisions and not just move along with the natural flow of

life.

After training for a significant time under the giver Jonas began to see the world around him change as well as his personality itself. He began to, as he described it “experience a new depth of feeling”(165) that was not the same as what he felt when he discuss with his family and members of the community. He began to realize that none of them truly felt. This feeling Jonas describes is caused by being able to be creative which is only caused by individualism. When Jonas feels more happy and complete, he feels more complete because Jonas sees beautiful things like art and color and beauty. He was able to see and celebrate and accept the difference between things and people which had given not only wisdom but a different type happiness as well.

People claim that Sameness while restricting individualism is still a good thing. They believe that sameness allows life to be regulated and systemized.Due to this, the world would have any problems as no one would be have any personal passions which in turn would prevent jealousy, anger and pain. To prevent pain is good but is not worth it if the world is robbed the chance to express itself. Individualism allows us to express our views, our concerns and due to that only are we able to better our cities, our governments and our lives.

Before Jonas became the receiver he had experienced the same life everyday. There was no variety, no change. Because of his training he began to see actually how much he was missing in his life. Individualism is not chaos, but it is rather a necessary part of life. Without the good of individualism, humanity would have never created and would have never done new things. To prevent pain and suffering we cannot rob ourselves of personality and creation. If we are not creative than we are no different from any other mammal in the world, we are then simply just animals trying to survive In an endless cycle of existence.