Lack Of Communication In The Giver

Lois Lowry, winner of two Newbery medals for her work, most noticeably The Giver, a story that tells about Jonas in his utopian world being formed and projected onto us. Jonas, our main protagonist has been living in his own so-called "community" where everything is to be consisted of rules and regulation. He later on becomes the new Receiver in training and discovers the wonders of the outside along with the experience of pain, whether its to be physical or mental. In the ending, he is out in Elsewhere, riding his bicycle through a forest with an infant child named Gabriel with barely enough food and knowledge before he is actually the Receiver. However, his purpose for leaving was because of the lack of attention for feelings such as family love. The lack

and idea of having a family for individuals isn't portrayed as an importance because of the lack of communication in the story, knowing that not every family will be together, and no matter how much Sameness is forced upon, there is a uniqueness in us that can lead to the good or bad of others.
To mention the lack of communication, a family would most commonly have physical motion and verbal speaking.

In chapter 1 of The Giver, we see Jonas communicating with his family that is required for him to do by calling it a "ritual". "It was one of the rituals, the evening telling of feelings." (5) In chapter 16, Jonas is to learn about memories after being the new Receiver that is rarely chosen after the mistake of ten years ago. Eventually he learns about happiness and the meaning of a true family. "What did you perceive?" The Giver asked. "Warmth," Jonas replied, "and happiness. And...let me think. Family." (125) In the ritual, the memory Jonas received was more meaningful with emotions and how much Jonas wished to have the memory than being part of the community as said in chapter 1. In addition to this, Jonas couldn't be able to share pure love for his family as the precision of language is very strong in communicating and expressing their vague emotions. "Jonas. You of all people. Precision of language please!" "...Your Father means that you've used a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become obsolete." (129) In all, the communication of family isn't strong enough to make it more

human-like.
"Jonas frowned. "But my parents must have had parents. I never thought about it before. Where are my parents-of-the-parents?" Where are they?" "You could go look in the Hall of Open Records. You'd find the names. But think, son. If you apply for children, then who will be the parents-of-the-parents? Who will be their grandparents? "My mother and father, of course." "And where will they be?" "...When I finish my training and become an adult, I'll be given my own dwelling. And then when Lily does, a few years later, she'll get her own dwelling and maybe a spouse, and children if she applies for them, and then Mother and Father-" "...And when they're released, there will be a celebration." "Which you won't attend," The Giver pointed out." Their society doesn't let them become in unison with those close to them and the sensation of being comforted never came true or will ever be because of this "Sameness" that borders the Receiver from being united with those from the community. This however, supports the idea of not having a family because of Jonas, being the remnant of the memories of happiness, bearing the meaning of uniqueness and not having the power of him and The Giver combined to release the shared memories.
"Her hair looked different; but it in its shape.." "..You're beginning to see the color red." From this point in chapter fourteen, Jonas learns more about the opposition of Sameness, before he even knew about it, "uniqueness" such as the color perception of red. "But he had been startled by the newchild's eyes. ...he was reminded that the light eyes are not only a rarity but gave the one who had a certain look... what was it? Depth." (21) In Jonas' world, an average human would have dark eyes while Jonas and three others (including him)would have light colored eyes and are considered an "outcast". As the story progresses, Jonas is scarred upon with his Father doing a release on two twin born infants in order for them to distribute who will go to Elsewhere and who'll stay in the community is by weighing both and the one who weighs the most will be resting in the community. "And you, little guy, you're only five pounds ten ounces. A shrimp!" (Chp.18 P.151) This is what his Father said and later on "released" them by injecting a needle into the infants head. In all matters, the way of release isn't the same for all as some leave without harm such as the Elders. "He just bowed to all of us and then walked, like they all do, through the special door in the Releasing Room. But you should have seen his look. Pure happiness, I'd call it." (Chp. 4 pg. 34)"...the newchild, no longer crying, move his arms and legs in a jerking motion. Then he went limp. His head fell to the side, his eyes half open. Then he was still." (152) In conclusion, the way you are physically will heavily affect the path of your family or even if you ever have one.
The story The Giver has a big impact for having a family for individuals or foretell. In our society, we are told to believe that family is an essence. For Jonas, that's the opposite case being portrayed.