The Giver By Lois Lowry: An Analysis

The Giver, by Lois Lowry portrays the discovery that a controlled society doesn’t constitute a content society; The novel portrays the life of an adolescent boy named Jonas who is given a glimpse into the downfalls of his utopian society. Seeing that with pain and loss come great joy, Jonas breaks away from the rules as he tries to find a greater good. I too find that the restraints of our society limit our ability to reach fulfillment. In the words of Lois Lowry, “We gained control of some things. But we had to let go of others”. In the modern day a rebel is often needed to break the rules and find a greater existence. I would rebel for one of three main areas that the government controls: our money, our mind, and our protection.
If someone took away control of my money, I would most definitely rebel. When someone works and receives money, they have the right to the money they worked for. In Cuba, a socialist society, assets are split equally between the population. Cuba has free education, but it comes at the cost of low wages (Sobhit Seth). This system separates the amount of work done by a person and the portion of wealth they acquire. Cuba’s economy closes

the wealth gap so that the individuals are influenced by the work of every other individual. Some claim that rebellion should never be an option but in the case of big economic systems there is not always another way to get your point across. As put by Nelson Mandela, “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”.
The next belief I would defend is my freedom of thought.

Many frightening works of literature have been written about the possibilities of controlled thinking. Through the years, systems of government have arisen that parallel those written about in a frightening way. Dating back to the Nazi rule in Europe, people have been using propaganda to control people’s thought. Such propaganda is dangerous because nothing in society can function properly. An example on the subject of education by James Baldwin, “It is very nearly impossible to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent mind”. Without free thought, there would be no original art, poetry, or music. It’s very apparent that the freedom of the human mind is not to be taken lightly, and It’s a liberty I’d gladly

defend.
Finally, I would rebel for the right to defend myself. Oftentimes with moral degradation, comes physical attack. Imagine if a corrupt government managed to rid the entire population of personal firearms. Officials could squander riots within minutes, and rebelling would be a near impossibility. Historically, Governments like Libya, China, and the USSR have turned on their own people with violence. From the gas chambers in the days of the holocaust, to the chemicals used by Libya against its own people, the right to defend yourself is as important as ever. Some may suggest tighter gun laws in the United States; however, I argue that a government stockpiling guns and ammo, is far more dangerous than a lone gunman.
The freedom of your own money, thought, and protection are quintessential to a free society, and are worthy of rebellion. Take a look at the final scene of The Giver, Jonas stands looking at lights in the distance. What he gazes upon is a society that is far better than the one he left behind. Thinking that all the cold and pain was worth it, Jonas is filled with joy. Rebellion is no different than this optimistic picture. There are great rewards of rebelling for something that you believe in, and often times it leaves society better off. I believe that the risks and rewards of rebelling are completely worth it.