Jonas' Courageous Transformation in 'The Giver'

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In the novel, “The Giver” by Lois Lowry, Jonas is the protagonist living in the community. He is an Eleven, and is about to receive his permanent assignment. Until the Chief Elder skips him and leaves him dumbfounded. After everyone is done, he is called up to the stage. Jonas is the new Receiver of memory and has to hold the memories that the Community can’t. He starts to see colors and the truth behind the closed doors that no one can see. I believe that through the novel Jonas’ courage became stronger, and it develops him as a character. Jonas was very scared of breaking the rules at first, but then was given new rules when he became the Receiver. He didn’t really want to use one of the rules which was lying. But he used it once to lie to his parents about his dreams. “‘Do you understand why it’s inappropriate to use the word like ‘love’?’ Mother asked. Jonas nodded. ‘Yes, thank you, I do,’ he replied slowly. It was his first …show more content…

Courage was one of the traits. “Only one of us here today has undergone the rigorous training required of a Receiver.” “The training required of you involves pain. Physical pain.”(62) This supports my claim because the Chief Elder believes that Jonas has the courage to go through that pain for the community. If I was in his shoes, I don’t know if I would be able to go through the pain that comes with the memories. Once when Jonas was heading to the Annex, he arrived to see the Giver, holding his head in pain. Jonas asked if he could help and Giver said to take the memory away. Getting on the bed, Jonas prepared himself for pain. He did get it. The picture of war was given to him. Blood and death was everywhere. He woke up and was in shock. All the Giver could do was apologize for giving him such a horrible memory. But Jonas just shrugged it off, happy that the Giver wasn’t in pain anymore.

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