The Giver Theme Analysis

The world can never be a perfect place. In The Giver, Lois Lowry tried to create a utopia, but in doing so caused many risks to be taken. When Joans was selected to be the new receiver of memory, a new burden fell upon him. Many themes were explored through this new responsibility, including staying true to oneself, risks must be taken to grow, and that knowledge is useless when there are no memories.

Jonas had obtained these new memories and feelings which caused him to do things that the society thought were insane. In doing so Jonas had to stay true to himself, to accomplish his tasks. For example, Jonas had memories of feelings and wanted to really feel them,”Something within him, something had grown there through the memories, told him

to throw the pill away”(Lowry 162). Consequently, Jonas decided to leave the society to release the memories he has received,”’Yes,’ he told The Giver.’I’ll do it.”(Lowry 194). Jonas did what he thought was right. In doing so he accomplished his goals.

Jonas kept taking risks throughout the book which further increased his growth.

When he took the risks he grew mentally from being able to understand what he saw. Since he had the capacity to see beyond, He saw things no one else could see. For example Joans risked humiliation to try and understand,”... objects are not to be removed from the recreation area and that snacks are to be eaten, not hoarded had been specifically directed at him,the last day that he had taken an apple home with him”(Lowry 29). In term, Jonas decided to release the memories to the people,” For years I've felt that they should, but it seemed so hopeless. Now for the first time I think there might be a way,"(Lowry 193). When Jonas decides to release the memories is allowed the giver to grow because he finally saw a chance at changing the society.

To make his intelligence useful Jonas had to have the memory of it. For example, Jonas knew what pain was, but didn't have the memories until the giver gave him physical pain,”He gasped. It was as if a hatchet lay lodged in his leg, slicing through each nerve with a hot blade”(Lowry 137). Furthermore, The Giver gives Jonas more pain by giving him war,”Finally, when he knew that he could bear it no longer and would welcome death himself”(Lowry 151). Before he was given memories, Jonas only had the knowledge of pain, but could not know the feeling without the

memories.

Many themes were explored through Jonas’s new responsibility including staying true to oneself, people must take risks to grow, and knowledge is useless without memories. Throughout the book Jonas did what he thought was the best thing to do which led him to do crazy things; therefore, he grew in the long run. He grew since he took risks and allowed the society to grow along side him and The Giver. Everyone in the society had the knowledge of pain but since there were no memories of it they had never felt it. And when Jonas released those memories it let the society grow even more. Sometimes the right thing to do for the people is not what is taught. By making the connections with knowledge and memories, Jonas was able to make a compromise for the best which, helped the whole society instead of just himself.