Summary Of The Novel The Giver By Lois Lowry
The Giver is a novel written by Lois Lowry, an American author. It was published in 1993 and has since become a classic in young adult literature. The book is set in a dystopian society where everything is controlled by the government, including the emotions of its citizens. The main character, Jonas, is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, a position that reveals to him the hidden truths of his society.
Plot Summary
The story takes place in a utopian society where everything is controlled by the government. The citizens live in a world without color, pain, or emotion. They are assigned their jobs, spouses, and children by the government. Jonas is a young boy who is coming of age and is about to receive his assignment. However, he is not assigned a regular job like his friends. He is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, a position that is highly respected and revered in the community.
As the Receiver, Jonas is given memories of the past, memories that are no longer part of the society. He learns about the beauty of nature, the feeling of love, and the pain of loss. He also learns about the dark side of humanity, such as war, hunger, and poverty.
As Jonas gains more knowledge, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with his society. He realizes that the government is not as benevolent as it seems and that the citizens are living in a state of ignorance. Jonas decides to take action and leave his society, taking with him the memories that will help him build a better world.
Main Characters
Jonas: The protagonist of the story, Jonas is a young boy who is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory.
The Giver: The current Receiver of Memory, who trains Jonas and passes on his memories to him.
Father: Jonas's father, who is a Nurturer in the community.
Mother: Jonas's mother, who works for the Department of Justice in the community.
Gabe: A baby who is being taken care of by Jonas's family. Jonas becomes attached to Gabe and decides to take him with him when he leaves the community.
Themes
The Giver explores several themes, including:
Individuality: The society in The Giver values conformity and sameness, but Jonas learns the importance of individuality and free will.
Memory: Memory is a powerful tool that can be used to learn from the past and make better decisions for the future.
Freedom: The citizens in The Giver are not truly free, as their lives are controlled by the government. Jonas seeks to find true freedom by leaving the society and building a new world.
Conclusion
The Giver is a thought-provoking novel that explores the themes of conformity, memory, and freedom. It tells the story of Jonas, a young boy who learns the truth about his society and decides to take action to build a better world. The book has become a classic in young adult literature and is a must-read for anyone interested in dystopian fiction.