The Giver: Week of 12/2/13

Prompt: After reading, I wonder…
Describe the major conflict. What side are you on?
Analyze how your feelings change as you read this story and why.
Pages Read: 163- End

The major conflict throughout The Giver would be that, people are placed in a community where they are often lied to, innocent people are killed, and that all that has happened is only known by two people, Jonas and the Giver. Jonas believes that the community should be aware of what is occurring, but later on decides to not put them through the pain of the memories, and then leaves the community. Through out the entire book, I have been on Jonas' side. Knowing that you have been lied to your entire life is horrible, the fact that you realize your family and friends will carry on the tradition of those lies, is absolutely heart wrenching. Though I know what the Giver's society is doing is wrong, I also feel that they need to be understood. They feel no true emotions, simply imitations of what they believe is feelings. These people do not understand what they are doing is wrong when they release a person, because they as well have been lied to their entire lives. Jonas' very own father has to perform releases, but he doesn't understand that life is a gift and a very beautiful gift at that. The entire principles of the Society in my opinion are absolutely repulsive and in several ways inhumane, especially that of the idea of a birthmother. Now before you say, "Oh, but the family units are like adoptive parents!" You must simply understand that I feel that even though, these birthmothers are simply viewed as items who must give birth to children, and not become attached to them, is completely wrong. I feel that even though today in our society people still put their children up for adoption, they still have that piece inside themselves that still holds emotion for that child. How do we know that these birthmothers do not care about the children and simply are doing their job, that seems to be what the society wants, but it does not mean everyone feels that way.

I can tell that after reading The Giver my feelings and entire view on the book has completely changed. The first day when I had started to read The Giver I looked at the publication date and thought, "This book will be an absolute waste of time, space, and my memory. If the ideas and writing in the book are as bad as the cover, I might as well give up already." (No offense intended, I was a naive and judging person a few weeks ago.) Today, I feel that a lot can be learned from the book. The Giver actually seems to have a sort of sentimental value to myself now that I have read and understand the concept of the book. I believe that Lois Lowry did an amazing job of having this book be able to be read by anybody, at any age. The entire thinking process and ideas of the book are infinite. By "infinite," I mean that it does not matter if you happened to read this book in the 1950's, 60's, 70's, 80's, if it had been written back then, the 90's when it came out, or today. You will simply, and always be able to connect to the book, the ideas will remain fresh and strong. I believe the drastic change of my feelings was caused by the fact that the book contained several intense emotions that are rather hard to find Elsewhere. (See what I did there?)

After reading The Giver, I am left with several questions. One of those being, what happened to Jonas and Gabe? To be honest, I feel that they probably survived, but I am not absolutely positive. I feel that the book Son, will severely enlighten me, and answer my questions. My next question would be, did all the memories truly come back to the community, or does Jonas still have them? Or how about, how will the Giver be able to help with the pain of the memories? Will Jonas' family receive a replacement child? How does Jonas' leaving of the community affect the entire Giver series? Will people in the community realize how they are living is not the best way of life? What does Asher think of his best friend leaving without reason or explanation?