Response based on class discussion

On Tuesday, we attempted a few questions in our learning groups that undeniably enhanced my understanding of The Giver...







The first question was, ‘Do you think all the assignments are equal and well respected? Why or why not?’


The answer was, of course, no. Examples of honoring one assignment more than another were abundantly seen throughout the book. Firstly, the assignment of a Birthmother, was quite lacking in prestige. This is seen when Jonas’ mother ‘(calls) it a job without honour’. This shows that all assignments were not equal and well respected.


Furthermore, the night-crew nurturers are not very well respected either. This is shown in the book, ‘It was a lesser job, night-crew nurturing, assigned to those who lacked the interest or skills or insight for the more vital jobs of the daytime hours.’ From the way father addresses them, it is seen that night-crew nurturing is not a very well-respected job.


Another example would be that the job of the Receiver was very highly respected. This is seen when Jonas’ father tells him that Jonas had received ‘the most important job in the community.’ He is also repeatedly told by his mother that he ‘has been greatly honoured’ in being selected as the Giver. This clearly shows that not all jobs are equal, for if they had been, there would not be any job that has the highest honour.


From these examples, it is rather obvious that there is a hierarchy in terms of the honour of jobs. There are stigmas and stereotypes on the occupations, and this creates irony because the community claims that everyone is treated equally, though this is impossible. This is why utopia means impossible ideal. Human nature promotes individuality, and a Utopia of equality is not possible. Hence, all jobs are not equal and well-respected.






The second question was, ‘What does the system of allocating people their Assignments reflect about the society Jonas lives in?’


The system firstly shows that the community has total control over the people’s lives. They have no choices of freedom over the way they live in, such that they can not even choose the careers they wish to pursue. This shows how much the community confines and constricts the people. There is no democracy, only dominance in the community. The Committee of Elders is the one that makes all choices for the people, hence dominating them. This shows that the government has total control over the people and their lives.


The system also reflects that the society is very organized. This is because, they always manage to fill up every role with the suitable person, and there are hardly any disappointments. There are no two people of the same year who get the same assignments. There are also an adequate number of Assignments – not too much, not too few. This shows how organized the community is.


The system also shows that the society is very observant and perfection seeking. This is seen because they watch over the Elevens very closely to ensure that they make the right selections for the Assignments. The Committee of Elders take notes and hold long meetings to discuss their opinions so that nothing goes wrong. This shows that they are very observant and seek perfection.






The third question is, ‘The Chief Elder claims that the Assignments are a way of honouring differences. Does this ring true? Based on your knowledge of other parts of the novel, is Jonas’ society one that values sameness or difference?’


I think that this claim made by the Chief Elder is only true to a certain extent. This is because, it is constantly seen in the novel that the society values Sameness. This is seen because there is no sense of individuality in their community. Everything is standardized.


For instance, children of the same age get the same things each year. At birth, they get comfort objects. Fours, fives and sixes receive jackets with buttons at the back. Sevens get front-buttoned jackets. Eights receive jackets with smaller buttons and pockets. Nines receive bicycles. Tens get a change of hairstyle. Elevens get new undergarments and longer trousers. Only at twelve do they get various assignments. Until that, their only differences are their names. This shows that the society values uniformity.


Not only that, everyone gets the same food. This is seen in the book, ‘Food is delivered by the delivery crew everyday.’ It is so standardized they can not even choose the food they prefer to eat. This shows that the community values similarity.


Even the colours and weather in their community is controlled to ensure Sameness. The weather is controlled by the Climate Control. Colours were relinquished to eliminate choices. Adding on to that, the community did not have memories and pushed that entire burden to the Receiver. Moreover, everyone had the same features, and the community tries its very best to maintain it this way. This is seen when the Giver says, “I suppose the genetic scientists are still hard at work trying to work the kinks out. Hair like Fiona’s must drive them crazy.” Also, it is said in the book that ‘almost every citizen in the community (has) dark eyes.’ This shows that the community values Sameness.


Not only all that, even the family units are assigned. Spouse and children are allocated. This helps to cultivate people to sustain the society. The occupations are labels in place and are forms of identifications. Their names and ages become rather insignificant, and they are identified by their jobs. This shows that they value Sameness.






Other than these, we also discussed why the society is unnamed and has no geographical location. This is because Lois Lowry is trying to tell her readers that this society can take on any name and place. It is just a society where humans are almost equivalent to robots and everything is the same within it. It makes life meaningless.

After this discussion, I realised that Utopias were impossible. Even the term itself means impossible ideal. Whenever  people attempt to form Utopias, some dystopian elements always pop in. That is why utopias often end in failures or disasters. I suppose it is just better to live the way we do now, instead of making futile attempts to create a perfect utopia.