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(List of all the words are not included; it can be accesed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VDDtn6_4GyRU1sSoKZen9p5rZrKEh_z0/view)

The pain lingered around his entire body; it was unendurable. He seeked desperately for deliverance, but he was forsaken, by both friends and allies. Many walked past him, jeering his miserable state. Now, he ruefully stared at the blank ceiling, wretched, as life slowly diminished away from him. He layed distraught for the fate of his successor, but yet he felt lighter now with the absence of responsibility and burden he now relinquished. However, his mind quickly, and unwillingly wandered off to a particular intricate and conspicuous memory. His consciousness was drifting away. It was a precious memory of his; of his childhood – and friends, who now betrayed him – under the peaceful rays of sunshine and palpable joy. It was a simple time back then. He lingered in the feeling a while longer, luxuriating in the contrast of his own reality, a bit reluctant to lose himself in such a dream; but in the end, he yielded to its comfort, and to Death himself. He closed his eyes and dreamt of the wonderful memories he had.

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Self-Discovery, The Importance of Memory, Pleasure and Pain, Blind Obedience

All of the aforementioned themes are revisited frequently throughout the progression of the novel. Theme: The Importance of Memory, is the the most primary theme, the most heavily emphasized on, and what the story revolves around. This novel was inspired by the author’s – Lowis Lowery’s – father’s memory loss, so it makes sense. The lesson to be learned, or the message to be interpreted through this theme, is that memories contain emotions, and wisdom. Needless to say, this has been stated, and revealed to us – readers – several times through the actions of both the Giver, and Jonas. The following are specific points in the novel, where this theme has been manifestly emphasized:

When Jonas is able to learn what ‘love’ is through the memory of Christmas and grandparents. Afterwards, we are given another layer of demonstration when Jonas proves his love for Gabriel, doing all he can to save him.

Through the memories he received, Jonas is now able to better understand what true emotions are, in general. He realizes that the “feelings” shared within his dwelling between his family unit, is nothing but a dim, and fake version of it.

When the Giver reveals his job of counseling the Elders with wisdom based on the memories he possesses.

When Jonas realizes the violent nature behind the games the children, and his friends play. It was a game of war; war, like the one he experienced through memory. This specific case demonstrates the maturity he gained from receiving these memories, which also correlates to his wisdom.

With the wisdom he gained from the memories, along with emotions to fuel his passion, and determination for change; he breaks away from the Blind Obedience, which all members of the community are subjected to, and is able to escape with Gabriel to Elsewhere.

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Physical Details
1. Pale eyes
2. Tunic
3. Neatly trimmed hair
4. Same hair color as everyone else
5. Same skin tone as everyone else

Personality Traits
1. Curious
2. Brave
3. Intelligent
4. Wise
5. Confident (Determined)

Motivation/Goals
1. Wants color
2. Wants feelings
3. Wants love
4. Escape the community
5. Release the memories to the community

Fears
1. Jet that flew over the community
2, Not being able to save Gabriel
3. Starving
4. Freezing
5. Pain
4. Escape the community
5. Release the memories to the community

Speech

“The Giver chuckled ruefully. ‘The explanations are
difficult. The whole thing is so beyond one's experience. But I tried. And she listened carefully. Her eyes were very luminous, I remember.’";
Page 141 (PDF version)

‘Luminous’, here is referring to Rosemary’s pale eyes. It was never directly described as ‘pale eyes’ in the book, and this is the only time her eyes were ever mentioned.

Appearance

“He knew that they could not see color, and that their
flesh, as well as Gabriel's light golden curls, would be no more than smears of gray against the colorless foliage.”
Page 169 (PDF version)

This sentence directly reveals the color of Gabriel’s hair, and its “curliness”.

Private Thoughts

“Then the Tens. Jonas never found the Ceremony of Ten particularly interesting — only time-consuming, as each child's hair was snipped neatly into its distinguishing cut: females lost their braids at Ten, and males, too, relinquished their long childish hair and took on the more manly short style which exposed their ears.”
Page 46 (PDF version)

Since everyone in the community looks the same (or at least various “groups” – if you will – of people, like males older than Ten, or females younger than Nine, etc), we can confidently infer that Jonas too, has a short hair style.

Others’ Reactions

“‘Oh, look!’ Lily squealed in delight. ‘Isn’t he cute? Look how tiny he is! And he has funny eyes like yours, Jonas!’”
Page 20 (PDF version)

Lily, here, is referring to the similarities between Jonas and Gabriel’s eyes. They both have pale.

Actions

“On his knees, unable to rise, Jonas tried a second time. His consciousness grasped at a wisp of another warm memory, and tried desperately to hold it there, to enlarge it, and pass it into Gabriel. His spirits and strength lifted with the momentary warmth and he stood. Again, Gabriel stirred against him as he began to climb.”
Page 177 (PDF version)

This reveals (or further acknowledges) Jonas’s deterministic characteristics, and his caring personality, as shown when he sacrifices his warmth, for the survival of Gabriel, and as well, when faced with immense – almost unendurable – fatigue, he continues to climb the hill.

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Refer to Chapter 11 for topics similar to that mentioned in Theme.

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These are questions that are not going to be answered (at least in this book).

1. How would Jonas’s, and Gabriel’s life be in the new place Elsewhere?

2. How would the movie differ from the book?

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Elsewhere

There seems to be inhabitants Elsewhere, free from the influences of the communities. They still celebrate Christmas, as we do.

Memory

“This was something that he could keep. It was a memory of his own.”, I wonder what this means. A memory of his own. I think it was foreshadowed in Chapter 12, “Again and again, as he slept, he had slid down that snow-covered hill. Always, in the dream, it seemed as if there were a destination: a something — he could not grasp what — that lay beyond the place where the thickness of snow brought the sled to a stop.”. Could Jonas have predicted it? Either way, I find it to be very poetic, how he comes full circle back to his first memory, and so I think it’s a great addition.

Death

The things Jonas experienced near the end could be proof that he died, and is simply dreaming or hallucinating of what he had wished had happened. It’s one way to interpret it – and I think it would have been a great ending – but after further research, based on the sequels, it doesn’t seem to be the case. But if it was, then ‘Elsewhere’ would only have one meaning, and that would be the world in the afterlife.

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Elsewhere (Updated)

The meaning of ‘Elsewhere’ seems to differ from context to context. Elsewhere in the community is referred to as somewhere outside of their own community; while in truth, it represents death, and the world of the afterlife, if there is one. While for Jonas, and the Giver, it represents somewhere outside of the communities’ influences, like the place Jonas saw at the end. A place where people have freedom of choice, and the traditions of the past lives on.

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Lethargy

A lack of energy; sluggish, unenthusiastic.

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In all honesty – and this may sound a bit humorous – but the coldness of the snowstorm; I relate to it. Sometimes here in Canada, during the winter – especially if you are not well dressed – it is freezing cold. Of course, winter is cold anywhere around the world except for countries very close to the equator, but Canada is exceptionally cold. It was quite random, but it was something I immediately thought of; and it might solely be because we are doing this study in winter. My bus has been continuously canceling lately, so I used to walk home (now, I take the public bus), and it was extremely cold. The weather wasn’t a snowstorm, or anything, so it wasn’t as hard as Jonas, obviously, but the lonely walk, and the extreme cold, I can somewhat relate to it.

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I found two main themes in the chapter. Perseverance is one of them, and I covered it in just the last chapter, so I won’t talk about that. The second, is the power of memory. I talked about it already in Chapter 11, but I will elaborate it a bit more here. We can see this happening when Jonas uses the memory of warmth to keep both Gabriel and himself alive, and when he recalls memories of joy, of his friends, family, and the Giver, which helps him get to the top of the hill. Personally, I found it to be a bit plot armor-y, but that’s besides the point. I thought it would be a fitting theme for the last chapter of the book, since the entire book was inspired by the author’s father’s memory loss. The last theme is more likely to be remembered above all others after all. Anyways, in Chapter 11, I focused on the importance of memory in everyday lives, when learning (for instance, from our mistakes), retaining relationships (since they revolve around the things we did in the past), etc. I failed to mention memory as a form of motivation though, which was the way it was used in this chapter. I never really thought about it that way, to be honest. But it can be a great way to motivate yourself. Memories can give us self-confidence, based on our previous successes. Why are you trying to achieve something? You probably have an answer to that in your memories as well. Memories can help us to persevere for our goal; for our success. Speaking of memories just in general, it gives us joy, and happiness, at hard times. And it sometimes gives us pain, and suffering. It gives us emotions, feelings, and love. In that sense, I think in addition to removing the pain, when the communities went to Sameness, they needed memories to be gone, in order for them to eliminate emotions.

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Jonas and Gabriel were close to their destination; Jonas felt it. He didn’t see, nor hear any signs, but it was just a feeling. A very strong one at that. However, his hopes diminished as snow began to fall harshly. Both Gabriel and Jonas were very weak, and cold. Jonas put Gabe against his bear chest, and wrapped the both of them with Gabriel’s blanket. He faintly remembered that what was now falling was called ‘snow’. He gently explained that to Gabriel, but Gabe seems to be silent, and still. He wasn’t dead, but very weak. He let go of his bicycle; it was impossible to ride up the steep hill at the state he was in right now, especially with all the snow. He continued on foot, he had come so far. The memories he had received from the Giver were now gone, with only a dim wisp of them, but he tried to get the memory of sunshine, hoping that there would be some left. To his surprise, after a moment when nothing happened, he started to feel the pleasurable warming sensation of sunshine. He almost wanted it for himself, but he quickly transmitted it to Gabriel, whom upon receiving, moved slightly, as if an indicator that he was still alive. Jonas walked up the steep frightening hill. Every once in a while, he would stop to recall a warm memory, and pass it on to Gabriel. Closer to the top, he suddenly began to feel better. It was nothing by physical means, but he began to feel happy. A sudden recollection of his friends, family, and the Giver, motivated him to continue. They were awfully close. At the very top, Jonas spotted a sled. With the last bits of strength he had left, he settled on the sled, and they began to go downhill. He willed himself not to lose consciousness. He saw lights. Christmas lights; green, red, blue, and yellow on trees. He heard music too. It was his first time. People were singing. He thought he heard singing from where he had come from as well, but perhaps it was only an echo.

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Perseverance Is an Important Quality as You Will Face Challenges in Life,& It’s a Skill That will pay off

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/perseverance-important-quality-because-you-face-challenges-gupta

Why Is Perseverance Important (Explained)

https://brilliantio.com/why-is-perseverance-important/

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1. Yes, it seems to be the case since Jonas saw Christmas lights as he and Gabriel went downhill on the sled. He also heard people singing.

2. Yes. After further research, based on the sequels, they do. Although it would still have been a great ending if what Jonas experienced at the last bit of the book was a hallucination or a dream.

3. Jonas sees Elsewhere as he and Gabriel sled down towards it. It is the Christmas season, and so Jonas sees Christmas lights for the first time in real life, and also hears music for the first time as well; of people singing.

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1. Is there human life outside of the community?

2. Will Jonas and Gabriel survive?

3. How will this story conclude?

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Animals

Animals still exist outside of the community; they are not extinct. Jonas and Gabriel saw birds, deer, fishes, and even a fox.

Community

It seems that the communities do not span across huge amounts of distances. I imagined it, in the smallest case, a medium-sized country. It seems that Climate Control, and animal control happens only within the community.

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Perils

Danger.

Methodically

Carefully; with order.

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Not a theme connection, but a personal connection to an event in the chapter. Jonas cold, and wet, biking, reminded me of days in my summer breaks, which was somewhat nostalgic. It made me look forward to the next one, and summer in general; though so far away. My friends and I would spend countless hours outside, biking, and playing, both indoors, and outdoors. I was reminded of a time – multiple occasions actually – when we were caught in thunderstorms, as we retreated to our houses wet, and cold; yet still with a very strong sense of fun and excitement. I can remember vividly the smell of the humid atmosphere of the day, before the storm came. We knew it would rain, of course – well at least, most of the time – but we would play nonetheless. It was fun. Last summer, I was in Korea visiting my grandparents, which I very much enjoyed, but which meant I spent significantly less time with my friends. Maybe a couple weeks. This summer, I plan on doing all – if not, most – of my volunteer hours, and do summer school (for an extra elective), with my friends. Though it’s not complete relaxation, I still very much look forward to it, perhaps even more than any other summer breaks I had. In addition, summer is just such a nice season compared to the cold, and harsh temperatures of winter. But first, I need to finish this year’s school.

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Perseverance was a key part in this chapter. It is difficult to survive in nature. It is hard. But Jonas preservers. Jonas is only twelve, almost thirteen, and yet, the degree of perseverance, and determination – though only fictional – is very respectable. Perseverance is important in all aspects of life. ‘Perseverance’, by definition is “persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.”, according to Oxford Languages. It is about continuing despite challenges confronting your goals. The importance of such a ‘trait’, ‘quality’, or the ‘ability’ to do so – if you will – is immense. Perseverance allows us to continue despite hardships, which will eventually lead to our success. Perseverance to finish a hard project; to study for a test; to run a marathon; to work a hard job; to work on a passion project; to help maintain friendships; to go through hard times; so on, and so forth. As you can see, it plays a major role in our lives. Everything takes hard work, and you must persist, persevere to obtain your goal – your desired end result. Everyone can persevere; it’s a matter of putting your mind to it – though easier said than done – and to go by your will. It’s hard sometimes. Sometimes it's hard to persevere. But if it’s something you have to do, or want to do desperately, I suggest that you find the strength to do so. From second hand experiences, which I heard online, is to find someone who shares the same interest and update each other on your progress. It won’t work for everything, but let’s take for instance, game development. It’s a hard task, especially if working alone, and trying to make it commercial. Pick a friend, or someone close, who is interested in game development, and who is invested in your game ideas/concepts. You will find that their feedback will motivate you to continue even when hitting a roadblock, and you will also develop a sense to continue, in order to try and meet their expectations. Another instance is working out (fitness). It’s not something I can relate to, so I won’t go into detail, but it’s the reason why some people decide to have a gym buddy. And so with that said, perseverance is important when trying to achieve success, or goals – however small or not – and it’s something everyone should strive to do. You will find that perseverance is the key to success.

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Jonas and Gabriel continued their journey. They have successfully escaped from the community now, and the landscape seems to be changing into something more natural. The road is no longer maintained, and is very narrow, and bumpy. Jonas fell once, thankfully he saved Gabriel, who was uninjured, but Jonas himself scraped his knees, which shedded blood through his trousers. He no longer feared the planes, for they seemed to no longer be coming. So he started to ride in daylight. Water wasn’t a problem; in fact, the more they went, the more abundantly they saw streams. Jonas used that opportunity to clean his injured knees. “Plane! Plane!” Gabriel yelled. Jonas quickly hid the both of them behind trees. But when he looked up to the sky, there was no plane; there were birds. He saw them in his memories, but never in his real life. They saw deer as well; and foxes, fishes, and plants of all kinds. He enjoyed this diversity, and the unpredictability, which were absolutely absent in Sameness in his community. Though water was abundant, their supply of food was draining. At this rate, they would starve. Jonas attempted in numerous ways to catch fishes in the stream; it was of no use. He finally resorted into a makeshift net, which he made using Gabriel’s blanket, and a curved stick, and with it, he finally caught two fishes. He and Gabe ate them raw, along with some berries. When Gabe slept at night, Jonas was still starving. He began to question whether it was the right choice to escape. But after further thinking, he realizes – he is certain that – he made the right choice. If he had chosen to stay, he would be starving of color, feelings, and love. It was with no doubt the right choice – in fact, it was not really even a choice to begin with – Gabriel would have been released; killed, if he had decided to stay. As Jonas continued to ride, for the first time through his own eyes – not through the memories – he saw hills. It rained as well. Rain was always a pleasant feeling in his memories, but now, it only made him cold, and wet. Both he and Gabriel cried. They were cold, weak and hungry. But Jonas cried for another reason as well. He was afraid that he could not save Gabe.

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The benefits of moving on and letting go of the past

https://www.fashionpotluck.com/lifestyle/the-benefits-of-moving-on-and-letting-go-of-the-past

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

https://quotefancy.com/media/wallpaper/3840x2160/4682353-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Quote-You-don-t-have-to-see-the-whole.jpg

Additional Links

Refer to Chapters 2, 5, and 13 for topics similar to that mentioned in Theme.

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As predicted, these questions are unanswered in the book.

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These are probably questions that are not going to be answered (at least in this book, but perhaps in the sequels).

1. Will the community successfully manage the memories?

2. Will the community change their perspective on things with the newly acquired wisdom? If so, how?

3. What will happen to the Giver?

4. How will Jonas’s family unit react?

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Rules

1. May not leave one's dwelling at night.

2. May not robb the community of food.

3. May not steal.

Bicycles

Some bicycles, like Jonas’s father’s, have a child seat at the back.

Planes

Planes use heat-seeking devices.

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Gabriel (Updated)

Gabe, for short, is a newchild with pale eyes, and golden curls. He had some difficulties, and was planned to be released. Jonas manages to prevent that by sneaking Gabe with him, in his journey to Elsewhere.

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Frazzled

Tired either, or both, mentally, and physically, in a nervous, or worried manner.

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Personally, I have a hard time moving on from my mistakes. It’s something that I’ll remember for quite some time. Even the minor things sometimes bother me at night. And in a lot of ways, it’s bad, but I also think there’s some good aspect to it as well. It’s more likely that I won’t make the same mistakes in the future, and it teaches me to be less ignorant, and more cautious. Although my point was that moving on is important – which it is – I think, it is also important to take the time needed. But again, it’s pointless to spend unreasonable amounts regretting, because it will only hold you back.

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I’m not too sure; I think there are many ways you can interpret the theme of this chapter, but I think one of main themes is ‘moving on’. We can see this when Jonas finally leaves the community behind with Gabe, setting on a journey to a new destination Elsewhere. It is yet another major turning point of his life, and he faces it head on with courage, and strength. Jonas knows what’s best for him – and what’s best for Gabe – and so he is willing to take the risk, and willing to change in order to improve his, and Gabriels fate. I’ve talked a lot about change, and risks as themes for previous chapters because it is one of the main themes of the book, which I was quite surprised not to find in the powerpoint in Hapara. Like I said in previous chapters, risks are one of the main things that allows major changes to happen in your life. Changes can be both good or bad, and I mentioned that it was important to embrace both of them, and make the best out of it. But it is also important to cut out bad changes if you can, and move on. Or, if there is something unpleasurable, or bad in your life already, that you can control, you can decide to change by moving away from the cause. ‘Moving on’, also has another layer of meaning, as Jonas leaves the Giver behind. The Giver was someone Jonas looked up to, and who was like a grandfather to him; like a parent. This can signify the coming of age, and the eventual need to move on from your parents and live your own life. You can see this happening as Jonas now takes on the role of parenting himself, taking care of Gabriel, feeding him, etc; which also indicates his maturity, and how far he has come since the beginning of the book; which, has only been a year. And so with that said, I want to emphasize on the point firstly mentioned; the main message, or the moral – if you will – in one way of looking at it, is to cut out bad people from your life. Bad friends, toxic relationships, etc. You can give it a go and try to amend as much as you like, but sometimes it is important to know when to move on, and also be able to move on.

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The night of the day he returned back to his dwelling, he left. It was not a part of his plan, but changes had to be made. This evening, during the evening meal, he found out that due to difficulties Gabriel had at the Nurturing Center the night prior, when Jonas was with the Giver, they all decided that it would be best if Gabriel is released. Even his father had voted in favor. When Jonas pressed for more detail, his father revealed that Gabe will be released the following day. It was today or never. Jonas had to take Gabriel with him. Crossing the bridge, he hoped the Giver knew with his capacity for hearing-beyond that he had said goodbye. Jonas committed serious crimes that night. He went out at night, stole food from the community, and stole his father’s bicycle; he needed it because it had a back seat, which Jonas used for Gabriel. Before he left, Jonas had given Gabriel the most soothing memory in order for him to sleep soundly. Now, gradually, Jonas steadily peddled to the outer sides of the communities. At dawn, he stopped to feed Gabe. Jonas decided that it was best to sleep during the day, and travel during the night. So though Gabriel just woke up, Jonas and Gabe cuddled, hiding in the trees to sleep. Jonas transmitted a memory of contented exhaustion to Gabe, and he quickly fell asleep. Jonas slept too. Days passed; planes came to search for the missing fugitives. The pilots could not see color, so finding Jonas and Gabe through their naked eyes was almost impossible; but the planes had been equipped with heat-seeking devices. Whenever Jonas heard the planes, he would quickly hide, and transmit a memory of snow to Gabriel, and remembering some for himself, in order to make themselves cold. He noticed that the memories began to weaken as they furthered from the community – which was the plan; for Jonas to leave behind his memories to be released to the community – but when the planes came, he tried hard to cling onto it. The aircrafts came during the day, but occasionally at night as well. Jonas always listened carefully, and even Gabriel would call out, “Plane! Plane!” when he heard the sounds. As the days went on, the searchers came less frequently, no longer hopeful of finding Jonas and Gabe. Finally, the planes stopped coming.

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15 Inspirational Reasons Why Change is Good

https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/change-is-good/

Does Change Bring Opportunity?

https://www.mindstoretraining.com.au/change-is-the-law-of-life-2/

Additional Links

Refer to Chapter 2 for topics similar to that mentioned in Theme.

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1. Elsewhere refers to both the world of afterlife, and the society outside of the communities who are free from the community's influences; the definition depends on the person though. Check out Story Exclusive Vocabulary in Chapter 23 for more details.

2. Natural landscapes, and such. There is also a civilization free from the community’s influences. I assume that it is not the only one.

3. Jonas must abandon the plan, and escape the day right after his meeting with the Giver, because he finds out that Gabriel will be released the day after, since he only seems to sleep well in Jonas’s room.

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1. Where is Elsewhere?

2. What is outside of the community?

3. What kind of obstacles (if any), would Jonas (and/or the Giver) face when executing their plan?

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Hearing-beyond

Hearing music.

Lies

It seems that Jonas’s father can lie. Which means that perhaps all adults are given permission to lie.

Vehicles

So it seems that there are vehicles other than bicycles. Just not available for anyone.

Receiver

The Receiver visits other communities often; it was a part of his responsibilities.

Ceremonies

Ceremonies are not to be disrupted, even with a cause of serious concern.

Memories

When memories are transmitted, they cannot be returned to the previous owner.

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Katherine

A female Six with pale eyes.

Rosemary (Updated)

The former selected Receiver-to-be who failed ten years ago. She was a female. Within five weeks of training, she applied for a release because she could not bear the pain. Her name is never to be spoken again, nor ever to be given to a newchild. She is the Giver’s daughter.

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Rueful

Regretful, sorrowful.

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The Giver feels a lot like a grandfather to Jonas. In some ways, it reminded me of my grandfather, who speaks to me gently, but at times, seriously, the way the Giver does. He resides in Korea, and is very healthy (except for some minor problems), which I am extremely grateful for. The last bits of conversation between Jonas and the Giver really touched me; it felt both happy and sad. Though their relationship only started a little less than a year ago, it feels like the memories they share, and the bond they have is immense. Though it is sad, it teaches us a lesson that inevitably, people will part ways, whether metaphorically or literally. And if an afterlife does exist, you will meet your lost loved ones there, as the Giver hopes to do, with Rosemary.

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The theme of this chapter – the way I interpreted it, and the thing that stood out to me the most – is change; parting ways with people you are close to, and maybe you are the one leaving them behind, like Jonas. I also sensed ‘sacrifice’, in this chapter, since the Giver is willingly staying behind in order for Jonas to escape. I talked about the former a bit in Chapter 2, when I talked about coming of age, and the inevitability of change. Essentially, my point was that there will be both good and bad changes as you grow older. But ‘change’ itself, I think, is a good thing. It creates new exciting opportunities for us, and makes our lives a little more dynamic. People are going to come and go in our lives, as you move on, and they move on as well. Some changes can inspire us in ways we have never thought before. Change allows us to step into something new. Changes can define who we are in the future. It’s all exciting, but also nerve-racking; and it’s okay to be. It’s okay to be afraid. I won’t lie, there could be terrible changes in our lives; there will be terrible changes in our lives, but there could be so many good changes as well, and it will eventually balance out. I think it’s important to embrace change, and make the most out of it.

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Their plan was a risky one; almost barely possible. The plan will initiate two weeks from this chapter. During their last time together, the Giver will transfer memories of courage and strength. On the eve of the December Ceremony, at midnight, Jonas would sneak out of his dwelling, leaving a note behind to his parents, saying he will be going on a morning ride along the river, which his parents will find the next morning, irritated. Jonas teasingly said that if he were to be caught, he would say that he was on an important errand from the Receiver; but Jonas was sure he would be unseen. Jonas will head to the riverbank, and leave his bicycle, along with folded clothing hidden in the bushes. Then on foot, he will make his way to the Annex room. There was no nighttime attendant, and the Giver would leave the door unlocked. The following day, during the Ceremony, his parents will not be able to find Jonas, and would assume that he was with Asher or the Giver. It would take a while for them to realize, but before then, the Giver would call a driver, hide Jonas in the storage area of the vehicle, and Jonas would already be far off somewhere, making his way to Elsewhere. Only by the time the Giver returns to the community, Jonas’s bicycle and clothing would be found. The Giver would then perform the Ceremony of Loss, assuming that Jonas was lost in the river. By the end of the day, there would be no mention of Jonas’s name ever again, and it would be as if he had never even existed.

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Jonas sobbed, and shouted hysterically. It was – of course – a very hard thing to accept. Jonas didn’t want to return to his dwelling; afraid of his father, and unsure how to face him. The Giver agreed to Jonas’s staying at the Annex room. When Jonas quieted himself for the speaker, the Giver notified the Speaker to notify his family unit that he will be receiving additional training that night. In truth, there was something the Giver wanted to talk about. Before that however, Jonas resumed his hysteria, imitating sarcastically the way the Speaker replied to the Giver, clearly upset at the realization of what truly happens when one is released. Especially after he saw his own father do it. He begins to question if the Giver lies to him too. He worries for his gentle friend Fiona, who will eventually be tasked to release the Old. He continued his rambling, becoming more and more harsh. Finally, the Giver reminds Jonas that they themselves are the only one who have feelings. After hearing this, Jonas apologizes to the Giver; he didn’t mean to be so hateful to him, not to the Giver. The Giver said that they’ll make a plan. His time with Jonas had convinced him that change is possible. That, memories should be shared. After the evening meal, they talked for long hours about their plan. It was possible; barely possible. It was a gamble of his life – quite literally, in fact. But Jonas knew that life in the community was worthless; meaningless. It was, with no doubt, something worth risking his life for. Yes, he told the Giver. But it meant that once he escaped from the community, there was no returning. Jonas terribly wanted the Giver to come alongside him. He begged. But the Giver refused. He said that he must stay to help bear the burden of the memories that will be released, the way he had helped Jonas when he started his training. Jonas suggested that they didn’t need to care for the others. But of course, they needed to care. The Giver responded with a questioning smile, and noted that he was too weakened. He revealed that he no longer saw colors. With that, the Giver also revealed that a bit selfishly, he has been keeping a memory from Jonas. The memory of music. Instead of seeing-beyond like Jonas, he started with hearing-beyond. The Giver said that he will give Jonas some before he goes. But Jonas refused, and insisted that the Giver keep them with him. When Jonas, for the final time, pleads for the Giver to come with him, the Giver notes that after he aids the community, his work will be done. At the end of their conversation, he acknowledges his gratitude towards Jonas, hugs him, and says the words, “I love you, Jonas”. He reveals that when his work is done – the Giver seeming truly happy for the first time Jonas saw after their long time together – he wants to be with his daughter; Rosemary.

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Why Is Morality Important?

https://enlightio.com/why-is-morality-important

Moral Emotions

https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/moral-emotions

Additional Links

Refer to Chapters 6, and 17 for topics similar to that mentioned in Theme.

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1. Jonas doesn’t know how to, at first. He begs the Giver to stay with him in the Annex room. The following day, he goes to his dwelling, and lies to his father about the busy night he had training with the Giver.

2. Jonas is – of course – surprised by what he witnessed. He further realizes that life in the community is meaningless. He and the Giver plan for his escape.

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1. How will Jonas face his father?

2. How would Jonas react to this new information? How would his perspective on things change?

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Shots

Newborns got shots. It is unclear whether they continue to get more as they grow up, but I think it could be another way of suppressing emotions; or maybe, a vaccination for illnesses (like in the real world).

Trash

Trash is disposed of into a chute, which – I assume – leads to a garbage area.

Release

What release actually is, is death. Death by some clear liquid injected into someone.

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Hall of Closed Records

Similar to the Hall of Open Records, it’s a place where things are recorded. In the Hall of Closed Records, there are records of private ceremonies not available to the public.

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Receptacle

An object, or an area used to store, or contain something.

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Needless to say, this chapter especially, was very dehumanizing. It was very disturbing, the process of release. Jonas’s father, who had been known to love newchildren; I don’t know how he could do such a thing. The influences of the community, I suppose. But if the influences are to that point, it doesn't feel like anyone in the community has a will of their own, at this point. The father said in some previous chapter, that he does not bring the newchild to Elsewhere, but he only performs a small Ceremony of Release. I think there is something that this is revealing. Two things. Either or is true. The first hypothesis is that – as we suspected, and somewhat foreshadowed in Chapter 9 – adults can lie. That all adults are given permission to lie. This is quite unfitting though, of such a strict and orderly nature of this “utopia”, so I would need more information, whether to disregard it or not. The second – which is as likely – is that Jonas’s father has been told that the process of release is considered the Ceremony of Loss. In which case, his father did not lie before, but simply stated his truth (though not universally true, if you know what I mean). But to think that the community could manipulate him that much through lies alone, is quite terrifying. If the latter is true, then Elsewhere, would be referring to heaven, or an afterlife. Obviously, all of the aforementioned are just my thoughts on this, but I think one of them is true.

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This chapter is a great supporting block for many of the themes mentioned in previous chapters. The value of life, and the importance of emotions. In this chapter, we see Jonas’s father ignoring the value of one’s life, and killing the newchild, then disposes of it through the chute, with a creepy, and psychopathic tone of voice, saying: “Bye-bye, little guy”. This, from anyone’s point of view, is considered morally wrong, and pure evil. It is something that is just not okay for one human to do to another. I believe this was caused, and influenced by the society (the community) he lives in, which labels this to be an okay, the right, or happy and honorable thing to do. It’s a society that doesn’t have any emotions (with the exception of the Giver, and the Receiver, of course). Without emotions, we act like, and we are, artificial machines. We don’t feel anything like sympathy, guilt, and love. We are – we could – be suitable to be mere killing machines. Our ‘humanness’ lies within, not only our ability to think rationally, or in high degrees of intelligence, but also within our emotions, and the things we feel through them. Through our emotions, we are able to understand morals; what is good, and what is bad (though it is subjective, but most times, I think, there are things people universally agree upon). It is what led us to thrive; with order, balanced by freedom. Leges sine Moribus vanae. It’s the motto of the University of Pennsylvania, meaning: “Laws without morals are useless.”.

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Jonas apologized for wasting so much time with his questions. It was quite rare for him and the Giver to simply talk like this. Jonas mentioned that his father had to release one of an identical twin this morning. He wished he could have watched. “You can watch”, the Giver said; and he offers Jonas the choice. Jonas, the rule follower that he is, aware of the rule that children are not allowed to watch, refuses. But the Giver reminds him; he could ask for anything. He will eventually become the new Receiver, and it is something he will find out, or need to know, sooner or later. Jonas agreed, but he noted that it was too late for the one that had happened this morning. Hall of Closed Records, the Giver revealed. It was a place where private ceremonies were recorded. Jonas, with hesitation, accepted. The Giver turned on the speaker, and asked to view the morning release. His words were abided in an instant, and the video started playing. It was at the Nurturing Center; Jonas’s father, and a female Nurturer (who was still in training) entered the small windowless room. His father weighed the two twins, and handed the female Nurturer the heavier one, who was six pounds. When the other Nurturer left, Jonas’s father, almost insultingly, called the leftover child, “A shrimp”.  Father turned and grabbed a syringe, then loaded it with a clear liquid. It was normal for newchildrens to be vaccinated. Slowly, Father directed the syringe towards the newborn’s forehead, and inserted it, puncturing it. The newborn squirmed. “Why’s he –”, Jonas said. “Shhh”. Father continued to talk; he said it was because the veins in the arms were too small. He said that in a special voice he uses for all little children. Suddenly, the child stopped crying. His limbs moved jerkingly, in a weird manner, and then laid still. Jonas recognized the gesture. It took him a few seconds to realize that his father killed the newborn. Father tidied the room, and then opened a door behind the wall, which revealed only darkness. It was a chute, similar to the one Jonas had at his school. His father loaded a cartoon, which contained the body of a now dead newborn, and shoved it in the chute. “Bye-bye, little child”, his father said. And the video ended. The Giver revealed that it was similar for Rosemary as well. He had been shown the tape, which was the last time he saw her. Rosemary, however, preferred to inject herself. Jonas felt a terrible sensation within him, and he was almost ready to cry.

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Kids Help Phone

https://kidshelpphone.ca/

Call: 1-800-668-6868

Text: 686868

Suicide Prevention

https://talksuicide.ca/

Call: 1-833-456-4566

Text: 45645

About Mental Health

https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm

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1. No, he plans on Jonas to escape the community to Elsewhere. He will try to help the community with the memories that will be released. In doing so, everyone will have memories of the past, which hopefully changes them, and their perspectives.

2. This question is unanswered in the book; the Giver said: “Memories are forever.”

3. It seems to be the case, because the Giver referred to them as very luminous in this chapter. There are no further confirmations in the rest of the chapters.

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1. What could the Giver be thinking? Surely he doesn’t intend to release all of the memories within Jonas?

2. Why are memories transferred to the community upon a Receiver’s, or Receiver-in-training’s release, or death?

3. Did Rosemary have pale eyes as well?

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Receiver Rule
Before Rosemary’s failure, there was no rule preventing the Receiver-in-training to apply for release.

Release
If being released would cause the memories to release, and drowning in the river would do the same, then could that mean that being released means death? I think that it is the case; though not confirmed. I would have to read the rest of the chapters to find out (if, we will ever find out).

Eyes
The Giver said that Rosemary’s eyes were very luminous. I think this could mean that she had pale eyes as well.

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Rosemary

The former selected Receiver-to-be who failed ten years ago. She was a female. Within five weeks of training, she applied for a release because she could not bear the pain. Her name is never to be spoken again, nor ever to be given to a newchild.

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Imploring

Earnestly, desperately.

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One day, she showed her father a photo of her sister, who died at the age of 28. "And he said, 'I can't remember her name,' and I told him her name," she says. "And he said, 'Whatever happened to her?' And I had to tell him about her death."

Lowis Lowry’s father suffered memory loss, which was the reason that inspired her to write this book. It seems that her experience seems to reflect on the Giver’s own pain, as he struggles to tell Jonas about what truly happened to Rosemary, his previous successor.

https://www.npr.org/2014/08/16/340170478/lois-lowry-says-the-giver-was-inspired-by-her-fathers-memory-loss

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I found it very strange that the Giver was considering what Jonas said. He noted it to be an interesting concept. Could he be planning something? He was deep in thought. I don’t think he will do anything to Jonas – or at least, I certainly hope he doesn’t. Maybe he plans on releasing his own memories, or maybe it’s just a thought. Perhaps he plans on doing it in order to release the burden of being a Receiver, and for future Receivers as well (well, if he did release the memories, there wouldn't be any future Receivers). I can’t draw any conclusions yet; I realize that I have said this again and again for my previous predictions, but it truly is because there isn't enough information to create a solid prediction – and in some ways, that is a good thing, because the readers never see what’s coming. I have come across an interesting acronym recently, which I wanted to share; it’s relevant to this topic. RAFO. Which stands for, Read And Find Out. So, we should RAFO!

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The theme of this chapter is a bit more heavy and dark. I think it touches on mental pain, and depression, and suicide. These are very heavy topics, and in all honesty, something I am not familiar with. But the goal here, I think, is to bring awareness to such things in order to prevent them. Obviously, if you know anyone who is going through any of the aforementioned, then you should offer help and support. Even if they are not, it is always good to help out people who are maybe down, or not having the greatest day. If this is happening to you, you should try to seek help. Maybe an adult, like a parent, or someone else you trust. You can even chat with others anonymously through systems like Kids Help Phone, or seek help by calling suicide prevention, or maybe even just talk to a therapist. These are very important steps to de-escalate the problem, so that it doesn’t develop into something life threatening; or if it already is, it helps de-escalate it so that you don’t feel that way anymore. Some links for help will be attached in External Links. I think the author is also trying to note that mental pain isn’t any less painful than physical ones; and sometimes it hurts even more. The moral is that you should be understanding to those who are suffering, and having a hard time; offer them help, etc. Your action could literally save someone’s life.

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The following afternoon, Jonas asked the Giver about release. If he ever thinks about it. The Giver confessed that sometimes he wishes he could – especially when the pain is too great to bear – but he is not allowed to; until he trains the next Receiver. Jonas could not request one either, Jonas pointed out. The Giver revealed that that rule was implemented after the failure ten years ago. Jonas asked for more detail; he has heard a lot of references of the failed selection, but never of what exactly had happened. The Giver revealed that everything was quite similar to what had happened with Jonas. The Ceremony, some of the training as well. Jonas already knew that she was a female, and that her name was designated Not-to-Be-Spoken. He wondered though, and asked the Giver if he could tell him of her name. Her name was Rosemary, the Giver said. She and Jonas had a lot of similarities; both eager to learn, intelligent. The Giver revealed that he loved her, like the way he does to Jonas. She received well, and had a great start. For the first five weeks, she only received happy memories, but like Jonas, she wanted more difficult ones. Instead of physical pain though, she was transmitted mental pain, like loneliness, and loss. The Giver just couldn't bring himself to inflict physical pain on her though, so he gave her poverty, and hunger, and terror. One afternoon, she just couldn't take it anymore. She gave the Giver a kiss on the cheek, then applied for release. She was never to be seen again. After that event, and the catastrophe caused by it, they had to update the rules. So that the Receiver-in-training may not apply for release. Jonas suddenly thought; what if there was an accident. What if he fell in the river, like what happened to Caleb. Jonas was a good swimmer; but what if? Would the memories disappear? But the Giver replied solemnly, “You just stay away from the river, my friend”. He pointed out that it would cause a greater catastrophe, since Jonas had much more memories. Last time, the Giver was in so much grief, and anger, he didn’t bother to help them. Jonas pointed out that the only way he was able to deal with it was thanks to the Giver. That brought the Giver deep in thought. Finally, he concluded that if Jonas was to drown in the river, he suppose he could help the community, the way he did with Jonas. He, laughing, noted that he was glad Jonas was a good swimmer. Though he still seemed to be deep in thought.

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The Power of Emotions

https://www.happify.com/hd/the-power-of-emotions/

How Do Emotions Work?

https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2017.00069

The importance of time management

https://clockify.me/blog/productivity/importance-time-management/

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Unfortunately, none of these questions are answered in the book.

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1. What is the purpose of an unscheduled holiday? Is it just so that they could rest? If so, why don’t they just schedule them? Speaking of;

2. Are there weekends?

3. How do children know of bad guys, and war, in such a “utopia”?

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Holiday

On a holiday, rules of order are disregarded. Adults do not go to work, and children do not go to school. Substitute Laborers do all the necessary tasks, and would be given a different holiday.

Unscheduled Holidays

Just as a side note, unscheduled holidays, I imagine, feels like, and is essentially the equivalent of snow days in the community.

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Tanya

A female Eleven who was playing with Asher, and other children in the playing field.

Jonas (Updated)

The main character of the story; he has pale eyes. He is a Twelve; his number is Nineteen. His pet name is Jonas-bonus. He has been selected to be the next Receiver of Memory.

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Exasperation

A feeling of annoyance, frustration, irritation, etc.

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Jonas is learning rapidly through the memories he receives. He is beginning to be an outlier, acting in great difference from others in his society. The Receiver too, acts differently as well, but I think Jonas might be having difficulty accepting the flaws of his society. Whether he will step up, and try to change things, is not yet known, but he is willing to break the rules for himself, as seen with the pills. It’s only a matter of chapters until we find out. In fact, there are only six chapters left of this book. I worry about Jonas’s friendship with both Asher and Fiona; whether they will make amends or not, is also unknown. But I think both are reasonable outcomes from the author’s point of view; one prioritizes friendship, while the other further emphasizes on the theme of change as we grow up. Unfortunately in this chapter, I can’t make many other predictions (because most of them, I’ve made already in previous chapters). But I look forward to what kind of path Jonas would take.

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Jonas, now, is able to fully experience emotions. He is free from the influence of his society. He isn’t afraid to break the rules; he stopped taking the pills for a month now. In fact, he realizes now, the shallowness, and the needlessness of sharing feelings. For, “These [emotions] were deeper and they did not need to be told. They were felt”. I think this chapter emphasizes a lot on the importance, and the power of emotions. At the playing field, when Jonas remembered the terrible memory of war – the one with the  boy who begged for water – he was struggling not to cry. I don’t think anyone in the community cries (except for the Receivers, perhaps). Emotions have the power to move people in great ways. It can change people too. If you read Jonas in the first chapter, and come back to this one, you will find major differences in the way he talks, and thinks. As mentioned several times in my earlier chapters, Jonas felt artificial, and robot-like. Now, he feels like a normal human, struggling, perhaps, with the new changes, and realizations. Another theme, though very small, is about how time flies. It is almost December, and it’s been almost a year since he started his training. Time is something very limited in our lifetime. The way I interpreted this was to live life to the fullest. You shouldn't waste time on the unimportant things, but set out to do something special.

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Today was an unscheduled holiday. It was quite rare, actually, but it was such a treat. It has been a month since Jonas has stopped taking the pills. The Stirrings had returned, and there was more depth to the feelings he was experiencing now. He could now also see all the colors, and keep them. The greens in trees and bushes, Gabriel’s pink cheek, and apples, now remained always red. As he was riding his bicycle to look for Asher, he came to the realization that his family, when they were sharing their feelings, their feelings never had much depth compared to the ones he was experiencing now. He now knew what it really meant to feel, and knew that the emotions his family had said to have felt were not so true as he once thought they were. He was more familiar with true emotion now, and today, he felt happiness. He soon found Asher at the edge of the playing field, playing a game of good guys, and bad guys with other fellow children. He was familiar with the game; it was a common pastime. “Pow! Pow! Pow!”, someone with their imaginary weapon had shot him. Jonas realized now that it was a game of war, and recalled the terrifying memory he had received a while back of the boy who begged him for water. He stood at the center of the field, other kids continuing to shoot him with their imaginary weapons, but Jonas did not react. Jonas was trying very hard not to cry. When there was no reaction from Jonas, the other kids went away on their bicycles, leaving only Asher and Fiona. When they came to confront him, Jonas pleaded that they don’t play this game anymore. Asher argued in an irritated voice, but soon apologized. When Jonas went on without accepting (because he is used to doing that now), Asher reiterated, “I said I apologize, Jonas”. Jonas accepted reluctantly. Fiona offered to ride along the river with Jonas, but when he refused, she and Asher left on their bicycles. Jonas felt the loss of friendship, and his childhood. He was overwhelmed by sadness, due to his enhanced feelings. Back at his dwelling, Lily talked about the wonderful day she had. She confessed that she sneaked a ride on her father’s bicycle. Jonas almost couldn't believe that it was soon to be December again; almost a year since his training began. He thought to himself that he should start teaching Lily to ride. As the conversation went on, his father revealed that tomorrow would be a busy day for him. It was a day he had to pick which of the new twins would be released. Jonas asked if he actually took the one released to Elsewhere. The father replied saying that he only picks, and performs a Ceremony of Release. This had caused Lily to go deep in her thoughts. She wondered, “What if”, and she rambled on until their father stopped her to go to bed.

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The Importance of Family

https://hanleyfoundation.org/resources/educational-tools/the-importance-of-family/

“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” - George Bernard Shaw

https://quotefancy.com/media/wallpaper/3840x2160/2045248-George-Bernard-Shaw-Quote-A-happy-family-is-but-an-earlier-heaven.jpg

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1. Jonas decided to escape the community with Gabriel. In doing so, all of the memories are released to the community, and everyone has access to them.

2. This question is unanswered in the book.

3. Jonas does not officially become a Receiver because he escapes, but he becomes essentially a Giver to Gabriel.

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1. What will Jonas do? Will he try to change things?

2. What is Jonas’s favorite memory?

3. Will Jonas be able to successfully become a Receiver, when he is giving so many memories away?

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The Old

The Old never left the House of the Old, for they were very well taken care of.

Christmas

By the fact that Jonas does not recognize Christmas, there is no Christmas in the community.

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Pervaded

Spread through.

Hearth

The area in front of a fireplace.

Luxuriating

Enjoying oneself to the fullest; in a luxurious way.

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I thought that it was quite saddening to see that, while Jonas knows what it feels now to love, and he probably feels that way to his family – his parents, and Lily – they probably can’t love him back. They find the word, “Love”, itself to be inappropriate, and vague. It’s not really their fault though, it’s the pills, and the way they were raised, but still. It feels saddening. Maybe Gabriel will understand, if he manages to successfully grow up, without being released. I wonder though, what will happen to Gabe, since the only reason he is able to stay quiet at night is thanks to Jonas. Something else I found quite saddening as well, is the fact that after they are all grown up – Lily, and Jonas – they wouldn't see their parents ever again. Their parents would go live with the Childless Adults, and when the time comes, there will be a celebration, and they will be released. Jonas and Lily wouldn't even know; and even if they did, they surely won't attend the ceremony – because they can’t – they aren't allowed to.

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So now we know for sure, Jonas wants things to change. He is now even breaking a rule by skipping his pill. He is now no longer bound to the society he was raised in. But what will happen now? I think Jonas will take action. I’m not quite sure yet. I have a thought on something else though. This has less to do with Jonas changing things, but more to do with what I think could be a possibility. We know that the only reason Gabriel is quiet at night is thanks to the memories he receives from Jonas. There are two outcomes that I can think of. One, Gabriel could be a permanent part of Jonas’s family unit. Perhaps the Committee will ask the Giver for advice, and maybe beforehand, Jonas will beg the Giver to advise the Committee to allow it. The second, maybe Gabriel will be released. But when he is, since he was given all the memories of happiness, those memories will be released as well, and everyone will have access to them. We are not completely sure how the memories were released when the previously selected Receiver had failed, but a possibility could be that she was released, and so her memories were as well. This could indirectly inspire the community to change. I think it could be a possibility, though I think maybe Jonas should be the one doing something to change things; so actually, I’m not really sure, but it could be something similar.

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I strongly believe that the theme of this chapter is about family, and love. Family, and love; we all know it is an important part of our lives. Your family members are your greatest friends, supporters. Love. Love is what makes that possible, I think. The bond you have is made of love. And that is important, because it is what makes a family, a family. The very structure is built upon love. Otherwise, you are living with strangers – sure, you may know them well – but you don’t care for them as much as you do with your family – and those strangers, they won’t care for you either. The family structure, if you will, of Jonas’s family unit is quite strange. They enjoy each other’s company, but their parents are like babysitters who are raising another’s children. Jonas knows love. He can feel love. But the others cannot do the same for him. Family is important because at hard times, they give you a helping hand. Whether you're going through emotional troubles, or financial. They will always be there for you. Always. They will even be willing to sacrifice themself for you, because they love you. Try to appreciate the family members you have, because you are special to them , and they are to you too (even if you may not feel that way at the moment, if you're going through tough times, or have had an argument) – I think that is the moral of this chapter.

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Jonas didn’t want to go back, didn’t want to be the Receiver anymore. He wanted his childhood. But, it was not up to him; so he continued. Perhaps out of guilt, and worry for Jonas, the Giver was gentle with him for many following days. He reminded Jonas that there were many good memories as well. Jonas agreed. He had seen memories of a birthday party, the vibrance colors within the paintings inside museums, and he even rode a horse, and learned about animals. "What is your favorite?" Jonas asked The Giver. He was curious, and wanted to look forward to it, when eventually, he would receive it. The Giver offered to give it to Jonas. Jonas happily lied down. The memory was that of Christmas; a room filled with joy, and love. Children unwrapping their presents with their family – other children, their parents, and grandparents. The concept of grandparents was new to him. He never wondered who his parents-of-parents were. The way the family worked in this old memory seemed more complete. Though Jonas felt that there was risk involved, he wasn’t sure what he himself meant by that. At home, after the evening meal, he mustered the courage to ask his parents, “Do you love me?”.  His parents dismissed the question, saying it was meaningless, and vague. It was not precise, they said. Jonas nodded, and agreed with them. It was a lie, the very first to his parents. At night, Gabriel would sleep in Jonas’s room. He seemed to like it there. And Jonas has proven himself that he could take good care of Gabe. Gabriel’s future seemed optimistic. He would no longer cry at night, or at least in Jonas’s room. When he was taken away, though, he would. It was because Jonas has been giving pleasurable memories to Gabe each night. He wasn’t supposed to, so he kept it a secret. Though Gabriel was sleeping, Jonas whispered to him about the things he learned, how things could be different: colors, grandparents, and love. The next morning – for the first time – he decided not to take the pill.

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Countries Currently at War 2023

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-currently-at-war

Effects of war

https://warpp.info/en/m1/articles/effects-of-war

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1. This question is unanswered in the book.

2. Jonas didn’t want to go back; he wanted his childhood back. But he continued to go, each day, for the choice was not his.

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1. Why doesn’t the Giver just use some relief-of-pain to ease away his pain?

2. What is Jonas’s reaction afterwards?

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Contorted

Deformed.

Bridle

The headgear used to control a horse.

Trotted

A four legged animal (usually a horse) moves at a fast pace (faster than walking).

Parched

Dried out, extremely thirsty.

Sprawled

Sat, or lied, in an awkward way.

Grotesquely

Grossly, bizarrely.

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I can only say, this will not be the last, nor the most painful, of the memories. We’re not sure of what Jonas’s reaction is, yet, but I think he will persevere. There isn't much else I can say, since the chapter is only three pages long, but if Jonas is able to persevere through this memory, then he will be able to with other similar ones (it will still be hard, of course).

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This chapter was very short, but the theme here is very clear. War. Pure destruction wars bring. War, by definition, is a state of conflict. War is inevitable, for humans are greedy creatures – it is in our nature – but it helped us survive this long, especially in primal times. The best thing to do is try to solve these conflicts before it escalates to that point. But it is easier said than done. There were countless wars in human history, and some are still ongoing. Wars bring immense grief and pain. Deaths; a lot of them. Not only of soldiers, but of the innocent as well. The moral here is that people should realize that violence isn’t always the answer. That is not to say that it is the only form of war. Cyberwarfare, et al, though not as “severe”, can directly or indirectly cause the loss of many people’s lives. There isn't much we can do as individuals, but to honor the war veterans who had stepped up, risking their lives to defend us.

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When Jonas entered the Annex room one day, he knew he would be sent away. The Giver was clearly not feeling well. Jonas was about to leave, but then hesitated. He offered to receive the memory that was causing the Giver the pain. The Giver, desperate, and unable to control himself, agreed willingly, without second thought. The memory was of war; it was one with horses; the atmosphere itself was painful, and depressing. A boy around the same age as Jonas, begged him for water. Jonas’s arm was already immobilized by the time the memory had started, so he struggled to reach the metal container. He poured the water into the boy’s mouth, but the boy suddenly went silent, and his head fell back. He died. Jonas heard cannons in the distance. Overwhelmed by pain, he lay there, listening to others die. When he could no longer bear it, he woke into the Annex room. The Giver, now relieved from the suffering, and able to talk more clearly, guiltily asked for forgiveness.

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Owww! The science of pain

https://www.snexplores.org/article/owww-science-pain

Reward and motivation in pain and pain relief

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4301417/

Understand the Butterfly Effect

https://www.americanscientist.org/article/understanding-the-butterfly-effect

Additional Links

Refer to Chapters 1, and 10 for topics similar to that mentioned in Theme.

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1. Centuries ago, before Sameness.

2. He was planned to, before Jonas escaped to Elsewhere with him.

3. No.

4. None at all.

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1. When exactly was “back and back and back”?

2. Will Gabriel be released?

3. Will Jonas eventually tell the Giver of what had happened?

4. What problems (if any) would arise due to Jonas transmitting a memory to Gabriel?

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Twins

When twins are born, they must release one of them. Usually the smaller of the two. This also applies for triplets, quadruplets, etc (I assume).

Receiving

Gabriel was able to receive Jonas’s memory. This could mean one of two things: one, everyone can receive memories; or two, pale eyes can receive memories. The latter seems more likely.

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Larissa (Updated)

An Old woman whom Jonas once helped bathe at the House of the Old. She was recently released.

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Relief-of-pain

Medication in the form of anesthetic ointment, pill, or sometimes injections, to – as the name suggests – relieve the pain.

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Invigorating

Making one feel stronger, more energetic, etc.

Anesthetic

A substance that brings insensitivity to pain.

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Jonas should confess what he did to the Giver. He isn’t too knowledgeable of the power he had used, so it would be for the best if he confesses. In stories, simply ignoring things like this always creates the biggest problems; of course, it will always work out in the end (most of the time). Though, on second thought, if he later intends to change the way his community functions – like the role of a Receiver, and multiple people containing memories, like he suggested – disorder, may actually be the way to go in such an orderly society. If not the case, there is an effect called the butterfly effect. You may have heard of the phrase, “A flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil can set off a tornado in Texas”. Though I’m not sure if that specific phrase is true, and I assume there are a lot of factors that could make it true, or false – it depends – but the point is that, no matter how unimportant Jonas thinks what he did is, and ignore it, it could haunt him later on. Some common phrases people say are, “How could such a small thing possibly cause any problem”, or “It’s only this one time”, but in fact, it could very easily cause a problem.

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There are a few themes I interpreted in this chapter; some supporting themes introduced in previous chapters, and one, brand new I haven’t covered yet. Themes like risk-taking, and learning from the past, are things I covered previously (refer to Chapters 10, and 13). Some examples from this chapter include: when the Giver had used his memories to advise the Committee, like the time he advised that they should not increase birth rates due to a memory of overpopulation, and hunger – learning from the past; for risk-taking, the fact that systems were set up so long ago, like the role of the Receiver, that they are not willing to change it, because they will be risking failure. The new theme in this chapter is about pain. Specifically, pain and pleasure (which I found in the Hapara powerpoint). The idea is that without pain, you cannot understand pleasure. Without pain, pleasure isn’t . . . well, pleasurable. It is hard to enjoy something, when your standard is so high. This theme also ties in with ‘learning from the past’. Pain is a clear indication of a mistake – or something we want to avoid – which is why, let’s say in Jonas’s case, in a previous chapter, when he revealed that his finger had been crushed in a door, he noted that he will always be careful around heavy doors. Pain is crucial in survival as well (in fact, that’s the main purpose). It helps us realize when our body is being damaged, and allows us to quickly act accordingly. Without it, you wouldn't know if your shirt caught on fire, or if you were using overly hot water to wash your hands – which will damage your tissue.

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The Giver transmitted the memory. The memory was similar to that of the one he first received. But the hill seemed steeper, and the sled was not the same – a bit more hard. Jonas grinned as the sled started to move, but the sled slowly gathered uncontrollable speed, and flung Jonas violently into the air. Jonas’s leg twisted. Fear. Pain. The pain grew. He screamed; he cried. Suddenly, he came back to the Annex room. He could still feel the pain, though his leg was completely normal – unbroken. He requested for a relief-of-pain, but the Giver refused, for it was a part of the rule. When Jonas arrived home, after the evening  meal, he realized “they have never known pain”. The training continued, and each day, he was given something slightly more and more painful, along with a colorful, and pleasurable memory at the end. Jonas began to question why they must bear such burden; such memories. The Giver replied, “It gives us wisdom”. From past experiences, you can draw out wisdom, like that of overpopulation, which for that reason, the Giver advised the Committee not to increase the amount of births each year. There were many other cases too, though rare. The most recent was the time a jet flew over the community – Jonas remembers. Jonas suggested that everyone should hold a portion of the memories. He wanted things to change. But soon, through the conversation with the Giver, he realized that nothing can be changed. At home, Gabriel has been growing well, though it was uncertain whether they would release him or not. Jonas suddenly wondered what was Elsewhere. What would happen to newchildren once they were released? Jonas knew his parents were not able to sleep well because of Gabe. Today, he offered to feed and comfort him. Gabe slept soundly at first, but at midnight, Jonas was awoken to the sound of Gabe’s restlessness. He began patting rhythmically, but Gabe’s cry did not stop. Jonas remembered the sail on the breezy day – a memory he had received. And subconsciously, he had transmitted it to Gabriel. Jonas realized, and midway through, he forcefully stopped himself. The memory seemed dimmer, but Gabriel, at least, had become quiet. Near dawn, it had happened again; this time, he had intentionally put his hand on Gabriel’s back. It worked, but now, he barely remembered. He could ask the Giver for another one, but he felt hesitant to reveal what he had done. He decided to keep silent.

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Importance of Taking Risks

https://www.sdstate.edu/ness-school-management-and-economicsblog/importance-taking-risks

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk in a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." – Mark Zuckerberg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8e/c6/06/8ec606efa3070871628deecbdd6388c8.jpg

Additional Links

Refer to Chapters 1, and 10 for topics similar to that mentioned in Theme.

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1. The memories get released somewhere; Elsewhere perhaps. But everyone in the community will have access to them. According to this chapter at least. In other chapters, it contradicts itself a bit, saying it gets released to the community.

2. No, they are not extinct. It is only in the community that there are no animals. Jonas sees wildlife as he escapes, and journeys to Elsewhere.

3. This question is unanswered in the book.

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1. Where were the memories released to?

2. Why are there no more animals? Are they extinct?

3. Why is it rude to touch others?

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Pumpkins

Pumpkins were trucked in from the agricultural fields beyond the community.

Gabriel

The Giver seemed to know of Gabriel; and Jonas told him of Gabriel’s name, which he isn’t supposed to know.

Touch

It is considered rude to touch someone who is not part of your family unit.

Animals

Common animals today, like elephants, are considered imaginary creatures. This is probably due to animal extinction, or the lack of animals in the community. This was mentioned in Chapter 2, when first introducing us to comfort objects; but at that time, I misinterpreted it as: imaginary creatures that resemble animals.

Change

The Committee don’t want change; they like the order, predictability, and painlessness of the community.

Released Memories

When the previously selected Receiver ten years ago had failed, all of her memories were released into a place where memories existed before Receivers. And everyone had access to them.

Other Communities

From Jonas’s experience, the other communities have slightly different styles of dwellings, and schedules for schools.

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Childless Adults

Adults who have fulfilled their duties to raise children, and who no longer need family units. They live with each other.