Literary Analysis of 'The Giver'

How would you like to live in a world without pain, without difference, and without freedom? The Book The Giver by Lois Lowry is a dystopian society where the memory of the past and pain are taken away. Your life isn’t your own, people make your decisions. Jonas the main character in the book wants to change all that, he is the only one that can. Jonas goes on a journey to save society, somehow he’s the rebel. The novel The Giver, by Lois Lowry is dystopian literature because it possesses the following characteristics, people’s emotions are controlled, freedom is taken away, the past is kept secret from the general public. First off, in the book The Giver people’s emotions are controlled. The people can’t feel love, bravery, and strengths. The citizens of the giver have to take medication to not have feelings. In the book The giver states, You suggested, Jonas, that perhaps she wasn’t brave enough? I don’t know about bravery: what it is, what it means. I do know that I sat here numb with horror. Wretched with helplessness. And I listened as Rosemary told them that she would prefer to inject herself.’ (Pg 151) Jonas does not understand the feeling of bravery, Jonas wants to but the community controls his feelings with the pills, Jonas has to receive bravery from the giver, not himself. Jonas can’t feel bravery, no one can.

Secondly, in the book The Giver people’s freedom is taken away. People can`t make their own decisions. In the book The giver states, ‘Well …’ Jonas had to stop and think it through. If everything’s the same, then there aren’t any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things! A blue tunic, or a red one?’ (Pg 97) The elders have rules for everything. People cant even decide on what clothes they want to wear. There isnt any leaving your house when you want to or even to eat a different meal than anyone. Jonas just wants the freedom to choose what he wants, he is tired of everyone choosing things for them.

Also, in the book The Giver the past is kept secret from the general public. The general public has no clue of what was before the communities. In the book The giver states, It isn’t fair that no one else knows. All these people have grown up not even knowing what a sunset is, or pain, or even emotions. No of it is fair, Something must be done. (Pg 160) The past is kept secret, no one knows anything. Everything anyone knows is a lie. The past is hidden from the general public and locked away in the giver’s mind.

In conclusion, The novel The Giver, by Lois Lowry is dystopian literature because it possesses the following characteristics, peoples emotions are controlled, freedom is taken away, the past is kept secret from the general public. The Giver is not a free wheeling society, nothing is free. The Giver is a dystopian society.

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