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more than just your average fourteen year old.this blog is solely for my reflections on the award-winning literature book, 'the giver'

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Below is a short extract from The Giver, page 98-99

"But now that I can see colours, at least sometimes, I was just thinking: what if we could hold up things that were bright red, or bright yellow, and he could choose? Instead of the Sameness."
"He might make wrong choices"
"Oh." Jonas was silent for a minute. "Oh, I see what you mean. It wouldn't matter for a newchild's toy. But later it does matter, doesn't it? We don't dare to let people make choices of their own."
"Not safe? The Giver suggested.
"Definitely not safe," Jonas said with certainty."What if they were allowed to choose their own mate? And chose wrong?
"Or what if," he went on, almost laughing at the absurdity,"they choose their own jobs?"
"Frightening, isn't it?"The Giver said.
Jonas chuckled. "Very frightening. I can't even imagine it. We really have to protect people from wrong choices."
"It's safer."
"Yes,"Jonas agreed."Much safer."

In this extract, the theme of choice is displayed very clearly.

As we have discovered fairly early on in the novel, the people of Jonas's community have no freedom of choice. No one is allowed to choose- a part of Sameness. Everyone says the standard apology phrase, takes pills to control Stirrings, and is allocated spouses to form a fixed family unit- two parents, a son and a daughter. Basically, everyone follows the stated rules that are set in place to ensure uniformity as well as to achieve the idea of 'perfection' in the community. Even the Assignments and jobs of the people are chosen by the Elders, based on one's aptitude, not preference.

As the people of the community have never been exposed to being able to independently choose what they want, the idea of choice seems very absurd and dangerous.

Take the above extract as an example:

"But now that I can see colours, at least sometimes, I was just thinking: what if we could hold up things that were bright red, or bright yellow, and he could choose? Instead of the Sameness."
"He might make wrong choices"
"Oh." Jonas was silent for a minute. "Oh, I see what you mean. It wouldn't matter for a newchild's toy. But later it does matter, doesn't it? We don't dare to let people make choices of their own."
"Not safe? The Giver suggested.
"Definitely not safe," Jonas said with certainty."What if they were allowed to choose their own mate? And chose wrong?
"Or what if," he went on, almost laughing at the absurdity,"they choose their own jobs?"
"Frightening, isn't it?"The Giver said.
Jonas chuckled. "Very frightening. I can't even imagine it. We really have to protect people from wrong choices."
"It's safer."
"Yes,"Jonas agreed."Much safer."

As you can see, I have changed the colour of certain words or phrases in the above extract (those in red) that show how alien the idea of choice is to the community.

Having the freedom of choice was considered 'not safe' and hence the Elders '[didn't] dare to let people make choices of their own'- it was considered dangerous and risky.

Jonas had 'almost [laughed] at the absurdity,"they choose their own jobs?" ' and even deemed it being 'very frightening', not being able to 'imagine it'.

That was one thing that really caught my attention, even from the beginning. Something that is so normal and common to us was something that was so foreign, so scary and mortifying to the community that people were frightened of the idea of choosing our own jobs? It seemed extremely unfair. The community had brainwashed its people into thinking that making choices- something that we face in our everyday lives- was bad?'

'How could that be?'

The community had done so much, so much to achieve so-called 'perfection', that something so humane, something so real was forsaken? Like memories and colours, choice was equally important.

'Are they mad? They must be, simply delusional'
The voice in my head spoke again.
Those were the exact words I thought- to myself of course.
It was simply unimaginable. A world without choice?
A world so devoid and deprived of choice such that it was unimaginable, bad, unfathomable?Impossible.

It was at that very moment, that a wave of sadness washed over me.

Fictional or not, I had practically everything-as compared to the characters in the novel.

Freedom of speech, choice, individuality.

The ability to see colour.

I had everything, and they had nothing.

Nothing at all.

To create a 'perfect' world, the scientists chose to create a world where all the people led painless, emotionless lives.

'Robots', the voice chirped again.
'Ugh,' I wished the voice would stop, but I knew that it would not. Why? It simply could not. How could I ignore the voice? The voice was telling the truth- the undeniable truth.
These people were no different from robots.
Mechanical.
It almost seemed to me that they led their lives because they were supposed to,
they ate- because it was mealtime
they slept- because it was bedtime
they went to school, studied, grew up, received Assignments and later assumed their roles in the community- because that was how life was supposed to be.
And finally, they were released- because it was time.
Throughout their entire life, they were not given any choice.
I answered my own question in the first blog post.
'What are they living for?'
The answer was simple.
'Nothing.
'Their lives were flat, meaningless.
They were one-dimensional characters.

This extract truly shows the lack of freedom of choice through a simple incident, about a common everyday issue- choice.

Choice has been one thing that everybody faces.
Some were simple, perhaps the flavour of ice cream- chocolate or vanilla?
Others were more complex- Which answer to put?
And some, were life- altering decisions- Which secondary school to go to?
With every choice, you move forward in life, but let me assure you- your path is never straight.
You bear the consequences of your choices.
It is because of these choices that we make, that determine where we go, and how we go on in the future.
Thus, maybe we often whine about having to make choices, but do remember:
These choices are like memories( refer to the earlier post).
If it is a bad choice, you learn from it and make sure you never commit the same mistake.
If it is a good one, you gain new knowledge out of it.

This extract is one that evokes true emotion out of me- pity, sadness and even happiness. Realising that you have the ability to make choices is a great feeling. Perhaps the characters in the novel have led easier lives, not needing to make choices. However, making choices ensure that you do not become a flat character.

You determine where you go on in life,so make wise choices.
Appreciate the ability to make choices,and treasure them.
I know I have.

love,sarah(: back to top? 1 comments