Lois Lowry and Gary Ross teach us what it means to live a satisfying life. Discuss. The two parallel worlds between the novel, ‘The Giver,’ written by Lois Lowry, and within the award-winning movie, ‘Pleasantville’ directed by Gary Ross, explore similar attempts, by society to create an idealistic world that contradicts the nature of living a satisfying life. Unlike the life that we are familiar with, the lives of the characters in these universes, live under strict conformity as they strive for perfection. This however, has a deeper meaning than what meets the eye- that denies the key qualities for living a satiating life that includes the presence of: memory, rebellion and one’s appreciation upon themself. Lowry and Ross further discuss
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The most obvious example of conformity presented by the two texts is the lack of colour. Lowry and Ross represent this loss of meaning through the colourless presentation of the two worlds, however there are exceptions. Lowry shows this exception through Jonas. When he catches the apple and describes it as “a nondescript shade” feeling the wanting to learn more about it, shows us how he’s looking forward to understand something, that is learning the existence of colour, rather than to simply conform with everyone else. By displaying Jonas as the only person able to ‘see beyond’ Lowry develops a point that individuality is unique and inspiring for a satisfying life. Lowry also encourage difference of individuals in her novel instead of disparaging them or ignoring their existence through Jonas physicality and ability of ‘seeing beyond.’ Although the citizens in this society overlook Jonas’ ‘unusual eyes’, these differences however allow him to think insightfully and bring change into his community. Thus, Lowry highlights the importance of differences in a person that brings variance and more choices to one’s life. This idea is explored in Pleasantville through the character, Mary Sue. When she turns into colour after reading ‘the first book (she) had ever read’ this shows that she has a passion for reading and wants to continue her study. By displaying her personality changing from the cool, rebellious nature to being a calming and studious schooler, Ross demonstrates that individuals can change for the better when exposed in certain scenarios in which they are unfamiliar with. Through Jennifer’s experience of being trapped into the world of Pleasantville, she is able to change and develop her own personal interest and develop her true personality that differentiates her from everyone else. Thus, both Lowry and Ross use colour to express each being and who
The most obvious example of conformity presented by the two texts is the lack of colour. Lowry and Ross represent this loss of meaning through the colourless presentation of the two worlds, however there are exceptions. Lowry shows this exception through Jonas. When he catches the apple and describes it as “a nondescript shade” feeling the wanting to learn more about it, shows us how he’s looking forward to understand something, that is learning the existence of colour, rather than to simply conform with everyone else. By displaying Jonas as the only person able to ‘see beyond’ Lowry develops a point that individuality is unique and inspiring for a satisfying life. Lowry also encourage difference of individuals in her novel instead of disparaging them or ignoring their existence through Jonas physicality and ability of ‘seeing beyond.’ Although the citizens in this society overlook Jonas’ ‘unusual eyes’, these differences however allow him to think insightfully and bring change into his community. Thus, Lowry highlights the importance of differences in a person that brings variance and more choices to one’s life. This idea is explored in Pleasantville through the character, Mary Sue. When she turns into colour after reading ‘the first book (she) had ever read’ this shows that she has a passion for reading and wants to continue her study. By displaying her personality changing from the cool, rebellious nature to being a calming and studious schooler, Ross demonstrates that individuals can change for the better when exposed in certain scenarios in which they are unfamiliar with. Through Jennifer’s experience of being trapped into the world of Pleasantville, she is able to change and develop her own personal interest and develop her true personality that differentiates her from everyone else. Thus, both Lowry and Ross use colour to express each being and who