The Giver Rhetorical Analysis

This quotation utilizes the literary device of rhetorical question. The rhetorical question in this quote is “have you ever wondered what a human life is worth?” This question is posed to the reader, who obviously can’t actually respond to Lina. Instead of being answerable, the question serves to get the reader to consider how much value is actually placed on the lives of the Lithuanian deportees in the novel. The blunt statement of Jonas’s worth being equal to that of a pocket watch sets the standard for the treatment the characters will receive as they embark on their journey. If a pocket watch is judged to be the worth of one human being, then the NKVD won’t hesitate to treat its prisoners like objects or tools rather than people as well. The difference in value placed on the prisoners between Lina and the NKVD is highlighted by Lina’s description of the watch, which was her father’s. To Lina the watch symbolizes her father, whose name is carved into the back of the watch and who treated the beautiful watch well. Lina sees her brother’s life being traded …show more content…
While on his run he comes upon a beautiful stone, which wows the entire train car with its beauty. The gemstone reminds the deportees of themselves before they were deported, with their many beautiful belongings and happy attitudes. Not only are the passengers on the train reminded of their old lives, but they are given the chance to return to their former selves, even if it is just for a short while. Mrs. Arvydas is shown taking advantage of the moment, joking that she is a “train car princess,” making light of their grim voyage and placing a veil of royalty over their misery. In this way the stone becomes a symbol of hope and perseverance, as it makes the prisoners feel that they will overcome their sad fates. The gemstone’s importance grows as the book continues, helping Andrius, Jonas, and Lina through their darkest