It is said that one must possess intelligence, integrity, courage, wisdom, and the ability to see beyond to acquire the whole of human knowledge and understand the essence of humanity. In The Giver, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and The Allegory of the Cave these attributes are explored through the stories. While both The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Allegory of the Cave demonstrate some of the above qualities, only The Giver demonstrated that all of those qualities are needed to understand humanity. According to tablet one in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh posses the attributes of intelligence and wisdom. It is stated forwardly that Gilgamesh was a man of wisdom, “[Gilgamesh, who] knew… was wise in all matters!” and that he had spent time learning
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Jonas learns to understand humanity through his experience of memories and because he contains all of the attributes. Jonas’s intelligence and his wisdom are displayed in his understanding of birthmothers. During the ceremony of twelve, Jonas thinks how being a, “[b]irthmother was an important job, if lacking in prestige” (Lowry 53). The fact that Jonas understands that without birthmothers there would be no new children for the community demonstrates his intellect and understanding the way that things work. It also shows that he is wiser than most because he is the only one that realizes that the mothers deserve more acclaim than what they receive. Jonas displays his integrity through his upstanding morals, as he not only follows the rules but he his thoughts are never to deliberately disobey (Lowry 62). His ability to see beyond goes farther than him seeing color, but also into his ability to think farther than what he is taught. Jonas has the urge within him to stop taking his pills, “Something within him…told him to throw the pill away.” (Lowry 129). Lastly, Jonas has courage. He understands that unless he takes the risk of leaving the community will never have the knowledge that he and the giver posses (Lowry 161). Jonas’s characteristics are what allow him to understand that he must help the community by forcing them to learn and understand the ways of the world. He also learns more about humanity once he reaches selflessness, “[h]e no longer cared about himself” (Lowry 173). Jonas was able to fully understand humanity because he could sacrifice himself for the enhancement of
Jonas learns to understand humanity through his experience of memories and because he contains all of the attributes. Jonas’s intelligence and his wisdom are displayed in his understanding of birthmothers. During the ceremony of twelve, Jonas thinks how being a, “[b]irthmother was an important job, if lacking in prestige” (Lowry 53). The fact that Jonas understands that without birthmothers there would be no new children for the community demonstrates his intellect and understanding the way that things work. It also shows that he is wiser than most because he is the only one that realizes that the mothers deserve more acclaim than what they receive. Jonas displays his integrity through his upstanding morals, as he not only follows the rules but he his thoughts are never to deliberately disobey (Lowry 62). His ability to see beyond goes farther than him seeing color, but also into his ability to think farther than what he is taught. Jonas has the urge within him to stop taking his pills, “Something within him…told him to throw the pill away.” (Lowry 129). Lastly, Jonas has courage. He understands that unless he takes the risk of leaving the community will never have the knowledge that he and the giver posses (Lowry 161). Jonas’s characteristics are what allow him to understand that he must help the community by forcing them to learn and understand the ways of the world. He also learns more about humanity once he reaches selflessness, “[h]e no longer cared about himself” (Lowry 173). Jonas was able to fully understand humanity because he could sacrifice himself for the enhancement of