A Perfect World Full Of Mistakes
Imagine being in a perfect world since birth , where no one endures pain, suffering, starvation, or the depth of emotions. Everyone is the same, happy, and equal so that order and peace may last forever. In The Giver by Lois Lowry, Jonas, a special young boy, resides in a perfect utopia where their lives are planned out for them. At the Ceremony of Twelve, the Twelves will part ways and start training for the assigned jobs where they will work until they enter The House of the Old. Once Jonas is selected to be the Receiver of Memories he learns that their perfect world is not so perfect after all. The utopia that Jonas lives in does not respect personal freedom because careers are assigned, emotions are suppressed, …show more content…
Jonas discusses with his parents after having a dream classified as The Stirrings. His parents explain to him that he is now permitted to take the pills to stop The Stirrings. Faintly remembering his dream, Jonas “Very briefly, a little guilty, he tried to grasp it back. But the feelings had disappeared. The Stirrings were gone”(38). At a certain age the citizens start to have dreams that bring very strong feelings to another person, but as a rule of the community they must take a pill to stop them. Jonas, anxious to understand what it is that he felt, tried to conjure up the dream. After he took the pill, his dream would be lost forever. No one in the community is allowed, once these dreams occur, to know or understand that they allow people to fall in love. Everybody feels the same, and everyone lacks emotion. Once Jonas realizes that there is more to a person’s feelings, he strives to make everyone he cares about understand. Jonas also attempts to have a deeper understanding of emotions for himself. Searching for his own feelings, he is desperate to get out of the oppression he has been under for so long. While Jonas receives memories of happiness, family, and love, he longs for those feelings as well. Knowing right from wrong, Jonas starts to gain the emotions he has wanted for so long. Even though he feels guilty, Jonas stopped taking …show more content…
To choose a person's assignment the Elders watch them to identify their ideal hobbies, and where they would best fit in for their adult lives. In the community this system has proven to help the utopia keep peace. Speaking about his adult life and training, Jonas's mother says, "'What's important is the preparation for adult life, and training you'll receive in your Assignment'"(18). Jonas, discussing with his mother about his assignment and training that will be given after The Ceremony of Twelve. Since birth a life is planned out for everyone born in the community. No one has the freedom to choose what path their lives take because the choice is not theirs in the beginning. For Jonas and his assignment, he is selected not assigned to a certain career, but nonetheless he cannot choose another. After a Receiver is selected at the Ceremony, nobody can quit not even through release because of what happened with the last Receiver. Even if Jonas did not want to be the Receiver of Memories, there would be no way out for him through the laws of the community. Explaining to Jonas about the selection of The Receiver, The Giver says, "'A Receiver-to-be was selected, the way you were. The selection went smoothly enough. The ceremony was held, and the selection was made'"(132). Once the Elders make the selection, the Receiver cannot change what is to come in their future.
Imagine being in a perfect world since birth , where no one endures pain, suffering, starvation, or the depth of emotions. Everyone is the same, happy, and equal so that order and peace may last forever. In The Giver by Lois Lowry, Jonas, a special young boy, resides in a perfect utopia where their lives are planned out for them. At the Ceremony of Twelve, the Twelves will part ways and start training for the assigned jobs where they will work until they enter The House of the Old. Once Jonas is selected to be the Receiver of Memories he learns that their perfect world is not so perfect after all. The utopia that Jonas lives in does not respect personal freedom because careers are assigned, emotions are suppressed, …show more content…
Jonas discusses with his parents after having a dream classified as The Stirrings. His parents explain to him that he is now permitted to take the pills to stop The Stirrings. Faintly remembering his dream, Jonas “Very briefly, a little guilty, he tried to grasp it back. But the feelings had disappeared. The Stirrings were gone”(38). At a certain age the citizens start to have dreams that bring very strong feelings to another person, but as a rule of the community they must take a pill to stop them. Jonas, anxious to understand what it is that he felt, tried to conjure up the dream. After he took the pill, his dream would be lost forever. No one in the community is allowed, once these dreams occur, to know or understand that they allow people to fall in love. Everybody feels the same, and everyone lacks emotion. Once Jonas realizes that there is more to a person’s feelings, he strives to make everyone he cares about understand. Jonas also attempts to have a deeper understanding of emotions for himself. Searching for his own feelings, he is desperate to get out of the oppression he has been under for so long. While Jonas receives memories of happiness, family, and love, he longs for those feelings as well. Knowing right from wrong, Jonas starts to gain the emotions he has wanted for so long. Even though he feels guilty, Jonas stopped taking …show more content…
To choose a person's assignment the Elders watch them to identify their ideal hobbies, and where they would best fit in for their adult lives. In the community this system has proven to help the utopia keep peace. Speaking about his adult life and training, Jonas's mother says, "'What's important is the preparation for adult life, and training you'll receive in your Assignment'"(18). Jonas, discussing with his mother about his assignment and training that will be given after The Ceremony of Twelve. Since birth a life is planned out for everyone born in the community. No one has the freedom to choose what path their lives take because the choice is not theirs in the beginning. For Jonas and his assignment, he is selected not assigned to a certain career, but nonetheless he cannot choose another. After a Receiver is selected at the Ceremony, nobody can quit not even through release because of what happened with the last Receiver. Even if Jonas did not want to be the Receiver of Memories, there would be no way out for him through the laws of the community. Explaining to Jonas about the selection of The Receiver, The Giver says, "'A Receiver-to-be was selected, the way you were. The selection went smoothly enough. The ceremony was held, and the selection was made'"(132). Once the Elders make the selection, the Receiver cannot change what is to come in their future.