The Receiver

 

““Jonas,” she said, speaking not to him alone but to the entire community of which he was a part, “you will be trained to be our next Receiver of Memory. We thank you for your childhood,”” grandly declares the narrator, signifying a turning point in Jonas’s life as she alludes to a commencement in his journey towards escaping the mechanic and conformed life (Lowry 61). Published in 1993 and winning the Newbery Medal the following year, Lois Lowry’s The Giver unravels the story of Jonas, who is selected to receive all memory of the past from the Giver. Through the eyes of Jonas in his journey as a Receiver of Memory, the novel offers new perspectives towards the cultural and social factors surrounding us. 

The author meticulously paints the concept of contentment through the setting of the story. The book depicts a community with utter conformity, outlined with strict rules, regularity, and interpersonal indifference. The fragile community depends on the protection of the government to make choices for their lives--from opting for a lifelong job to getting a spouse and children. While reading the book, I was reminded of how many things I have been taking for granted, including the ability to see colors, freedom of choice, and the perception of love. Simultaneously, I was shook by how, in the current reality, these components mark the roots of the most fundamental conflicts and issues, including racial discrimination and child abortion. 

This led me to wonder “What is a perfect world? Can there be the right balance between too much freedom and none at all?”. In a venture towards finding the answer to this question, I had to pause again to think “What is the point of life? To live happily? Earn fame? Help others?”. As the main character learns through the memories of the past and throws questions about life, the readers grow with him in search of the answers to his inquiries. 

Through the chain of questions and thoughts, the readers are led to reconsider the idealizations that they had been unconsciously accepting as given, and realize that their thoughts and characteristics are majorly products of the society they live in. In this process, the novel reveals common human natures that people try to hide, both in the reality and the novel-- the tendency to retaliate, form a social hierarchy, fear change, dislike differences, sacrifice others for one’s own good, and more.

Aside from unveiling a discomforting truth about our inclinations, the novel presents a unique cultural experience. From the beginning of the book, death is referred to by the term “release”. A release is an occurrence when a citizen is permanently sent to a place outside of the community while the other community members gradually forget about his or her past existence. After the release, newborn babies are named after those who died, possibly reflecting the idea of revival, which can be found in multiple religions and cultures in the modern society. While reading, I enjoyed how the book allows the readers to connect the reality with the imaginary world and naturally assimilate to cultures around them, acknowledge differences between beliefs. 

Although The Giver features a twelve-year-old protagonist and may seem like a plain middle-school fiction, the intricately weaved details and diverse connections within prove the book as a writing that fits readers of various age groups and backgrounds. Naturally, the readers find themselves captured in the book as they dig deeper into the profound meanings behind the novel and emotionally connect with Jonas. 

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““Why?” Jonas asked him after he had received a torturous memory…”Why do you and I have to hold these memories?” “It gives us wisdom,” the Giver replied,” (Lois 106). Like Jonas, I believe that your memory of reading The Giver would eventually, despite inflicting internal discomfort in the process, bestow wisdom upon you, and help you understand what life is really about: learning.