Jonas is very apprehensive for the Ceremony of Twelve, and his mom and dad comfort him. They talk about how they already knew what their aptitude was, and reinforce the idea that the Council of Elders is always right, and that they know best. Jonas's father tries to calm his fears by telling him that people are rarely disappointed in their Assignments, because the Committee of Elders monitors Elevens' interest so as to place them where they would best be able to do good work for the community. He is worried about Asher’s assignment, and he is worried about his new friends. Jonas remembers the Committee monitoring his group of Elevens, but he is unsure what kind of job he will be given. Most children are given jobs they show interest in, and so suspect their Assignments ahead of time. Jonas is eventually calmed, but he keeps thinking.
Sometimes, people do not make the decisions, and are primarily determined by the circumstances of the environment. External forces can be a great force in determining how people live their lives, such as in poverty or in a rich family. Other defining factors may be the condition of the family people are in, such as abusive or loving. In Jonas's community, no one makes choices. All choices about the community were made in the distant past when Sameness was created, and any additional changes involve painfully slow bureaucratic procedures. Without choice, no one suffers the consequences that come from making wrong choices, but they also don't experience the joys that come with making right ones. By sacrificing the freedom of choice, community members are guaranteed a stable, painless life. Consequently, the people lead pleasant, but robotic lives. "That's true," his father agreed. "But what your mother said is true as well. There will be changes." "Good changes, though," his mother pointed out.” (Lowry 4) Jonas's community is founded on the idea of Sameness—the elimination of difference in its members. In order to achieve this Sameness, individualism is discouraged, and rules and discipline matter most. Jonas learns from an early age that both breaking rules and being different is considered shameful. When children turn Twelve, they gain a means of differentiation—their job—but they must give up another in return—their age. Also notice how little this society values the bonds of friendship. People often are limited by their circumstances, but not completely confined within their social class or state.
People can also be individualist and use their own dreams to empower themselves to become successful in life. These people are ambitious and often want to make a life for themselves. Jonas, though, starts to see his own uniqueness and the value of personal choice and freedom. Gaining memories from The Giver, he goes through feelings, colors, and sensations the society has repressed, enabling him to appreciate uniqueness. This awakening causes him to doubt the norms of society and, finally, drives him to make decisions that reflect his own sense of self even if they contradict the general control. “After the Ceremony of Twelve, you'll be with your Assignment group, with those in training.” (Lowry 3) Emphasizing the value of personal identity, freedom of choice, and the emotional and psychological depth that results from embracing one's uniqueness, the theme highlights how, without it, life becomes mechanized, boring, and devoid of real meaning or connection. Without choice, no one suffers the consequences that come from making wrong choices, but they also don't experience the joys that come with making right ones. People can be able to make a path for themselves, and be able to have their own life. People can make their own choices in order to be their own self, not defined by community.
However, providing people with their own choice is superior to having others make choices for them, as they need to possess the capacity to grow and learn from their mistakes. Also, people need to live deep and fulfilling lives. They need to know the pain of making the wrong choices and the joy of making the right ones. The people of Jonas's community don't understand genuine emotion or pain, because their lifestyles allow no opportunity to experience it. Jonas shook his head. "Asher and I will always be friends,” he said firmly. “And there will still be school." (Lowry 4) Every decision made in the community serves a purely practical purpose and is based on the rules set down at the time of the community's establishment, promoting sameness and leaving no room for sentimentality. That among all his friends, only Jonas has yet to settle on one interest is the first indication that he might be different from the other citizens. Jonas's father is further established as a caring man. Jonas's surprise at his father's rule-breaking indicates that as of now Jonas is perfectly happy in his community. However, he feels confused by some of the rules of the community, although he obeys them, and longs for human touch even before he understands it. People need memory and emotion to learn from their mistakes, and to enrich life.
Sometimes, people do not make the decisions, and are primarily determined by the circumstances of the environment. External forces can be a great force in determining how people live their lives, such as in poverty or in a rich family. People can also be individualist and use their own dreams to empower themselves to become successful in life. These people are ambitious and often want to make a life for themselves. Jonas, though, starts to see his own uniqueness and the value of personal choice and freedom. However, providing people with their own choice is superior to having others make choices for them, as they need to possess the capacity to grow and learn from their mistakes. Also, people need to live deep and fulfilling lives. Jonas reaches maturity only when he is given memory, and through memory, experience. In this way, Jonas becomes more mature at Twelve than the "adults" of his community. But The Giver also teaches Jonas the wisdom to recognize his own shortcomings.
Sources Cited
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Houghton Mifflin, 1993.
Wikipedia contributors. “The Giver.” Wikipedia, 20 Mar. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giver.
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