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The Giver by Lois Lowery has been one of my favorite books since I read it a couple years ago.
It's all about agency and the importance of choice; do we realize how important choice is? I mean, it's all around us, do we take our choices for granted? Do we use our agency wisely?
"For all the childrenTo whom we entrust the future"
(Dedication)
I like Lois Lowery's dedication. This is a book for the raising generation! This is especially for you, the youth of the world!
How awesome is that? I don't know about you but when I know that something was written for me, I try to pay close attention.
So, let us begin....
There is so much stuff in this book, it's hard to know where to start.
I looked at my notes (one of the best ways to do that is to mark in your books, if it's yours) and I pulled out some stuff that stood out to me.
So, let us begin....
There is so much stuff in this book, it's hard to know where to start.
I looked at my notes (one of the best ways to do that is to mark in your books, if it's yours) and I pulled out some stuff that stood out to me.
- People obeyed instantly
- In a way it's kind of like Hunger Games
- There's a standard apology system
- No birthdays
- Dinner - everyone talks about their day
- Breakfast - everyone talks about their dreams
- Title (job)
- Families - husband, wife, son, daughter - apply for spouse, apply for child
- Ceremony of lost
- Ceremony of found
- Always fifty new children
- They use correct words
- No choices
- No color
Just by reading this list you know it's a different kind of book; this isn't just a regular story, this a story...with a lesson.
And it's a very important lesson. I look around and see a lot of people who make choices. You make choices, I make choices.
What if we didn't have choice?
"I don't know."
Maybe you know someone who seems to (or does) say this a lot. I admit that's what I do, because let's face it, making choices is hard sometimes.
But when we say, "I don't know," we're taking our ability to choose for granted. That's...kind of harsh, yeah. But it's also true, at least I think so.
So I'm just going to go over some of the stuff on my list and believe me there is loads of other things you can get out of this book. It's simply amazing.
1) People obeyed instantly.
For a moment think about it. What if you told your sibling (or friend, whoever) to do something and they did it without question? How cool would that be? Life would be so much easier...but thinking about that, doesn't that almost make you nervous?
Your sibling would not have agency. They'd either have been forced so many times to obey that it became routine or they grew up that way. They lost their agency.
In The Giver, that's how things are. If you don't, you get chastened or, if it's really serious, you get a warning and then, if you do it again, you get kicked out.
This leads into my second point.
2) Standard Apology System
If you've done something wrong you apologize. That's how life works. Hopefully we all do this. It's important; it shows that we know we've done something wrong and we're sorry.
This is how they do in The Giver:
Example # 1:
I don't think this is real repenting and forgiving. I mean, it's...meaningless. It's routine; it's normal for them. It's a habit.
Now, I think it's a good idea to be in the habit of forgiving and repenting but it needs to be sincere and heartfelt.
This, next to not having choices, is a big thing in the book (and movie).
Can you imagine not having color? Look around. I bet there are tons of different colors around you. What if all you saw was gray? Yuck.
4) What everyone thought about choice
This was not on my list but I bring it up because it is so interesting to see what Jonas says about choice.
To me, this is just plain weird. How could he see color and start learning about choice and think this?
It's beyond me. But then again, Jonas has a point. Don't we want to make sure everyone chooses correctly? Yes, I think we all do. We're taught right from wrong, what to do and what not to do. Our parents want us to choose the right. But can't do that if we can't exercise our agency.
I hope I was able to tell you how important agency and choice is. It's a gift we have that we use everyday of our lives. The question is, do we use it wisely?
And it's a very important lesson. I look around and see a lot of people who make choices. You make choices, I make choices.
What if we didn't have choice?
"I don't know."
Maybe you know someone who seems to (or does) say this a lot. I admit that's what I do, because let's face it, making choices is hard sometimes.
But when we say, "I don't know," we're taking our ability to choose for granted. That's...kind of harsh, yeah. But it's also true, at least I think so.
So I'm just going to go over some of the stuff on my list and believe me there is loads of other things you can get out of this book. It's simply amazing.
1) People obeyed instantly.
For a moment think about it. What if you told your sibling (or friend, whoever) to do something and they did it without question? How cool would that be? Life would be so much easier...but thinking about that, doesn't that almost make you nervous?
Your sibling would not have agency. They'd either have been forced so many times to obey that it became routine or they grew up that way. They lost their agency.
In The Giver, that's how things are. If you don't, you get chastened or, if it's really serious, you get a warning and then, if you do it again, you get kicked out.
This leads into my second point.
2) Standard Apology System
If you've done something wrong you apologize. That's how life works. Hopefully we all do this. It's important; it shows that we know we've done something wrong and we're sorry.
This is how they do in The Giver:
Example # 1:
"I apologize for inconveniencing my learning community." Asher ran through the standard apology phrase rapidly, still catching his breath. ..."I apologize to my classmates".
"We accept your apology, Asher." The class recited the standard apology response in unison.Example # 2:
"I have caused you anxiety," She said. "I apologize to my community." Her voice flowed out over the assembled crowd.
"We accept your apology," they all uttered together.
I don't think this is real repenting and forgiving. I mean, it's...meaningless. It's routine; it's normal for them. It's a habit.
Now, I think it's a good idea to be in the habit of forgiving and repenting but it needs to be sincere and heartfelt.
Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly. ...Become really, really good at forgiving.
3) NO COLOR~JÖrg Klebingat
This, next to not having choices, is a big thing in the book (and movie).
Can you imagine not having color? Look around. I bet there are tons of different colors around you. What if all you saw was gray? Yuck.
"If everything's the same, then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things! A blue tunic, or a red one? ...But it's the same, always."
~Jonas
4) What everyone thought about choice
This was not on my list but I bring it up because it is so interesting to see what Jonas says about choice.
"But now that I can see colors, at least sometimes, I was thinking: what if we could hold up things that were bright red, or bright yellow, and he [Gabe] could choose? Instead of the Sameness."
"He might make wrong choices."
"Oh." Jonas was silent for a moment. "Oh, I see what you mean. ...We don't dare to let people make choices of their own."
"Not safe?" The Giver suggested.
"Definitely not safe," Jonas said with certainty. "What if they...chose wrong?"
..."Frightening, isn't it?" The Giver said.
Jonas chuckled. "Very frightening. I can't even imagine it. We really have to protect people from wrong choices.
"It's safer."
"Yes," Jonas agreed. "Much safer."
To me, this is just plain weird. How could he see color and start learning about choice and think this?
It's beyond me. But then again, Jonas has a point. Don't we want to make sure everyone chooses correctly? Yes, I think we all do. We're taught right from wrong, what to do and what not to do. Our parents want us to choose the right. But can't do that if we can't exercise our agency.
I hope I was able to tell you how important agency and choice is. It's a gift we have that we use everyday of our lives. The question is, do we use it wisely?
"It's the choosing that's important, isn't it?"
~The Giver
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