Literary Analysis Essay Example on The Giver

“I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don't understand, in allowing us to make sense of our lives, in allowing us to escape our lives, in giving us empathy and in creating the world that we live in.” - Neil Gaiman. I believe that stories are incredibly meaningful, maybe in ways we don't recognize, in assisting us to make sense of our lives, escape our lives, develop empathy, and create the environment in which we live.This quote corresponds with the symbols of the conclusion  of the giver because Jonas is escaping his old life in the community. In modern times a community  located in an isolated  land that follows a strict routine and no change. In Lowis Lowery’s  “The Giver” the following symbols are hinted throughout the book the apple, eyes, the river, and fire to explain the novel's conclusion. 

In Lowis Lowery’s The Giver the apple is a symbol hinted  throughout the book to help explain how the novel concludes. First of all, Jonas notices the apples change in size and is seeing the color red. “ - There was nothing remarkable about that apple. He had tossed it back and forth between his hands a few times, then thrown it to Ahser again in the air. For an instant only it had changed. It had happened four times, Jonas had blinked,looked around, and then tested his eyesight, squinting at the small print on the identification badge attached to his tunic.” ( Lowey 30). In The Giver the apple symbolizes change, in the community there is a very  strict routine and rules that must be followed. When Jonas observed that the apple had changed it hinted that change was soon to come. By leaving the community many aspects of Jonas’s life have changed; he is no longer expected to follow such a strict regime and can make decisions for himself. Secondly, Jonas observed how the apple changed. “ But suddenly Jonas had noticed, following the path of the apple through his eyes, that piece of fruit had- well this was the part that he couldn’t consequently understand and the apple had changed. Just for a moment. Given that Gabe and Jonas experienced many unsafe obstacles in their journey to escape the community, this is very different from the rules and routine of the community. These obstacles allowed them to experience real life problems unlike in the community where they were practically isolated. 

In Lowis Lowery’s The Giver the symbol of eyes are hinted throughout the book to explain how the novel concludes. To start off with, Pale eyes are very rare in the community. “ Almost every citizen in the community had dark eyes. His parents did, and Lily did, and so did all of his group members, but there were a few exceptions. Jonas himself, and a female five who he noticed had the different lighter eyes. No one mentioned such things; it was not a rule but it was considered rude to call attention to things that were unsettling or different about individuals. In The Giver light eyes symbolize a person's ability to see clearly and deeply. Jonas being the receiver enables him to have the ability to see deeper and have a greater understanding. Jonas became aware about what really happens in the community, he observed a video of his father releasing an innocent child all because it was a twin. This knowledge helped Jonas make his final decision to leave the community with Gabe. Secondly, Jonas noticed an elder with pale eyes during his twelve ceremony. “ The committee of Elders was sitting together in a group; and the Chief of Elders' eyes were now on one who sat in the midst but seemed oddly separate from them. It was a man Jonas never noticed before, a bearded man with pale eyes.”  The Elders who have pale eyes represent variety within a highly structured community bound by rules and routine. His pale eyes represent the differences in people and his life experiences as he has abilities that are very rare in the community. Jonas has a different experience and view of the community than the average civilian that lives in the community, Jonas’s insights helped him reach his decision to leave the community. 

In Lowis Lowery’s The Giver the river is a symbol that is hinted at throughout the book to help explain how the novel concludes. To begin with, Jonas askes the giver a question about what would happen if he got lost in the river. “I can’t request release, I know that. But what if something happened: an accident? What if I fell into the river like that little four, Caleb? Well, that doesn't make sense because I'm a good swimmer. But what if I couldn’t swim, and fell into the river and was lost?” (Lowery 179-180). Because the river symbolizes escape, specifically escaping from the community. The novel concluded by Jonas and gabe escaping the community, this quote hinted that Jonas was thinking about possible escape before the novel concluded. 

In Lowis Lowry's  The Giver fire is a symbol that is hinted throughout the novel and helps explain how the novel concludes. First of all, Jonas received the giver's favorite memory. “ Well he said finally, gasping for an explanation.- they had  fire there in that room and there were candles on the table. I can certainly see why these things are outlawed in the community.”( Lowery 157). Fire is outlawed in the community. Fire and the color red represent passion and drive as well as new discoveries. Jonas is constantly learning and discovering new things about the community as he continues with his role as the receiver . By leaving the community with Gabe Jonas is discovering the boundaries outside of the community and how life functions without such a strict regime. Secondly, Jonas transmits a memory of warmth to Gabe during their escape for the community. “But the moment passed and was followed by an urge,a need, a passion yearning to share the warmth with the one person left for him to love. Aching from the lack of effort, he forced the memory of warmth  into the thin shivering body in his arms. Jonas transmitting a memory of warmth to Gabe saved him, allowing them to continue their journey to escape the community. Fire also symbolizes warmth as well as passion and change, Jonas and GAbe are discovering new ways of living outside of the community. Overall fire was hinted to convey how the novel concludes by Jonas and Gabe leaving the comity limitless and creating a new life for themselves. 

Furthermore, the apple, eyes, the river, and fire gave the reader insights throughout  the book about the conclusion. Jonas used these hints along as guidance from the giver to realize what really happens in the community and how absurd some of these practices are. One example is that  if Jonas had not taken Gabe with him to escape the community he would have been released and or killed as an innocent child.