The Ceremony of Twelve in The Giver Essay Example

In the fictional world of The Giver, there is a tradition called the Ceremony of Twelve in which the children of the society officially turn 12 years of age and are assigned their future occupation. As much as it could prove beneficial to our society, this occurrence presents plenty of disadvantages that demonstrate this way of life as being unconventional. The belief that the ceremony puts strenuous pressure on children disregards people's changing professional interests, and violates freedom rights supports this claim. 

First and foremost, the Ceremony of Twelve is a huge event that exerts extensive amounts of pressure on the advancing elevens. On the day of the ceremony, all the members of the community gather together in the auditorium where they are to watch the ceremonies unfold. When an eleven becomes a twelve, they are being presented in such a manner to a vast amount of people which can be nerve-wracking and anxiety-causing. Furthermore, harsh expectations are bestowed upon these children to receive a job with honor. There is an evident difference between certain dishonorable jobs like a birthmother and other more honorable positions such as the receiver of memory. Similarly, the elevens have no voice in the matter of their career life and are therefore unaware of what's in store for them. This possibility of receiving an assignment they dislike can be fearful and overwhelming. The ceremony of 12 is undoubtedly predisposed to pressurize its participants and prove an undesirable experience altogether.

Judging by the nature of the ceremonies, it becomes clear that the Ceremony of 12 does not consider the shifting occupational concerns of its citizens. It is widely known that youth tend to “ dream big”- meaning that they have certain unrealistic expectations of how their life will unroll. Those expectations are not always met. A child inclining themselves towards an occupation with high hopes might be a hard hit if what they lined up for is different from what they had initially imagined. As well,  interests are prone to change as people age. A young individual may go through a phase of wanting to be something just to discover later on in life that they have a profound inclination towards another subject. Additionally, the society of The giver does not permit its citizens the option of changing their occupation. If someone is unhappy with their assignment and wishes to adopt a new career, the best they can do is ask to be released. In the ceremony of twelve, participants are assigned an occupation based on their interests, but tradition does not take into account the possibility of them changing their minds. 

Ultimately, the Ceremony of Twelve restricts its participants from choice and consequently contravenes human rights and freedoms. Seemingly the citizens of the community in The Giver have no choice whatsoever over their occupation as it is decided for them by the Council of Elders. In the Canadian Charter of rights and freedoms, there is a sector that protects the right to work and free choice of employment. The right to a free and secure life is also in violation as the participants of the ceremony are forced to live life a certain way without a say in the matter. Last but not least, the assignment system prominent in The Giver neglects the right to an education. Until a certain age, everybody attends school and learns the same things. However, once they receive their assignment, they are strictly permitted to study only their domain and not any other fields that may pique their interest. The Charter of rights which protects the freedom of individuals is disregarded through the Ceremony of Twelve as it restricts the participants from living the life of their choice. 

As stated, children 12 years of age are required to participate in the Ceremony of Twelve where they will be assigned a career. This practice should not be prevalent in our society as it is disadvantageous and counterproductive. Among other things, the Ceremony of Twelve pressurizes children to succeed, neglects people's changing careers interests, and breaches human rights and freedoms. Considering the environment of The Giver and the meaning of the book, we should be grateful and utilize our freedoms and privileges.