The Giver Jonas’s World Analysis Essay Example
Can you imagine living in a world where there is no color, no feelings, no choices? Well there is one world like that and it's Jonas’ world. In The Giver Jonas’s world is ruled by laws, secrets, and hidden memories. The author Lois Lowry introduces us to a futuristic world where there is no pain and suffering through the eyes of Jonas. Jonas is a twelve and he is looking forward to his role in the community, little did he know that he would be the next Receiver Of Memories. His role opens his eyes to the secrets of his community.
In the beginning Jonas’s point of view is neutral; he doesn't think there is anything wrong with the community and he thinks that he lives in a perfect world or a utopia. When Jonas first hears about release he doesn’t think anything of it he doesn’t ask questions about where did they go or what happens to the people when they get released so he’s basically clueless. When he heard that the pilot got released it didn’t bother him at all. (2)
In the middle of the book his point of view starts to change when he gets his role and being the new receiver of memory. He starts to learn about so many things such as colors, feelings, choices. Everything that he didn’t know before he now has after he became the new Receiver. (Page 83.) He realizes after getting colors and choices he wishes that everyone else could have choices and he wishes that they could all see in color just like him.
Throughout the book he starts to become more curious about everything. So one day he asks the Giver if he can see the release ceremony that his father had performed earlier that day. So the Giver let him watch the recording and when he finally learns what “release” is his point of view starts to change. “With an odd, shocked feeling…The memory came back. He killed it! My father killed it! Jonas said to himself, stunned at what he was realizing. He continued to stare at the screen numbly.”(150) This incident opens his eyes to the reality of his community.
At the end of the book he realizes that this is no way to live so he comes up with a plan to try to escape and go to elsewhere. “We’ll make a plan.” “Jonas,” The Giver said, after a moment, “it’s true that it has always been this way for what see
ms forever. But the memories tell us that it has not always been. People felt things once. You and I have been part of that, so we know. We know that they once felt things like pride, and sorrow, and—” “And love,” Jonas added. (154) His new knowledge and empathy is shared by the Giver and the Giver helps him make a plan to escape.
The author Lois Lowry uses Jonas point of view to gradually open our eyes and show us that this is not a utopian society and something had to change. The author Lois Lowry left an open ending for the reader because she wanted them to decide what the ending should be. “Those of you who hoped that I would stand here tonight and reveal the “true” ending, the “right” interpretation of the ending, will be disappointed. There isn’t one. There’s a right one for each of us, and it depends on our own beliefs, our own hopes."
