“The Giver” is a book by Lois Lowry about a boy named Jonas who is given the role of receiver. Jonas lives in a dystopian society based on uniformaty and predictability. The reciever is a person who holds on to the memories and experiences of the past, the pain, sadness, war and hatred of the past, so that the community doesn’t repeat mistakes that were made in the past. In the community the dispelling of pain, sadness, crime, and war has been achieved. Inhabitants always have access to food, water, and a decent quality of life. In exchange for this majority don’t experience emotions or color. Everything is chosen for them from the moment they were born, their family, jobs, and partner. 

In “The Giver”, Jonas leaves his community and as a result, many people such as my brother believe that Jonas’s actions were cowardly, and were motivated by him, not wanting to bear the memories alone.

However, Jonas left the community despite the threat of death and showed perseverance during his journey. He was motivated by a want for freedom not by fear, Jonas “saw beyond” what the community was showing him and challenged the societal customs. 

Jonas knew the dangers of leaving before he exited his community. Jonas had a lot to lose but he still decided to take action. Some viewed his actions as an act of cowardice and as abandoning his responsibilities due to fear, but I disagree with that. Jonas faced the challenge of leaving head-on even though he was still afraid of the consequences.

Jonas also shows bravery during his journey elsewhere. In chapter 22, Jonas faces many difficulties such as freezing temperatures, hunger, and exhaustion. The pain Jonas suffers takes a toll on him emotionally. Despite this, Jonas continues his journey elsewhere, he fights the pain and discomfort with his determination and his love for Gabriel.

During his journey Jonas had many opportunities to give up, he could have given up when he sprained his ankles, he could have willingly been caught by the search planes, and he could have gone back to the community, but he didn’t. Jonas’ perseverance and willingness to put himself in danger is the first reason why I think he’s brave.

From the onset of the book Jonas had always wanted more choices, he didn’t like that the only time he wasn’t controlled and told what to do was during volunteering hours.

In the community, individuals have no control over very important aspects of their lives such as their jobs, house, spouse, and family. The individuals in the community don’t have the option to live their lives how they want, their lives are controlled by the elders.

As a result of the lack of choice in community life is automated and dull, individuals in the community lack important human emotions. The elders’ constant pursuit of sameness creates a “utopia” without choice, emotions, and diversity, where people in the community essentially function as machines.

This is why once Jonas obtained access to the memories he not only wanted to share the memories of pain and joy, he wanted to remind everybody of a time where individual choice existed within the community.

Early in the book, Jonas showed his ability to see beyond. Aften becoming the receiver Jonas saw the issues within the community and started to question the actions and beliefs of the elders and the members of the community.

Jonas saw the community for what it is, monotonous and emotionless, he saw that the erasure of pain also took away many other emotions needed to have a deep connection, and he took actions in order to ensure that his vision becomes reality.

When Jonas found out that a release meant death by euthanasia, he could have conformed to the belief that the act was beneficial for the community, or believed he was powerless like the Giver, but he doesn’t.

Rather than accepting the traditional role of the receiver of memories, and believing nothing can be changed, and that he holds no power, Jonas fights against the system and while doing so he puts himself at risk.

Jonas confronts the shortcomings of the society rather than ignore it. Jonas saw how Gabriel and many other children don’t even have the choice to live, he saw how the elders control peoples’, birth, parents, schooling, occupation, family, and even time of death, and he used it as motivation.