Hi bloggers! I just realised something... I realised that I honor differences... I know that I'm being random but actually this randomness is related to what I'm posting now... It's whether Jonas's society valued sameness or differences. I'm also going to reflect about what we discussed in class yesterday about the Assignments and the Committee's role... Let's burrow in... (I've replaced dig with burrow to honor the difference :D)
All the Assignments allocated to the people are NOT equal or equally respected, and I've got the valid evidence for it... Some Assignments are more honored than others. For instance, Birthmother is "a job without honor" while "[The Receiver of Memory] is the most important job in the community". Can you spot the difference between a job "without honor" and a job being "the most important"? That's exactly what I mean by the fact that not all Assignments are equally respected. Moreover, it was said that "It was a lesser job, night crew nurturing, assigned to those who lacked the interest or skills or insight for the more vital jobs of the daytime hours". This further supports my point that certain Assignments such as Birthmothers and Night crew Nurturers are low-esteemed while a job as the Receiver of Memory is high-esteemed. Not only that, but, a rumour was passed on that a man jumped into the river and swam away to the next community, just because he received an Assignment as "Sanitation Labourer"! Imagine how he might have felt if he were to take charge of the sanitation of the community!!! It's pretty sick and disgusting?!
In class, we were actually wondering about what the allocation of Assignments by the Committeee of Elders reflect about the society... What do you think, bloggers? Well, I think that the society is very orderly. Every person has an Assignment allocated to them so no one in the community is jobless. Isn't that perfect!? Every job is assigned to a person based on their talents and the constant observation made by the Elders. Hence, there are always enough jobs to go round the community every year as another group of children turn twelve. Thus, the allocation of Assignments by the Elders, reflects that the society is efficient and orderly.
Moreover, the society is also meticulous in assigning the jobs. For instance, Jonas was wondering "How could someone not fit in?" and that "The community was so meticulously ordered, the choices so carefully made.". This proves that every "Assignments were scrupulously thought through by the Committee of Elders". Thus, they looked into and discussed every allocation thoroughly before being assigned, in order to make sure that each person is assigned with an Assignment that suits his or her abilities and talents. Hence, the society can be classified as careful and accurate. However, the Committee is rather pragmatic since they choose practicality over interests. For example, the Committee will choose an Assignment for someone based on what they can contribute to the society, and not based on their likes and dislikes.Hence, we can deduce that Committee is rather utilitarian and pragmatic.
The society is also tightly controlled. There is total control and constant observation over the people in the community, and not just over the weather and the colours of the environment. This can be proven from the fact that when Jonas brought home an apple, against the recreation rules, an announcement "had been specifically directed at him". Moreover, the Elders were also watching the Elevens at "recreation time" and were recording their "volunteer hours". Hence, the citizens are not given a choice of freedom over the way they live, and they never complained. They did not even wonder why they wee assigned that specific Assignment but just accept it as if it is perfect for them, since the Committee decided it for them. They also have no privacy as they are all under constant surveillance.
Anyway, the last thing that I want to address is the element that the society values-whether it is sameness or difference. THE SOCIETY OBVIOUSLY VALUES SAMENESS!!! They have rules of standardisation whereby citizens of the same age group had to follow a standard attire or hair style. Moreover, everyone who has a particular job is labled. For instance, the people are called "Birthmothers", "Nurturers", "Night crew Nurturers" and "Sanitation Labourers". Such labels actually bring forth stereotypes and stigmas associated with each job, portraying that the people in each job have the same personalities. In thus way, we can conclude that the society values Sameness.
Other general things that make the society standardised include the consumption of pills by those who hot their Stirrings, going through the "standard apology phrase", the fixed number of children in a family unit (1 boy, 1 girl), application and allocation of Spouses (which is controlled by the Commmittee) and staying in House of the Old once they have reached a certain age. These standardised rules helps create Sameness, which the society values so much.
However, Jonas's society seems to have failed in promoting Sameness as irony occurs. On the surface, it seems that everything in Jonas's society is standardised and same, but in reality, Sameness does not always occur , mainly because of the hierachy of the jobs. If Sameness was completely practised, each job should be deemed equal. However, this is not the case in Jonas's society as some of the jobs are more respected than the others. For instance, being the Receiver of Memory is the most honoured job while being a Birthmother has no honour. This creates hierachy, hence difference, hence there is no complete Sameness, which the society highly values...
What is you opinion bloggers? Do you think that the society values Sameness or differences. Don't forget to add in your comments below... Signing off... Subi...
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