Hey Bloggers! How is life? Mine seems to be a little bit aroused considering the fact that I just finished reading the wonderful book by Lois Lowry! I know you know what it is. THE GIVER! Oh, yes! It is really wonderful. Listen to this... It's not just a book about, let's say, a girl trying to find her identity (but she actually finds only an angel!?). Neither is it about pigs or them fighting for equality ("All animals are equal"?!). I'm just giving you a clue about the literary novels I'm talking about. I won't mention the name of the novels but you'll know it when you read it :P Do you get it?!
The Giver is one of the kind of novels where you'll not be able to predict what happens next as the scenes are unexpected. When Jonas turned twelve, I never expected anything close to HIM being chosen as the next Giver. In fact, I was not even able to predict what he would be assigned to do. The scenes (or happenings) are usually unexpected, yet out of the ordinary. That's right! That's exactly what I would describe the novel-OUT OF THE ORDINARY...
The novel is mainly set in an "Utopian" society. Idyllic, serene, safe, productive-that's exactly how I would describe it. However, the one feature of this Utopian society which was really remarkable was the rituals carried out by every family unit. Rituals such as the Sharing of Feelings during dinner, the Sharing of Dreams during breakfast, the Growing Up ceremonies (Ceremony of Nines, Ceremony of Twelve...), Naming and the Release of the Old reinforces the order of the society. Yet more importantly, I feel that the rituals such as the Sharing of Feelings creates a closer bond between family members. Every member of the household gets to understand each other and reflect upon their reactions towards the certain person or their action. Not only that but I also feel that the ceremony of the Release of the Old allows the other elderly to reflect upon the life of the one being released. It also allows them to appreciate the accomplishments and achievements of the elderly who is released.
However, the most difficult element of the story is the fact that just ONE, SINGLE, LONE person has to keep the memories of pain and war, starvation and neglect, and terrible memories of droughts, famines, floods and cyclones. How is this fair? Why isn't everyone holding these torturous memories? Why can't they unburden the Giver's life? Why does there even need to be a Giver? Though the Giver also holds warm and happy memories, and has the power to see beyond, that is NOT fair. Though he has the greatest honor in the society, he has to give up his life-he is not allowed to discuss these memories with his family or anyone else, he is not allowed to take medication for his PAIN-he has to sacrifice his life for the community which is oblivious and unknown to the reality of life Elsewhere.
The other element of this society which I find hard to consider Utopian is the absence of colours, music and most importantly emotions. What kind of Utopian life would that be? Wherever I look there would be sameness-trees, buildings, roads, flowers, rivers, clothes, hair, plainly everything... The society would be uniform... Or should I say TOO uniform? I mean that I can't even imagine living in such a society where there is no difference, no diversity, no chance to make a choice... There would be no taste in life, bloggers. There would just be NO taste in life at all! Can you imagine this? Frankly, the fact that there are no emotions is seriously horrifying :! There would be no hope in the future, no will to achieve something, no love to show for family and friends... This is terrifying enough in imagination... Let's forget about it being applied in reality.
Hence, overall, the implications raised by the society portrays that individuality, colour, emotion, music and freedom is sacrificed for peace and prosperity. This is the real value of this book. It does not allow you to explore philosophical and moral questions deeply without making you burdened with cheap action thrills... Thus, all of you just have to try it. Well, let's say that it's because I say so!!! :D
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