The Giver by Lois Lowry: Overview

Setting

• Futuristic utopian society.
• Society without pain, fear, war, or hate.
• Uniformity in looks and behavior; no competition.
• Politeness and life plans without personal choice.

Structure of Society

• Age 12: Assigned jobs.
• Later: Assigned spouse and two children.
• Children come from birth mothers, raised in a nurturing center for the first year.
• Family units are disbanded once children grow up.
• Adults move to a community of childless adults and then to the House of the Old.
• Nonconformists or disruptors are "released."

Main Character: Jonas

• 11-year-old boy, narrator of the story.
• Lives with nurturing father, mother, and sister Lily.
• Nervous about the Ceremony of Twelve where jobs are assigned.
• Different from others: pale eyes and can see color.

Ceremony of Twelve

• Jonas is assigned "Receiver of Memory."
• Society eradicated bad things and memories, assigning them to the Receiver.

The Receiver of Memory

• The current Receiver, "The Giver," transfers memories to Jonas.
• Jonas experiences a range of memories: sled rides, emotions, colors.
• Realizes society's lack of depth and genuine emotions.

Jonas' Realization

• Without bad experiences, true happiness can't exist.
• Frustration with society’s blandness.

Relationship with Gabriel

• Jonas cares for a problematic new child, Gabriel.
• Transfers soothing memories to help him sleep.
• Starts to love Gabriel like family, but society plans to "release" him.

The Revelation and Plan

• "Release" is equivalent to death.
• Jonas and The Giver plan to change society.
• The Giver’s past: His daughter was a failed Receiver, her release led to a memory dispersion crisis.
• Plan: Jonas to leave, dispersing memories to the community. The Giver helps them adjust.

Jonas' Escape

• Forced to leave early to save Gabriel from release.
• Escapes with Gabriel on a stolen bike.
• Climbs a snowy mountain, finds a sled (from a memory).
• Rides down to a village with Christmas lights, heading towards a new beginning.