Can you imagine not knowing what true happiness was? In the novel, “The Giver”, Jonas was selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. His job is to hold the memories of the world, good and bad. Being selected to be the receiver is a great honor. There are many good parts of being the Receiver. Now Jonas has the ability to see color. He can also experience things he has never been able to experience before. Finally, Jonas now has real feelings. Being selected to be the Receiver of Memory is not only a great honor, but a major blessing.
Before Jonas was selected to be the receiver, he started noticing changes in certain things, such as the apple at the recreation center, the faces of the people in the audience, and the hair of his friend, Fiona. After the Giver started to transmit memories to Jonas he explained what these changes were. It was the beginning of Jonas’s ability to see color. Jonas enjoyed being able to see color. An example of this was when Jonas said, “It was so—oh, I wish language were more precise! The red was so beautiful!”
When the Giver transmits memories to Jonas, he can experience a world of new things such as sled rides, sailing, sunshine, birthday parties, and Christmas. Each memory the Giver gave Jonas was a new experience. In one memory the Giver transmitted to Jonas, he was lying down feeling the warmth of the sun spread across his skin. The author states, “It was not as exciting as the ride through the snowy air; but it was pleasurable and comforting.” This is an example of a new experience Jonas tried. He has never experienced the feeling of sunshine before the memory. Another example of a new experience was when Jonas first rode down the snow covered hill on the sled. The author stated, “The old man, still beside the bed, was watching him. “How do you feel?” he asked. Jonas sat up and
Can you imagine not knowing what true happiness was? In the novel, “The Giver”, Jonas was selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. His job is to hold the memories of the world, good and bad. Being selected to be the receiver is a great honor. There are many good parts of being the Receiver. Now Jonas has the ability to see color. He can also experience things he has never been able to experience before. Finally, Jonas now has real feelings. Being selected to be the Receiver of Memory is not only a great honor, but a major blessing.
Before Jonas was selected to be the receiver, he started noticing changes in certain things, such as the apple at the recreation center, the faces of the people in the audience, and the hair of his friend, Fiona. After the Giver started to transmit memories to Jonas he explained what these changes were. It was the beginning of Jonas’s ability to see color. Jonas enjoyed being able to see color. An example of this was when Jonas said, “It was so—oh, I wish language were more precise! The red was so beautiful!”
When the Giver transmits memories to Jonas, he can experience a world of new things such as sled rides, sailing, sunshine, birthday parties, and Christmas. Each memory the Giver gave Jonas was a new experience. In one memory the Giver transmitted to Jonas, he was lying down feeling the warmth of the sun spread across his skin. The author states, “It was not as exciting as the ride through the snowy air; but it was pleasurable and comforting.” This is an example of a new experience Jonas tried. He has never experienced the feeling of sunshine before the memory. Another example of a new experience was when Jonas first rode down the snow covered hill on the sled. The author stated, “The old man, still beside the bed, was watching him. “How do you feel?” he asked. Jonas sat up and tried to answer honestly. “Surprised,” he said, after a moment.” He was surprised because it was the first he has been on a sled or witnessed snow.
Now that Jonas has received part of the memories of the world, he has real feelings. These feelings include happiness, fear, sadness, love, and pain. Something that makes us human is our emotions. In “The Giver” the community tries to eliminate anything that is painful or upsetting. If they eliminate these things how will anyone know true happiness? An example of Jonas having feelings is when he is given the memory of Christmas. In the memory, Jonas experienced warmth, happiness, and love. The author states, “ “What did you perceive?” The Giver asked. “Warmth,” Jonas replied, “and happiness. And—let me think. Family.” Being the receiver, Jonas does not only experience joyful things. He also endures pain and sadness, but this is what makes us know true happiness. In another memory the Giver gave to Jonas, he was in the middle of a battlefield. People and animals all around him were dying. The author states, “Around him, everywhere, far across the expanse of what seemed to be a field, lay groaning men. A wild-eyed horse, its bridle torn and dangling, trotted frantically through the mounds of men, tossing its head, whinnying in panic. It stumbled, finally, then fell, and did not rise.”
Even though there are some negative parts of being the Receiver of Memory, I think overall being selected to be the Receiver is a great honor. Being able to see color, experience new things, and having true feelings is more important than being protected from pain.
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Important Issues In The Giver.
(2022, July 08). Edubirdie. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/important-issues-in-the-giver/
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