The Giver Blog

  While reading The Giver by Lois Lowry, there have been several contrasts and contradictions from our society and Jonas’s society. One contrast and contradiction shown in The Giver is when all family units are to only have two children, female and male. Spouses are required to apply for their children and then children are given to them. In chapter 2, Jonas's father tells his family that he had a concern at work that day. Jonas's father is a Nurturer and it is his task to take care of newborns.  As he explains, a male boy named Gabriel isn’t growing as fast as he should, and he doesn’t sleep soundly. It states,” Maybe we could even keep him,” Lily suggested sweetly, trying to look innocent. “... Lily,” Mother reminded her, smiling, “ you know the rules.” Two children -- one male, one female-- to each family unit. It was written very clearly in the rules.” (Lowry 7,8). This contrast and contradiction in their society happens because it shows that Jonas’s father realizes something different about Gabriel from the other newborns in the nurturing center, when the rule is to only have two children. Lily mentions that his family should keep him but her mother reminds her that the rule is only having two children. This connects to a prediction or inference throughout the story because it shows that if Gabriel stays with the family, consequences will be made. The community allows two children only in each family unit.

Another signpost found in The Giver is again and again. The word that is making a reappearance frequently is December. In December, from newborns to Twelves, there are ceremonies celebrating a year of life and specific prizes given to ages. Once you are a Twelve though, things change. You get your assignment. The career that you will be spending your lifetime doing. In chapter 1, Jonas is getting overwhelmed on the fact that December is coming up because this time, he's not getting a bicycle, he is receiving his future. It states," Thinking still...frightened was the wrong word to describe his feelings, now that December was almost here. "...He had waited a long time for this special December. " (Lowry 4). This again and again signpost shown in The Giver shows a foreshadow into a conflict that will happen in December. The main character, Jonas, stated the word "December" twice, wanting the reader to have a good understanding of what will happen later. It is an important noticing "December" repeatedly because it is an important month of the year for Jonas, not because it celebrates another year of life but because the ceremony is based on what will happen in his life. If something goes wrong during Jonas's ceremony, we can connect the inference to conflict because repeating December twice, shows that something in December will happen in a negative way that worries Jonas internally. If Jonas is feeling worried now, he should definitely feel worried about what the future lies ahead of him.