The Giver Language Analysis

Think for a minute that our world was a world without choice or color or independence. While our modern day society has many problems, Jonas’s society is full of laws that are unknowingly horrible. Many things that are in his society, that is portrayed by Lois Lowry in her book The Giver, have limitations and absurd laws; laws like precision of language, family units, and independence. These limitations are strictly watched and people are punished or reprimanded if not followed. One of these rules that are so strictly watched is precision of language. In the book The Giver, if precision of language is not followed then parents or administrators or anyone who is there to witness it, will warn them and remind them about precision of language.

In the novel many rules and time limits are put in place for family units. Breakfast and dinner times occur all at the same time for every family unit in the community. In the morning during breakfast the family units discuss their dreams that they had that night. During dinner the family units discuss their feelings that they had during the day. There are many instances in the novel that take place during these times. “‘Who wants to be the first tonight, for feelings?’ Jonas’s father asked at the conclusion of their evening meal.” (Lowry 4) and “Usually, at the morning ritual when family members told their dreams,...” (Lowry 34) are both quotes of when the mandatory family discussions take place. There are speakers that are in each family units home where the government listens to everything and gives announcements. Each family unit can have two children maximum. On the other hand people or parents in our modern society can have as many kids as they want. Families do whatever they want to do. They eat dinner whenever they want whether it is all together as a family or in separate rooms. Some families do discuss things during dinner but they do not have to. If the family does want to discuss something it can be whatever they want it to discuss. The families in our modern society have freedom to do what they want as a

Many things are chosen and controlled by the government. Everything from names to children to jobs that each individual has. Instead of a person choosing their jobs, it is assigned to them. A child’s name is chosen for them and what child is given to a family unit is also chosen. There are no colors or choices for the sake of sameness. There are no birthdays where only one person is celebrated. Even emotions are controlled by people taking pills so no one has any feelings. “‘It’s just the pills. You’re ready for the pills, that’s all. That’s the treatment for stirrings.’” (Lowry 38). Also a quote about assignments is, “It was a secret selection, made by the committee of elders, who took the responsibility so seriously that there were never even any jokes made about assignments.” (Lowry 15). In our modern day society anybody can choose their own jobs or life choices. Everyone has their own emotions and can choose the names of what they want it to be for their children. Every person has their own birthdays to celebrate themselves on. In our modern society there is a lot more freedom and independence than the society in The