Freedom In The Giver, By Lois Lowry

When freedom is given to an individual, some choose to abuse it and use it for selfish needs, but some use it for good and go above and beyond to ensure the well-being of the future. Some use their freedom to subjugate others and create a belligerent environment. They make the choice of going down the wrong path and it costs not only themselves, but those around them as well. Regardless, it can not be denied the fact that freedom is a part of human nature. We use our freedom to grow and learn from our mistakes. Freedom also gives individuals the opportunity to have self expression, feel in control, and generally, just make their own decisions. In the novel The Giver written by Lois Lowry, freedom is taken from the community and oppression is

The Giver gives a fitting example of how the freedom of life, when abused, leads to disastrous results. If children are seen unfit or too different they will be Released and the same goes for the elderly, who once are too old or peculiar looking are sent to Elsewhere through the same process. Jonas’s father is a Nurturer for the children and must Release newchildren on occasion for reasons such as, “‘He isn’t growing as fast as he should, and he doesn’t sleep soundly…The committee’s beginning to talk about releasing him.” (Lowry 9). On the occasion that twins are expected he must, “perform a small Ceremony of Release.” (Lowry 171). Jonas’s father says, “‘You’re only five pounds ten ounces. A shrimp!’... He took out a syringe and a small bottle…directed the needle into the top of the newborn’s forehead.” (Lowry 185-186). The newborn’s lives are being taken over the small matter of them being fussy or for being the smaller of two twins, all of which they have no control over. Their freedom, their choice, their opportunity to live is being ripped away from them because of an inconsequential reason. The children and elderly, the very most delicate and defenseless in a society, and despite this they are given no remorse or thought by the individuals killing them. It can be argued that this practice ensures overpopulation and dying of

Wade. For instance, 13 states now openly ban abortion, which makes getting an abortion severely more difficult for the unprepared, and creating a dangerous, potentially deadly, situation for individuals who aren’t able to give birth. These women are being forced to bring another life into the world, women of which may not be financially or mentally ready to raise a child. These children could potentially be raised in abusive or neglectful households. This is most definitely an unjust and inhumane way of abusing these women and children’s freedom. After 50 years of protected abortion rights, these freedoms are being taken back by force: “The overturn of Roe v. Wade diminishes the sexual and reproductive rights of all people living in the US by increasing the number of states where abortion is completely illegal and providing momentum to anti-choice activists working to chip away at a broader set of rights across all states…In order to access a desired abortion, women, trans men, and AFAB non-binary people will have to travel out of state to one of the remaining states where abortion remains legal.”(https://www.american.edu/news/what-do-you-need-to-know-about-the-overturning-of-roe-v-wade). Those in need of an abortion, are now forced to find other, more dangerous tactics