The Giver Book Comparison

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The Giver is a 1993 dystopian novel written by Lois Lowry. The novel follows the main character Jonas as he struggles with emotions and concepts that he not accustomed to in the world around him. In 2014, a movie version of the novel was released, which used updated elements of the novel to suit contemporary audience. Compared to the novel the movie has some difference in the character changes and the ending of the story. The movie also shares similarities in the dystopian societies and the element of color and emotion. Overall, The Giver has many features and elements that are common to the novel and the movie that would be pleasing to the both the audience and the reader. The characters in the novel play a large role in the development …show more content…

In both of the movie and the book, Jonas leaves the community in an attempt to save Gabriel from being released. In the movie, Jonas just leaves the community quickly to save Gabriel from being released. He seems to automatically know it is going to happen, while in the novel he plans in case he released and then executes his plan. This change is small though when compared to how the ending could be interpreted as a whole. In the novel, the reader is left with questions of what will happen to the characters and their lives. The reader knows that he can see the community of Elsewhere because of the color and music, but is left wondering if he makes it. The movie adds more to the ending and viewer is not left with as many questions as the reader is. Lois Lowry was interviewed with New York Magazine in 2014 and stated, “And I had a little trouble with the ending: In the book, it’s ambiguous, but the movie ­people—and when I say ‘movie people,’ I mean primarily Harvey Weinstein…felt that the ending should not be so ambiguous.” The ending of the movie uses the film element of montage. It combined important memories with the past and how it shapes everyone in the community. The focus on Jonas leaving the community and then moves to his thoughts of memories. This process of montage happens for about a minute or two and it uses the cross cut method of