The Giver Individualism Essay

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you didn't have the opportunity to experience individualism? In the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry, Jonas lives in a society where everyone is the same. Nobody can think for themselves, nobody can see color, nobody can have feelings, and nobody can even understand the concept of death. Nobody has free will. But by the end Jonas makes a sacrifice and suffers so everyone else can understand those things. The theme of the novel is that individuality is something people need because in the book The Giver by Lois Lowry everyone is the same and the society is not successful.

In the book, nobody in the community can think for themselves or has free will.

" ' …I will kill people, sir. Old people?

This shows that being an individual is good because when you are an individual you are not just like everyone else, you understand concepts like death because you are not forced to be the same as other people. " ' Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness. Before my time, before the previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with differences. ' " (Lowry 95) This evidence shows that long before the time that The Giver takes place the people of what the community once was decided to bring about sameness to make the people of the future all the same, and not have an understanding of anything from that time. This evidence shows how the people of the community are the

Now he understood about animals; and in the moment that the horse turned from the stream and nudged Jonas's shoulder affectionately with its head, he perceived the bonds between animal and human." (Lowry 121 - 122) This piece of evidence shows how the memories Jonas is receiving is allowing him to have an entirely different perspective and understanding of life than anyone else in the community. It makes him be able to lead a more fulfilling and special life because of his experiences, which is something sameness cannot give you. "But he knew he couldn't go back to the world of no feelings that he had lived in so long.

And his new, heightened feelings permeated a greater realm than simply his sleep." (Lowry 131) This evidence proves my theme because once Jonas understood what he was missing, when he felt this emotion, it allowed him to be his own person. Most would not choose to go back to the environment of sameness because these emotions, colors, and understanding of certain concepts would truly make someone feel complete. This all proves that my theme is correct, and that individuality is better than everyone being the