November 25, 2009
I recently began reading books from a list of literature banned in the United States or in other countries. This was one of the first books I read.
Imagine you live in a society without fear, anger, or pain. War doesn’t exist. Nobody knows what hurt is, and everyone has a specific role in a secure society. While this may seem like a fantasy to some people, it is reality for Jonas, the main character in Lois Lowry's The Giver.
Although seemingly idyllic, the eleven-year old’s society fails to provide its inhabitants with an essential: choice. In an attempt to create an orderly society, the government controls everything. For example, a committee of elders chooses which citizens marry each other and also who their children will be. Children are born to Birthmothers, women whose sole job is to procreate constantly. When children are a few days old, they are taken to Nurturing Centers, where they live with other children born that year, until they are assigned to a family at age one. Each family gets two children (one boy and one girl), and no more. Children play in a controlled environment and do not know what it’s like to have pets, see colors, or have grandparents. Older people are “released” from the community once they reach a certain age. “Release” is thought to be when someone is just sent to live in another community, and all children accept it as a vague but non-threatening concept. Things are relatively predictable, until the Ceremony of Twelve arrives.
Each December, the Ceremony of Twelve marks the occasion in which every twelve year-old gets their life assignment and finds out what their societal role will be. Everyone in the town gathers to witness as some children get the assignment to be doctors, or engineers, or teachers. As Jonas realizes that the elders have skipped him, the crowd notices it too and falls silent. The elders then announce that Jonas has been given the title of “Receiver of Memory.” For the rest of his life, Jonas will store memories of what his society was like before governmental control. These memories will include memories of war, pain, strife, and hunger. Jonas will be the only one in the community with this duty.
Once assigned his role, Jonas begins to work with an elder known only as The Giver. Under his tutelage, Jonas begins to not only receive memories, but also feelings he’d never felt before: anger, loss, sadness, joy, and beauty. These feelings enable him to see his community in true light. Although always polite, no one is capable of loving each other, or feeling genuine concern for others. Jonas learns this as he secretly watches his father prepare for the “release” of a weak infant. Rather than simply release the baby a safe and ambiguous place, Jonas’s father gives it a lethal injection and then throws it down a garbage chute. Like all others who have been “released,” the euthanized baby is simply forgotten. After witnessing this horror, Jonas also learns that his father plans to “release” his adopted baby brother. It is then that Jonas must decide whether to protect one child alone and risk their lives, or to protect his community from sadness and pain, even if it means knowing the horrible truth.
As I finished this book, I felt slightly disturbed. I did not expect to read about things like euthanasia or Orwellian visions of the future, especially from a book geared towards preteens (or readers aged 8 and older, as the book jacket recommends.) Would I recommend this book to an 8 year-old? Probably not, as it has some pretty grotesque images and deals with some complex ethical questions. Would I recommend it to an adult? Definitely.
Reading about Jonas's society and its rules raised the following question, and I invite you to answer:
Would you rather live in a society where you and your loved ones feel no pain and always have food, shelter, and job security but have no freedom of choice, or have the freedom to choose and question your government, but have no job security and be exposed to pain and hunger?
Comments
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QueenLayna (Layna McVay) says...
When did this book become banned? I read it back in the 7th or 8th grade, and I thought it was very interesting. I remember that we were studying different forms of government at the time, and I remember thinking that Jonas' society might have roots in communism. I think I would like to re-read it, now 12 years later, to experience it again, and to see what else I might get out of it. I certainly don't think it should be a banned book...
November 25, 2009 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
claudiasanchez (Claudia Sanchez) says...
I assume it got banned because some parents wouldn't want their children reading about euthanasia (specifically about adults killing babies.) I agree, though, it was a very interesting book. It was interesting to read how the government thought it was protecting its citizens by making everything the same, and how the people just accepted it as a way of life. I definitely wouldn't want to be Jonas, though; I can't imagine what a burden it would be to carry everyone's memories and sadness.
On second thought, maybe the book got banned because people didn't want readers to make comparisons between the book and real-life governments, but that's a can of worms I don't want to open.
November 25, 2009 at 11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
girlfawkes (r wools) says...
I love this book and would allow my child to read it.
If you like this kind of dystopian theme, Margaret Atwood has written a few great ones, most notably "Oryx and Crake" and "The Handmaid's Tale".
November 26, 2009 at 1:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Resident (Resi Dent) says...
The fearful ban while the brave embrace.
November 26, 2009 at 8:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chuck (C. Ulysses Farley) says...
Isn't it up to the parent, and not abstract notions of "civil society in general" to decide which ethical/moral questions to expose to their children?
But then again, try surfing the Internet on an NCRL terminal sometime.
(Thanks for the recommendations people. I've now put "The Giver" on my reading list, and may get a copy for my daughter as well.)
November 27, 2009 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bitzthadust (Jeff Ohman) says...
I wonder if books depicting dystopian societies are banned in "The Giver's" dystopian society? I bet they are....lol
November 28, 2009 at 7:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
claudiasanchez (Claudia Sanchez) says...
girlfawkes, The Handmaid's Tale was also on several banned books lists. I am not terribly interested in dystopian themes (they scare me a little), but I'll probably read that book for good measure. I agree with you, Resident and Chuck. As I've started this banned books project, I keep wondering who has decided that the books shouldn't be read, or why they've even been controversial. As to that last comment, there was never any mention of anybody reading books in The Giver :)
November 29, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Enesvy (Nicole Villacres) says...
"The Giver" is an excellent book that I would have no problem giving to any child 12 years old and older. It is no darker than most classic fairy tales, yet is far more relevant to our society today. It struggles with the issue of pain and why we must experience it in order to be fully human. Free will allows for pain, struggle and horror, but also love, passion and beauty. You can't rid the world of pain without ridding the world of freedom.
.
I loved this book. :)
November 30, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
anniebear (Annie Bear) says...
Is this booked banned by our schools or our government?
There is a book (now a movie) called the "City of Embers" where the children are also told what their jobs will be. Although it is not as strictly controled as in the "Giver" it led to some wonderful discussions in our house about freedom and choices. This book is not a banned book. Thanks for sharing and please share again on the next book you read off that list.
December 2, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
anniebear (Annie Bear) says...
So I asked if this book was banned by our schools. It is not as one of my children is currentlty reading the book in one of their classes. We talked about the story line and plot and I really enjoyed my childs interpetation of events and what their thoughts were on the subject. I am glad this book is not banned here in the WSD.
December 3, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
claudiasanchez (Claudia Sanchez) says...
Annie, I remember some of my classmates reading this book when I was in early middle school, so it wasn't banned back then, either (this would've been about 15 years ago.) I don't think it's been banned by our government, but it has been highly controversial. Maybe that's a better name for my list..."Controversial Books."
December 3, 2009 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JeremyLogan (Jeremy Logan) says...
sounds similar to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. I will have to check for it when I am done with the stack of new books I have piled up on my desk.
December 22, 2009 at 1:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mavulous (mav ulous) says...
>sounds similar to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. <
Got soma?
December 22, 2009 at 8:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mavulous (mav ulous) says...
>You can't rid the world of pain without ridding the world of freedom.<
You can if you have some really good drugs! ;-) Just kidding!
December 22, 2009 at 8:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
anniebear (Annie Bear) says...
Claudia - Thanks for the update and I just read the book and it can be controversial. I really liked the writing of the author and subject matter. There is a second book to the Giver. I have not read it, but if you have I would like to see you blog about that one too.
Thanks again for your follow up - AnnieBear
December 23, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )