Chapter eighteen mainly focuses on the topic of release. Jonas and the Giver discuss why they are both not able to file for release. They talk about Rosemary, the former Receiver in training, and the disaster that occurred. In chapter nineteen it is the day that father will have to deal with the twins being born. The Giver decides to show Jonas the recording of the procedure with the twins. Jonas then finds out that his father actually just kills the lesser twin, and doesn't really care or nurture it at all. 'With an odd, shocked feeling, Jonas recognized the gestures and posture and expression. They were familiar. He had seen them before. But he couldn't remember where.' This passage is important because it shows how Jonas applies his memories to the secrets and lies of his community. He now know things that no one else knows. The feeling he's thinking of is most likely relating to the war memory where he experienced what the soldiers felt. It was near death and that was what the baby was experiencing.
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Jonas has not taken his pills for a while now, and he can now see in full color. He's become more in touch with his feeling and emotions as well. Because of Jonas understanding of moe things, he does something very strange when he sees his friends playing a game. Jonas knew this game, and before the memory of war, he never though it was awful to do. When he sees his friends pretending to be at war shooting each other, he immediately tells them that what they are doing is serious and not a joke. They think he's acting kind of crazy (especially Asher). Gabs is learning how to walk and lily is approaching the age of nine. The twins will be born and Father will have to take care of that problem.
I think the reason for Jonas having that feeling that he shouldn't take the pill is a sign of his training progressing. He is received memories of a different time or place, and he may have the knowledge that these pills are not normal. Maybe he wants to see what will occur if he decided to skip out on the pill. His community is made of people who have never known anything but the rules they were given and a lifestyle they think is normal. Jonas is now realizing the place he lives in is unfair and he knows that it's capable of much more. The question is, will this have a negative or positive impact on the community?
Jonas has now been in training for a few weeks and his abilities to see color and apprehend memories is becoming stronger and stronger every day. Jonas seems to be very against the way his community has been operating all these years. He wants colors and he believes that it is unfair. Both the Giver and Jonas have similar thoughts on the community and wish they could do something about it, but knowing the committee of Elders they both know their ideas won't be appreciated. Jonas has been wondering why some days he is turned away by the Giver because he is in so much pain. So, Jonas was surprised when the Giver allowed Jonas to receive the memory that was causing him so much pain. It started off with Jonas in the sled at the top of the hill, except this time the sled was out of control and he fell and broke his leg. It was excruciating while inside the memory, but even caused him pain after transmitting of the memory. He is also given a painful memory in chapter fifteen which is of a bloody war. He notices the dead and injured soldiers and horses and is very confused. Then, he finds that he himself was left with no arm and cries for help.
This paragraph from chapter thirteen seems very significant to me. 'Some afternoons The Giver sent him away without training. Jonas knew, on days when he arrived to find The Give hunched over, rocking his body slightly back and forth, his face pale, that he would be sent away.' This paragraph shows the true risks and consequences to this assignment. You endure so much pain and suffering and although it's hard you are forced to stay brave and power through. This paragraph from chapter fourteen seems very significant to me. 'Then, the first wave of pain. He gasped. It was as if a hatchet lay lodged in his leg, slicing through each nerve with a hot blade. In his agony he perceived the word "fire" and felt flames licking at the torn bone and flesh. He tried to move and could not. The pain grew. This paragraph is also a great example pf the pain that Jonas will endure in this process and for the rest of his career. Everything in this memories applies to him in reality, and although it is not as severe of a pain while in his memories, it causes a significant amount of pain and suffering. This paragraph from chapter fifteen seems very significant to me. 'He turned his head towards the voice and looked into the half-closed eyes of a boy who seemed not much olde than himself. Dirt streaked the boy's face and his matted blond hair. He played sprawled, his gray uniform glistening with wet, fresh blood. This paragraph sent chills up my spine. These memories are so vivid and detailed that it must be scarring. To experience these things first hand would surely cause an indescribable amount of pain torture, and suffering. Jonas has finally gotten to the bottom of what these little moments of change are. First with the apple, then with the faces in the audience, and most recently Fiona's hair. The Giver explains that Jonas is starting to see a quality from way back called color. Right now Jonas is just seeing red, but apparently he will grow to see more. The Giver is happy with Jonas's progress and is surprised to see that Jonas will probably gain his wisdom even sooner than he ever did. The Giver also talks about how the world was when he was younger and the way things were, and Jonas does not agree with what has become of his community. He definitely seems more interested in what the world used to be like.
In the chapter Jonas is surprised that this experience wasn't painful like he had been told. The giver then has to explain to Jonas that eventually it will become painful. I can only imagine what Jonas will eventually experience having to receive all these memories all at once. There are obviously going to be scary memories or even painful memories which I think will take a bigger toll on Jonas. I feel that at the end of this experience Jonas will come to new realizations of his community and the whole world. I get the feeling that this job will expose more about his community and the whole world past, present, and future.
In this passage the Giver basically sums up his experience as the receiver. Earlier he tells Jonas that this job has aged him, and he supports that by saying that he was given these memories which added a weight to him. Passing on these memories to Jonas will both take the weight off the giver, but put it all back onto Jonas. The giver tells how he constantly re experiences them while he's just sitting alone. For the giver he is teaching Jonas to take these memories and sue them to gain wisdom.
Jonas is very shocked that his instructions stated that he was know able to lie. He was always told that lying was prohibited. He had him rethinking all of the things the older people in his community had said and done. Had they always lied? Is everyone able to lie at the age of 12 and older? He wasn't sure, and it was almost making him uncomfortable. How could he know for sure if this was all truthful.
If lying was prohibited in our society, I think it would be terrible. Although lying is bad, a little white lie won't do too much damage. It can be very important in certain decisions. If lying was eliminated that would be even worse. The world would be a mess if everyone was expected to tell the whole honest truth all the time. Fights and even wars would break out. Sometimes lies can protect people, although they are not always the best decision. The five qualities are integrity, intelligence, courage, wisdom, and the Capacity to See Beyond. Jonas has many examples of these qualities. Jonas shows us his intelligence in just chapter 1. On page 15 he is explaining how he is very keen on the rules and is always making sure not to disobey any of them. He has the courage to admit that he had a strange dream to his whole family in chapter five on page 63. He is always showing these qualities and I'm not surprised he was selected to be the new Receiver.
Jonas is an eleven year old boy who appears to live in an ideal world. There are strict rules and regulations that you must follow or you could face punishments or even being released. Everything is controlled by the committee of elders and they tend to make sure everything stays the way they want it at all times. Jonas has always known that he was different for a few reasons. Number one he has pale eyes. Number two he once had an experience with an apple that was very strange. He saw it as one state and then it changed right before his eyes and he was the only one who saw it change. As the story progresses he is nearing the age of twelve. In this world there is pretty much ceremony for every age. At each ceremony you have certain things like, getting a bike, having your comfort object taken away, taking out your braids, etc. At the ceremony of twelve you are given your assignment. It is basically the job that you will have until you enter the house of the old. Jonas isn't sure what his assignment will be. Jonas basically starts catching on that there is something weird is going on. He has to take pills that appear to give him no emotion, and he is seeing how strange it is that he is part of a family unit where everyone was paired together. He has a sister named Lily and two parents who never show any affection towards each other. When Jonas gets assigned the job of a receiver he is shocked, because he's never heard of it but he is ready to find out!
I feel that this book has been very interesting so far. I look at as a world that is very crazy and out of order compared to the world I live in, but everyone in the world as adapted. I can tell that Jonas is catching on and I think he is based on his ability to see beyond. I think that this book will have a surprise ending and I'm very excited to finish up this book and see the outcome of everything! |
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