The Giver- Erika Kozub

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      Memory is one of the main themes in The Giver and heavily used as a symbol throughout the story. Our main character, Jonas, is chosen as the receiver of memory where he first learns of all the wonderful and tragic things this world has to offer. There is a significance of memory to human life. Memory is associated to human pain. You cannot feel regret, grief, or even any type of hurt if you do not have memory of the things that have happened. However, in order to get rid of all the bad memories of the world, the good ones had to go as well to try avoiding conflict and suffering. Louis Lowry uses this theme to base of a story a dystopian society that portrays the fight of two dedicated individuals to restore this back into their society.

      "There's much more. There's all that goes beyond -and that is Elsewhere - and all that goes back, and back, and back. I received all of those, when I was selected. And here in this room, all alone, I re-experience them again and again. It is how wisdom comes. And how we shape our future." Wisdom of the past is necessary for decision making in the future, so we can see why the elders wanted a community so resistant to change. They don't have the knowledge to make choices, so they would rather have everything stay the same.

      One of my favorite parts about memory being mentioned in the story was when Jonas had a heated conversation about it. "But why can't everyone have memories? I think it would seem a little easier if the memories were shared. You and I wouldn't have to bear so much by ourselves, if everyone took a part." Jonas wants what is best for the community, and the Giver understands when he responds. "You're right' he said, 'But then everyone would be burdened and pained. They don't want that. And that's the real reason The Receiver is so vital to them, and so honored. They selected me- and you- to lift that burden from themselves." The Giver is very wise with his response, but he is also much older and used to the ways thing run, and even more understanding. I think here the author also means to symbolize that Jonas's heart for the community encourages The Giver to help his restore the memory of the community.

      All of this plays into the role of what is science fiction and how you can work themes like this into teen dystopian novels that can be taught in the classroom. Lowry stresses the idea of human connection and uses memory as a prominent theme to express that. Stories like this allow writers to push their limits and potentially allow it to raise great class discussions if taught in a classroom.



Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 10, 2017 at 10:29 AM

    "Memory is associated with human pain".. I love this because it is so true! Although I would love to forget many things it is worth remembering all the wonderful things that I have lived.

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  2. Taylor SimmonsOctober 11, 2017 at 8:34 AM

    Erika,

    I really love your post about memory. I liked where you said, "Memory is associated to human pain. You cannot feel regret, grief, or even any type of hurt if you do not have memory of the things that have happened." That really stood out to me because it is so true, and I never thought about it this way. I know how much memory affects us as humans, but I never associated it with emotion as much.

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