Essay on the Giver
| The Giver | By: Lois Lowry | | Justice Otterstrom | 2/20/2013 |
I thought that being the Receiver was a punishment. He had to know everything from before his time, and he had to live with feelings while no one else had any. Being the Receiver was more like a burden than an honor, even though it was considered an honor to the elders. It was a huge punishment to all of the previous receiver’s and the previous givers. Some Evidence to prove that it is a burden... "He found that he was often angry...that they were satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them."(Chapter 13, pg. 99). This is proof that being a receiver was like a burden and a punishment.
Here is some more evidence that it is like a punishment because no one wants his help, even though they need it. "Sometimes I wish they'd ask for my wisdom more often-there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don't want change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable-so painless. It's what they've chosen." (Chapter 13, pg. 103). I wish that in this book that they would have at least asked for guidance. I thought this last quote was weird but very interesting because it proves that it had to be a punishment. "You will be faced; now, with pain of a magnitude that none of us here can comprehend because it is beyond our experience. The Receiver himself was not able to describe it, only to remind us that you would be faced with it, that you would need immense courage." (Chapter 8, pg. 63). After reading this evidence I thought that we are lucky to live in the world we live in.
In conclusion Jonas’ assignment was a burden to me because he had to know everything and feel everything while everyone else felt nothing. When he had to accept this “job” I didn’t feel sorry for him at first until I knew it was a burden. In the end it was mainly a punishment. I think
I thought that being the Receiver was a punishment. He had to know everything from before his time, and he had to live with feelings while no one else had any. Being the Receiver was more like a burden than an honor, even though it was considered an honor to the elders. It was a huge punishment to all of the previous receiver’s and the previous givers. Some Evidence to prove that it is a burden... "He found that he was often angry...that they were satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them."(Chapter 13, pg. 99). This is proof that being a receiver was like a burden and a punishment.
Here is some more evidence that it is like a punishment because no one wants his help, even though they need it. "Sometimes I wish they'd ask for my wisdom more often-there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don't want change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable-so painless. It's what they've chosen." (Chapter 13, pg. 103). I wish that in this book that they would have at least asked for guidance. I thought this last quote was weird but very interesting because it proves that it had to be a punishment. "You will be faced; now, with pain of a magnitude that none of us here can comprehend because it is beyond our experience. The Receiver himself was not able to describe it, only to remind us that you would be faced with it, that you would need immense courage." (Chapter 8, pg. 63). After reading this evidence I thought that we are lucky to live in the world we live in.
In conclusion Jonas’ assignment was a burden to me because he had to know everything and feel everything while everyone else felt nothing. When he had to accept this “job” I didn’t feel sorry for him at first until I knew it was a burden. In the end it was mainly a punishment. I think