The Giver (1993) Review



       Imagine you lived a life of "sameness." A life absent of:
                                                 sun
                                               color
                                                rain
                                               music
                                               movies
                                                books
                                                iPods
                                               phones
                                            computers
                                           social media
                                             choices
                                         emotions/feelings
                                           sexual desires
                                                pain
                                               death
                                              freedom.
Now imagine living in a community that is categorized by age and job association. In this community there are rules, manners, regulation of children and spouses; each person's destiny is predetermined by a so-called friend, parent, distant relative...Leader of the Beyond. Lois Lowry's 1993 science fiction novel, The Giver, is a story of twelve-year-old Jonas living in a world of sameness, a controlled, ordinary, predictable, and stagnant society that has been and will always be the same. The Giver initiates routine and class. With this idea of sameness, the community is sheltered from intolerable differences and cruelties of the world such as war and death. The reader is lured into a position of good vs evil; ignorance vs reality, love vs hate, and obedience vs rebellion. Jonas is recognized as a respectable citizen whom is responsible, caring, nurturing, and brave. Not to mention a boy of intelligence, integrity, courage, and wisdom with the capability to see beyond. Jonas is in training to become the Receiver of Memories, a cordial invitation in becoming the next Giver.

In this Hitler-esque and chosen utopian society that Lowry portrays as a culture of limitations is applauded for opening the door to opportunity. How many times in our human existence do we take people, places, things, and ideas for granted? Lowry ever-so-diligently explores the idea of sameness then releases her reader's into the land of opportunity when Jonas decides to leave his limited, ordinary life in search of knowledge. choice. freedom.

I was introduced to The Giver when I was in the 11th grade. After reading The Giver I knew I was destined to lead an unconventional life at seventeen years old. To me, sameness means dreams are obsolete, and the passion for that THING that drives each of us to get out of bed in the morning doesn't exist. If there is no such thing as new experiences, love, the choice to be with whom and whatever we want, then what's the point of dragging yourself out of bed every day to lead a life of predictability and striving for approval and expectations? What's so deviant about exploring new possibilities? Why limit ourselves to an ordinary life when we can live beyond extraordinary

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Just Shelby (2020)

  Brooklyn James not only challenges herself as a storyteller in her newest release,  Just Shelb y   (2020), but she challenges her readers with a writing style that reveals a mysterious plot of  whodunnit  at the end.    Just Shelby  may not be everyone’s flavor of a read in 2020 while we’re pausing in the quarantine life as it is a slower read told with dual perspectives; however, slow doesn’t equate to poor art; it’s a matter of taste and delight. The  hurry-up-and-get-there type  may be  looking for a  whodunnit  murder mystery to be upfront in your face with a character reveal like  Game of Thrones  (2011-2019) with relentless jousting and jolting with no hesitation to kill the main character in Act 1 Scene 1 of an Emmy Award-Winning television series.    Just Shelby  is more like the Emmy Award-Winning television series,  Breaking Bad  (2008-2013), taking a slower pace to really nai...
Read more

A Walk Across America (1979) Review

Image
What is your deepest desire? If you know what that is, what are going to do to find satisfaction? Some find it in their business endeavors, some in the arts, and others in politics. For Peter Jenkins it's self-discovery that leads him on a search for his country and for himself. With his desire, Jenkins discovers a career he least expects. Jenkins' 1979 novel, A Walk Across America,  describes an internal battle that he has in order to understand The United States in a time of misunderstanding. The Back Story:  In 1969 Peter starts his collegiate career at Alfred University. Alfred University (AU) is a quaint private University in Upstate, New York.  It's small in comparison to Peter's home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Peter originally enrolls in Liberal Arts College, but quickly transfers into the College of Art. Seemingly, this is where Peter discovers his love for sculpting and other works of art. After finding his niche, he learns to balance his socia...
Read more

Man of Steel (2013) Review

Image
Whether you're 10 or 100-years-old then you know of the sci-fi action/adventure phenomenon, Superman. But, do you really know Superman? Director, Zack Snyder put his best foot forward in capturing the man that wears the red velvet cape in his 2013 rendition, Man of Steel. Starring Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/ Kel-El and Michael Shannon as Master of Destruction, the Fallen Angel of Planet Krypton, General Zod. Snyder takes his audience on a 2 hour and 23-minute journey into bridging the gap between Planet Krypton and Planet Earth. Historical Context of the Man with the Red Cape 101: Superman originated in 19th century by German Philosopher, Frederich Nietzsche. Nietzsche's interpretation of this superhuman we know as Superman was translated from the German word Ubermenslch meaning overman or beyondman. In creating Ubermenslch, Nietzsche's philosophical vision is to create an ideal man of integrity who would rise above evil and represent the good in human evo...
Read more