1the Giver by Louis Lorry-

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Desiree S. Policarpio

BSAT3-2

Philosophy 101

January 25, 2012

My reflection Paper: The Giver by Lois Lowry

It is nice to think of a perfect world for everyone. A world with happy, contented

people was living in harmony, peace and order. But this is not the perfect world the story

reveals. Imagine a world with no pain, no suffering, no love, and no choices. Would you

want to live in this kind of world? I personally dreamed about a paradise, a perfect world

for you and me. But is there what we called perfect in this world? Like in the story where

Jonas lives, life is safe, orderly, and predictable. I recognized Jonas world as advanced

world where science was in its peak of excellence. There were what you called weather

control so that even the weather remains constant. It was also implied that genetic

engineering has been used extensively to manipulate human beings so that they were all

colorblind, and physically conform to sameness. But still its not perfect. Theres no

freedom because every aspect of a person's life is carefully planned. People rarely make

choices of their own and everything is decided for them by the community. There is no

snow or sunshine, no colors or music, no animals or nature. The world here is lifeless.

The story was very interesting for me because it makes me realized that theres no

such thing as perfect when it comes from wrongful act. For example the use of modern

technology here for me was wrong since no one can manipulate human even though for

the peace and order of the society. This is for the reason that I believe that God gave us

intelligence and will to decide for our own. God gave us freedom. God gave us Life.

Even the society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to sameness, a plan which

has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. This would never attain perfect


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world because its not right to make people emotionless, taken away their memories, and

eliminate those who born different from the others just for the sake of sameness. Jonas

changed everything. He sees colors. He sees life beyond his sealed society. He breaks the

rule and did not accept what the societys traditional life. Because he knows what the true

is and truth must come out. But at his young age, he shouldered a big responsibility

because his action will change not only his life but the also the future generation.

The Giver depicts an extraordinary story. The part which I like the most was the

enlightenment of the main character which is Jonas. From the story, as someone with

intelligence, integrity, courage, and a certain special capacity, Jonas is selected for the

most honored and respected Assignment in the community. He is assigned to become a

Receiver of Memories who will succeed the current Receiver. A Receiver of Memories is

the one person in the community who has access to all the memories of the past. He must

keep these memories within himself until he can train a new Receiver to whom he can

pass them. Thus, the Receiver has knowledge of things that no one in the community has

access to, but the Receiver also has the responsibility to shoulder the burden of sorrow

and pain that the memories bring. This was but a sad part of Jonas life. He begins to be

separated to the others simply because his friends cannot understand him anymore.Gradually, through the memories he receives from The Giver, Jonas comes to realize the

various truths about the community. He realizes that it is unfair to deprive people of ever

being able to make choices for themselves about their own lives. He understands that the

people of the community have no genuine feelings. Feelings have never been a part of

their lives. He also learns that there are different ways to live. Through the memories, he

sees people in the past living differently, and feels that the community must change. it


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was when Jonas receives the memories from the Giver where he discovers the power of

knowledge. He realized the truth that the people in his community were happy because

they don't know of a better life. He was awakened. But the knowledge of what they are

missing out on could also create chaos. Jonas faces a dilemma: Should he stay with the

community, his family living a shallow life without love, color, choices, and knowledge,

or should he run away to where he can live a full life? This question was very important

that reflect the scenario in philosophy.

The story ended in the fulfillment of Jonas mission to live in full life. For me, the

decision of Jonas was right and just. He decides to flee the community for the Elsewhere,

a place he has only heard about that lies far beyond so that they awakened. To see the

true colors, feel the snow touches his skin and music coming from houses. All of this was

the light brought by Jonas, the Giver story.

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1the Giver by Louis Lorry-