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영어

This article examines the negative aspects of “Sameness” and Jonas's efforts to resist it in Lois Lowry's The Giver. Sameness means a notion of identification which forces to erase all the differences in the way of life and to keep the unchangeable state in a secret way. To establish a welfare state, strict rules and overwhelming control can be willingly accepted by people who want to have a comfortable and peaceful life. Jonas's community seems to be perfect and well-organized, for everything is under control. One of the problems in this community, however, is that no one raises questions about the rules or control which surveil them as prisoners in Panopticon where all the prisoners could be observed by just one jailor. The only thing people try to do is to avoid the pain that may be transferred through memories and history, so they choose one special person to hold the whole memories. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and also pleasure of life, and as a new Receiver of Memory, Jonas has to receive the truth. The hidden truth here is that they are scapegoats for maintaining Sameness and preventing fatal crisis for that community. Through getting the memories, Jonas realizes that no pain and no unpleasantness couldn't bring real life and happiness. ‘Sled' which was the first memory Jonas had is a symbol to show what things gave away and need to be restored in that community. Instead of “being the same”, Jonas chooses “being different.” Jonas's society is a dystopian one which blocks real personal growth and freedom of choice. By Jonas's choice, The Giver depicts the conflicts between the power of the individual and the power structure of the totalitarian society.