The Giver: The Importance of Individuality

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The novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, is an everlasting story that shows the importance of individuality. This novel is about a young boy named Jonas who was elected as the Receiver of Memories, a person who is given the memories from the world that existed before their current society, Sameness. In this society there is no individualism. People can not choose who to marry, or what they want to do for a living. Over time Jonas becomes more and more wise, and realizes that the supposedly perfect community actually has some very dark and negative aspects. The author, Lois Lowry is a 76-year-old writer who focuses her writing on helping struggling teenagers become individuals. Lowry had a very tragic childhood. After both of her parents were separated and killed in the middle of a war, she was devastated and the only way she was able to block and forget all of the horrifying things that were happening, were books (Lowry). “My books have varied in content… Yet it seems… that all of them deal with the same general theme: the importance of human connections,” Lowry explained in her autobiography. In the novel The Giver, Lois Lowry uses the literary elements symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery to express the theme: importance of an individual.

Symbolism is one of the major literary elements used in The Giver. It helps explain why it is so important to be able to be an individual. “Suddenly, he was aware with certainty and joy that below, ahead, they were waiting for him; and they were waiting too, for the baby” (Lowry 178). In this quote, Lowry helps the reader understand exactly what Gabriel, a newborn baby, really means. Gabriel symbolizes hope and new beginnings. He makes Jonas want to fight for change, because somehow he has not ...

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... of her books are mainly directed to teenagers and young adults that are yet to discover how wonderful life can be. Her books are directed to the future of the human race. More importantly, it is directed to the innovators and changers who will make the world a better place, and that is why Lowry also has a hidden theme in all of her novels: the importance of human connections.

Works Cited

Lowry, Lois. “Biography.” Lois Lowry. Lois Lowry, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014. .
- - -. “The Giver.” IBooks. Apple, n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.
- - -. “Lois Lowry’s Biography.” Scholastic. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014. .
“Themes and Construction: The Giver.” Novels for Students. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Literature Resource Center. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.

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