Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Bristol Palin

Home
Politics and Religion
The Giver Book Club – Chapters 3 and 4: Sameness or Individuality?

The Giver Book Club – Chapters 3 and 4: Sameness or Individuality?

Last updated on: July 22, 2014 at 1:11 pm by Bristol Palin

The Giver Book Club – Chapters 3 and 4: Sameness or Individuality? 2014-07-22T13:11:07-05:00 Bristol Palin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Welcome to my first ever book club! We’re reading “The Giver” by Lois Lowry together, in preparation for the August 15th movie by based on the book!

If you missed it:

Chapters 1 and 2

Ever feel weird for being different than everyone else?

I know I have. (Of course, I felt “different” from everyone else when I had a baby before my friends! I was thinking of diapers and sleeping through the night while my friends were thinking of high school Prom!)

I guess you wouldn’t be human if you hadn’t felt like the odd man out.

In the world of The Giver, it’s considered very rude for people to point out things that are different about others… generally people try to overlook any small differences. There aren’t many mirrors in this community, so that people aren’t obsessed with comparing themselves to others. If they were to do so, there’s not much to compare. People are all generally the same – they don’t have strong urges, passions, or desires. They dress alike, think similarly, and live in identical family units.

Every “unit” has a mom, dad, and a girl and boy. That’s why Jonas’s dad gets special permission to temporarily bring the baby Gabe into their home – temporarily, to see if he will thrive there. The author describes the baby’s eyes as “pale, solemn, knowing eyes” – like the eyes of Jonas… though he is embarrassed that his eyes are different from everyone else’s.

Jonas and his two main friends — Asher and Fiona –do volunteer work at their community’s version of a nursing home. There, the community’s older people live are taken care of while they wait for their death.

Did I say death? Oops. There’s no such thing as death in this community. The government has taken great care to make sure nothing is bad or painful in this place. The older people at the House of the Old aren’t awaiting death – they are awaiting “release.”

What is release?

Well, according to an older woman whom Jonas is bathing, a “release” is when people are sent to a different world, a better place.

That night, Jonas dreams of bathing Fiona. When he confesses this to his mother – there are NO secrets in this community, apparently – she encourages him to take pills to take away the “longings.”

He has mixed feelings. On one hand, he’s glad to be getting older. On the other, he liked those feelings of passion that he had for Fiona in his dream.

Some feelings, of course, are pleasant!

Now, I want to hear your thoughts.

What happens in these two chapters that show that people do actually judge each other and rate each other, even thought they boast about equality and sameness?
Would it be easier for our society if people didn’t have “longings?”
When Jonas steals the apple, the government publicly shames him over the loudspeaker. How would the threat of this shame affect your behavior?
When Jonas is bathing Larissa, she describes the “release” ceremony of her friend. While describing it, she says that that all lives are meaningful. Why is this more ironic than an Alanis Morissette song?
In the community of The Giver, everyone passively accepts all rules that the government passes down. Why is this bad, even if it makes things run more smoothly?
Jonas doesn’t seem too concerned that the government is watching him. He’s grown up loudspeakers, rules, and public punishment. Are we getting too comfortable with our own “Big Brother” (if you’ll let me mix books for a moment)?
Do you think the rule against bragging is a good one?
How are new children and the elderly the same in this community?

To read more about my book club — or to join! — click here.

Read more on the Faith and Family Channel, fan me on Facebook and follow this blog on Twitter!

Uncategorized

The Giver

Previous Post

July 21, 2014

The Giver Book Club – Chapters 1 and 2: Almost Perfect?

Next Post

July 23, 2014 Tripp Started Football Today!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion compassion inspiration life military persecution photos Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Sword of the Spirit represent?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Holy Spirit The power of prayer The Word of God Faith

Books by This Author Books by Bristol Palin

See All Titles »