Summary of The Giver Chapter Thirteen
Characters and Relationships:
●
Jonas is the protagonist and the new Receiver of Memories. He is curious, thoughtful and increasingly frustrated with the Sameness of his community. Jonas wants to make a difference and help others, but he is also becoming aware of the burden he will have to carry.
●
The Giver is the old Receiver of Memories who is training Jonas. He is wise, patient, and burdened by the weight of the memories. The Giver wants to help Jonas prepare for the challenges of the role, but he also understands the pain that Jonas will have to endure.
●
Asher is Jonas's best friend, who is content with the Sameness of their community. Asher is kind but doesn't understand Jonas's growing dissatisfaction and struggles to comprehend the idea of choice.
●
Lily is Jonas's younger sister. She is innocent and still attached to her comfort object, a stuffed elephant. Lily represents the naivety of the community and the lack of awareness about the past.
●
Jonas's Parents are typical members of the community, content with the Sameness and focused on raising their children according to the rules. They are loving but unaware of the depth of the world's history and the pain it holds.
Motivations and Development:
●
Jonas's motivation stems from his desire for individuality, choice, and a deeper understanding of the world. He is driven by a need to break free from the Sameness and make a difference. As he gains more memories, he becomes increasingly frustrated with the limitations and control in his community.
●
The Giver is motivated by a sense of duty to pass on the memories and knowledge of the past to Jonas. He wants Jonas to be prepared for the burden of being the Receiver, but he also hopes that Jonas can bring about change in the community.
Conflict:
●
Internal conflict: Jonas struggles with the increasing awareness of the limitations and control within his community. He wants to share his knowledge and experiences, but he knows he is bound by the rules of secrecy. Jonas grapples with the weight of the memories and the pain they bring.
●
External conflict: Jonas faces conflict with the community's strict rules and structure. He questions the lack of choice and freedom, and his desire for individuality clashes with the community's emphasis on Sameness. This is highlighted in his conversation about choices with The Giver.
Themes:
●
The importance of memory and the past: The chapter emphasizes the significance of remembering the past and learning from it. The memories that Jonas receives highlight the beauty, diversity, and pain that have been lost in the pursuit of Sameness and control.
●
The dangers of suppressing individuality and choice: The community's strict rules and emphasis on Sameness have resulted in a loss of freedom and individuality. Jonas's growing desire for choice and self-expression represents a challenge to this system.
●
The burden of knowledge and responsibility: The Giver's role and the process of receiving memories demonstrate the weight of knowledge and the responsibility that comes with it. Jonas begins to understand the challenges and sacrifices associated with being the Receiver.
Symbols:
●
The elephant: The elephant in the memory symbolises the beauty, strength, and emotional depth that have been lost in the community. The elephant's grief and its care for its dead companion highlight the importance of emotions and connections.
●
The colour red: The recurring mention of the colour red represents the vibrancy and richness of the world that has been suppressed in the community. Jonas's ability to see colours and his attempts to share them symbolize his growing awareness and his desire to break free from the Sameness.
Point of View:
●
Third-person limited: The story is told from Jonas's point of view. The reader experiences the world through Jonas's perceptions and emotions, but the narrator does not reveal the thoughts or feelings of other characters. This allows the reader to empathise with Jonas's growing sense of frustration and isolation.
Foreshadowing:
●
The Giver's comment, "They were reminded of that ten years ago", foreshadows the potential consequences of the Receiver's failure and the community's reliance on this role.
●
Jonas's attempts to share colour with Asher and his family foreshadow the difficulties he will face in trying to change the community's mindset.
●
The Giver's decision to give Jonas a painful memory about the elephant foreshadows the challenging and potentially traumatic nature of Jonas's training.
Literary Devices:
●
Imagery: The author uses vivid imagery to describe the memories, particularly the elephant memory, evoking strong emotional responses in the reader and emphasising the contrast between the community's Sameness and the richness of the past.
●
Symbolism: The use of symbols like the elephant and the colour red adds depth and meaning to the story, allowing the reader to understand the underlying themes and messages.
●
Irony: The community's belief that they are "protected" from wrong choices is ironic, as it comes at the cost of freedom, individuality, and genuine human experiences.
●
Foreshadowing: The author uses foreshadowing to create suspense and hint at future events, keeping the reader engaged and prompting them to consider the potential consequences of Jonas's actions.