Giver Theme

Jonas is a dynamic character because in the beginning he only cares about himself. Then in the end he ends up caring about other people. According to the author “He was left with not the slightest idea - not even a guess- of what his Assignment would be.”(29) This shows how in the beginning Jonas only cared about himself and not anyone else. Then in the end he ended up carrying for other people’s well being like Gabriel. According to the author “He hugged Gabriel and rubbed him briskly, warming him to keep him alive.(179) This shows how Jonas cares about Gabriel that he tries to keep Gabriel warm and alive and not care about himself anymore only about Gabriel. This shows how Jonas is a dynamic character because in the beginning he cares about himself but in the end he ends up caring about someone else’s well being like Gabriel.

One of the themes about ‘The Giver’ is that experiencing pain can change the way you see things. One of the ways Jonas experiences pain and sees things differently was when Jonas sees Asher and the rest playing a war game. He tries hard not to cry since he remembers the war boy who begged him for water before dieing. According to the author “In his mind, Jonas saw again the face of the boy who had laid dying on a field and had begged him for water- Jonas’s shuddering breaths He was struggling not to cry (134). This shows how Jonas feels pain for the boy and people who went to war before. Although Jonas didn't see it as a cruel game before. Making him see the game differently. According to the author “I didn't know it myself until recently. But it’s a cruel game. (Page 134) This shows how Jonas experienced pain and saw the game differently. He saw how playing that game actually represents sadness for the people who died fighting. Before he saw it as a normal game but then he experienced and “lived” the pain and saw it differently. Another example of Jonas experiencing pain is when he goes through the snow sled accident in a memory. According to the author “He fell with his legs twisted under him, and could hear the crack of bone. His face scraped along jagged edges of ice - Then, the first wave of pain came.” (108-109). He feels pain when he experiences thie sled accident. As well as notices that no one in his community has experienced real pain like him and the Giver. “They have never known pain (110) This shows how Jonas sees and realises that no one has ever experienced real pain like him. This is why I say one of the themes from “The Giver” is that experiencing pain can change the way you see things.