All the families of the community are chosen by the Elders, each family is strictly made up of a mother, father, and two children, one of each sex, although, no child is biologically related to their parents. Every aspect of a person´s life is carefully planned. There is no snow or sunshine, no colors or music, no animals and no nature. Regardless the sameness present in that society, there is still happiness. The community lives in a complete peaceful environment, where there is no crime, no disease, no pain, no rudeness and no unemployment.
The Theme: An important theme of The Giver is the importance of memories. Without memories we cannot learn from our mistakes. It is important these memories are shared by everyone so that society as a whole can improve. If we do not share the memories, the memories are useless. In the Giver, only the Giver and Jonas have memories.
Next is to accept your physical condition, and yourself, because they are at the present moment. Finally, If you want someone to trust you, you must first trust them. Mitch learns from these lessons, and I also have personal experience with them. One thing that Morrie never wants to happen, is him not being able to wipe his behind. Morrie is telling Mitch that “It's funny...I felt a little ashamed, because our culture tells us we should be ashamed if we can't wipe our own behind.
Not only does this novel display the theme of love and sentimental relationships; but throughout his lessons he also teaches us life lessons that we had never realized were significant in the first place. Throughout this novel, Morrie continuously speaks of detaching himself from his experience, especially when he suffers from violent coughing spells. Morrie bases this theory of detachment from a Buddhist philosophy which changes his mindset to believing that nobody should cling to anything and that everything that exsists is impermanent. Through detacting himself, he is able to remove himself from his surrounding into his own consciousness, this way he’s able to gain perspective in uncomfortable and stressful situations. Morrie deteaches himself so that he can accept these predicaments in his life and so that he will be able to embrace his deathe easier since he’s well aware that it’s approaching.
Siddhartha is loved by all his family and friends, but still feels a void. His soul is like a “waiting vessel” and he wants to be enlightened, so he sets out to find it and him and Govinda become Samanas. They are Samanas for a few years but do not find enlightenment there, so they move on. During this, Siddhartha and Govinda go their separate ways in order to try and find having nothing to having everything that he wants. Yet, he is still unhappy.
This old man asks Jonas to refer him as the "Giver". Jonas' training consist of the Giver showing him memories of the world before the "Sameness". Through this training is where he expiriences joy, pain, love, fear, among other emotions via the memories shown by the Giver. Jonas then begins questioning why did the community decide to hide away these memories and finds out that because of these memories, people are more likely to not accomplish their tasks. Outraged, Jonas decides to leave his home, thus, releasing all the memories onto the community with the help of the Giver.
He needed to be treated as if he was a part of the community and maintains an ability to make a difference. However, the teachers all shoved him away refusing to hear his heart crying out for love and acceptance. He had no idea who he was as a person nor love to guide him through life. Paul’s father could have made the biggest impact on his suicide. More than anyone, a boy needs his father to approve of him and teach him how to be a man.
In life there are setbacks and low points that a person has no power to control. The author reiterates that the setbacks never last for ever and that people need a positive attitude to overcome them. In life we all experience an abundance of valleys and peaks, however having the proper tools and right mindset is what enables people to endure the troubles in life until the time for relief arrives. I was simply amazed at how much I learn about myself in reading this book. Peaks and Valleys enlightened and motivated me to work on the things that need correcting in my life to reach my peak.
After finding his sister he then began the journey of finding his lost son that he had no communication with in a very extended period of time. As they went from place to place they would tally up a new clue but less promising safety of Absolom. I respect the perseverance of Father Kumalo but the amount of selflessness shown by Msimangu . It is truly amazing that someone could stop his life and devote it to something he has no idea about in order to help a complete stranger out. Understanding this logic is very difficult, but also made me believe even stronger in my position.
Due to his lack of friends he tries to create a bond with Sam and it makes it even more valuable due to Hally’s loneliness. He would always “try out a few ideas but sooner or later” he’d “end up in there with” Sam and Willie. He would always look for something to do and always wonder what he should do and think of some ideas but in the end he knew that they would always be there and he would never be let down by them. Hally feels a strong sense of humiliation and all of it because of his crippled and alcoholic father whom made him feel a constant let down in his life. When Hally was young his father “was dead drunk on the floor of the Central Hotel Bar” and Sam helped Hally bring him home.