Question

activity 4: establish understanding: react to the text
react to chapter ten on pp. 91-100 from the giver by writing your response to the following question.
question:

1. how does jonass initial encounter with the receiver of memory inspire him to question his societys values? cite relevant evidence from the text to support your argument.

write your response in your learning log. discuss your answer with your partner.
how does jonass initial encounter with the receiver of memory inspire him to question his societys values?

Explanation:

Jonas's first meeting with the Receiver (later called The Giver) exposes him to the truth that his society has erased all pain, joy, and individuality to maintain "Sameness." First, the Receiver's locked, off-limits office and the rule that Jonas can lie (a direct violation of his society's core value of honesty) makes Jonas realize his community's rules are not absolute. For example, when he is told he may lie, he thinks, "What if others—adults—had been told they could lie?" (p. 93), which makes him question if the community's perfect facade is built on deception. Second, the Receiver reveals that the community has given up true memory, emotion, and choice for stability. Jonas begins to see that his society's value of "Sameness" has stripped people of meaningful experiences, like the color red, pain, and love, which he starts to access through the memories. This makes him question if the safety his society prizes is worth the loss of human depth.

Answer:

Jonas's initial encounter with the Receiver of Memory inspires him to question his society's values in two key ways:

1. The rule allowing him to lie (a break from the community's strict honesty) makes him suspect the community's "perfect" facade is rooted in deception, as he wonders if other adults have been allowed to lie too (p. 93).
2. Learning that the community sacrificed memory, emotion, and individuality for "Sameness" makes him question if the society's prioritization of stability is worth the loss of meaningful human experiences like color, pain, and love.