The Giver

Lois Lowry gives her readers utopia in her novel The Giver. The price of the utopia is placed on the shoulders of one community member called the receiver. To be the receiver is a great and noble honor, yet it comes with a hefty price tag. The weight of the memories creates isolation between the receiver and the community members.  The receiver’s understanding of reality is so different from that of his peers. Jonas first understands the differences when he witnesses his friends playing war. His feelings were intense and he was the only one who could comprehend how playing war was insensitive and hurtful.  Lowry is stressing the importance of knowledge and using wisdom when making decisions.  Her point was reiterated when the Giver states that he wishes that the elders would seek his counsel more often.  Jonas is a thoughtful character. He has the ability to see the importance and the need for the community to have the memories that he has received. While many memories are very hard to receive and understand, there are many memories that are worth the pain of the bad memories.  Memories of color, sunshine and love a bigger need than of a painless controlled life. A person who has not felt love has not truly lived life.  If a person has not felt sorrow there is not as much joy in happiness.  Lowry reveals this by restricting a community of these feelings and singling out Jonas to carry the burden of the entire society.     

The Giver- YouTube

A Single Shard

A Single Shard is a novel that beautifully and artistically weaves a story about determination and survival. Tree-Ear, the main character, is determined to become a potter at any price. He gives his time and physical strength to honor Min and his pottery.  I feel that Tree-Ear’s journey to deliver the precious inlayed vases is an example of a right of passage. Tree-Ear goes through a series of challenges. On some of his challenges he is very successful, such as the encounter with the fox. Once he faced his fear of the unknown, which was represented by the fox, he was able to move in a forward direction towards his goal. This experience prepared Tree-Ear for other challenges that he was bound to face on his expedition.  The second obstacle that Tree-Ear faces is an encounter with robbers. At the beginning of this challenge it appears as if he has failed.  Even when it appears he has failed, he was actually going through a complicated process of growing up. Tree-Ear began to fully understand the advice of Crane-Man. Tree-Ear was able to find courage in himself to continue his journey.  I feel that his encounter with the robbers was a life changing experience. He went from being a passionate apprentice to a determined son by his bold action to keep moving on his long journey.  If Tree-Ear’s journey had been any other way he would have not gained the experience that leads him to have the family he always wanted.