Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” warns how a society of blind conformity can be dull and heartless.
The Giver Sameness Theme Analysis
Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” effectively conveys a thoughtful concept of “sameness” in our society.
The theme of “sameness” is prevalent throughout the novel, creating a utopian society where everyone plays designated roles without the color of choice, excitement, and emotional diversity.
This theme has led to deep implications for the lifestyle of the citizens in the so-called perfectly crafted community.
Many quotes provide insights into the sociocultural effects of “sameness” in this society:
- In Chapter 1, Page 6, Jonas expresses his anxiety over feeling “strange and stupid,” hinting at the ostracizing effects of sameness that suppress individuality.
- In Chapter 4, Page 27, the narrator describes how expressing personal accomplishments is considered bragging due to societal “sameness” that discourages individual achievements.
- In Chapter 10, Pages 77 and 78, Jonas’s confusion about the lack of historical concepts and understanding of “generations before him” reveals the limitations of society’s controlled education system.
- In Chapter 12, Page 95, The Giver explains the societal decision to choose “sameness,” giving up on color, sunshine, and difference to gain control, suggesting the sacrifices made for maintaining uniformity.
- Jonas, in Chapter 13, Page 97, yearns for an existence where he can make everyday choices, like selecting the color of his tunic, indicating a desire for personal freedom and individualism.
- In Chapter 13, Page 98, Jonas addresses the possibility of freedom of choice in marriage and the fear of making wrong decisions, suggesting compatibility issues resulting from a lack of personal choices.
- Jonas’s eagerness to share memories and burdens with everyone, which is discouraged considering the potential burdens and pains discussed in Chapter 15, Pages 112 and 113, points to the lack of collective empathy and shared experiences induced by “sameness.”
- In Chapter 22, Pages 172 and 173, Jonas reflects upon his existential struggle in a life devoid of feelings, color, and love, contrasting the consequences of “sameness” with the potential chaos and hardships of freedom and diversity.
An in-depth analysis of these excerpts highlights the deprivation of personal freedom, emotional evolution, historical understanding, and human vibrancy to sustain a colorless and consistently predictable society.
Ultimately, Lowry successfully leaves readers questioning the cost of perfect societal “sameness” and uniformity against the price of personal freedom, unpredictability, and emotional depth.
The fact that Jonas chooses to escape the regimen of “sameness,” even when it leads to hardship, confirms the human spirit’s yearning for individuality and diversity.
This presents the argument that uniformity, even in the quest for a perfect societal model, may lead to a lack of vibrancy and personal evolution that are fundamentals of human existence.
The novel demystifies the perceived perfection of a society built on the grounds of “sameness,” urging the readers to value the diversity and unpredictability that essentially define human existence.
The Giver Quotes With Page Numbers
The Giver Quotes About Sameness
“I feel sorry for anyone who is in a place where he feels strange and stupid.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas, Chapter 1, Page 6
“There was never any comfortable way to mention or discuss one’s successes without breaking the rule against bragging, even if one didn’t mean to.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, The narrator, Chapter 4, Page 27
“There was just a moment when things weren’t quite the same, weren’t quite as they had always been through the long friendship.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, the narrator about Asher, Chapter 9, Page 66
“I don’t know what you mean when you say ‘the whole world’ or ‘generations before him.’I thought there was only us. I thought there was only now.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas to the Giver, Chapter 10, Pages 77, 78
“Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness. Before my time, before the previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with difference. We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, By The Giver, Chapter 12, Page 95
“If everything’s the same, then there aren’t any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things!”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas, Chapter 13, Page 97
“Well…,” Jonas had to stop and think it through. “If everything’s the same, then there are no choices! I want to wake up in the morning and DECIDE things! A blue tunic, or a red one?”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas, Chapter 13, Page 97
“It’s the choosing that’s important, isn’t it?”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, The Giver, Chapter 13, Page 98
“What if they were allowed to choose their own mate? And chose wrong?”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas, Chapter 13, Page 98
“They were satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, the narrator, Chapter 13, Page 99
“They have never known pain, he thought. The realization made him feel desperately lonely.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas’s thoughts, Chapter 14, Page 110
“But why can’t everyone have the memories? I think it would seem a little easier if the memories were shared. You and I wouldn’t have to bear so much by ourselves, if everybody took a part.”
The Giver sighed. “You’re right,” he said. “But then everyone would be burdened and pained. They don’t want that. And that’s the real reason The Receiver is so vital to them, and so honored. They selected me – and you – to lift that burden from themselves.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas and the Giver, Chapter 15, Pages 112, 113
“The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without colour, pain or past.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, The narrator, Chapter 21, Page 165
“All of it was new to him. After a life of Sameness and predictability, he was awed by the surprises that lay beyond each curve of the road.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, The narrator, Chapter 22, Page 171
“It was as simple as that. Once he had yearned for choice. then, when he had had a choice, he had made the wrong one: the choice to leave. And now he was starving.
But if he had stayed…
His thoughts continued. If he had stayed, he would have starved in other ways. He would have lived a life hungry for feelings, for color, for love.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, By The Giver, Chapter 22, Pages 172, 173
The Giver Quotes About Individuality
“No one mentioned such things; it was not a rule, but was considered rude to call attention to things that were unsettling or different about individuals.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, The Narrator, Chapter 3, Page 20
“It was an activity that he had performed countless times: throw, catch; throw, catch. It was effortless for Jonas, and even boring, though Asher enjoyed it.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, The Narrator, Chapter 3, Pages 23, 24
“But each child knew his number, of course. Sometimes parents used them in irritation at a child’s misbehavior, indicating that mischief made one unworthy of a name.”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, The Narrator, Chapter 7, Page 50
“Giver,” Jonas suggested, “you and I don’t need to care about the rest of them.” The Giver looked at him with a questioning smile. Jonas hung his head. Of course they needed to care. It was the meaning of everything.
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas to the Giver, Chapter 20, Page 156
What are 3 examples of sameness in The Giver?
- In Lois Lowry’s The Giver, sameness is displayed in the community’s lack of personal choice in key life decisions, such as their job, which is assigned by the Elders instead of chosen by the individual.
- Another example of sameness within the community is the absence of personal choice in choosing a spouse and the number of children, decisions that the Elders determine.
- Furthermore, rules must be strictly followed in the society outlined in The Giver, emphasizing sameness. Deviation from these rules results in severe consequences, discouraging individuality and promoting uniformity.
What does Jonas say about sameness?
“If everything’s the same, then there aren’t any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things!”
~Lois Lowry, The Giver, Jonas, Chapter 13, Page 97