The Giver: Loss of Innocence

Author’s Note: This is a five paragraph essay telling and explaining what the main topic of the Giver

The Giver is novel that has many topics; capitalism-effect on the individual and facing reality. Towards the end of the book desire to escape and change verses tradition could be other important topics. But the one true topic is Loss of Innocence; it is a big topic making it what I think is the true topic of the book.

When Jonas is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, the Giver gives him his first memories. The Giver gave him the memory of color and snow and Jonas saw things in a whole new perspective. He had asked the Giver, “why doesn’t anyone else see color and why don’t we have these things?” The Giver told him that the Elders didn’t want them anymore to make the perfect society. One reason this book is loss of innocence is because of what the Giver had told Jonas. He loved color and wanted everyone to see it, but because no one can he is sad and had figured out that his perfect world is not so perfect after all.

In addition, the Giver also told Jonas what used to happen, how it used to snow like in the memory. How there was laughter, sunshine, and color and Jonas is furious he is upset that those great things do not exist in his world anymore. This is another reason why the Giver is loss of innocence, because Jonas is depressed that he can’t sled down a hill, he can’t see the beautiful color of people’s hair, and he can’t have fun like the way things used to be. Like in my last statement he lost his innocence of seeing that everything is picture perfect in his life.

Lastly, when Jonas becomes angry and realizes that he and the wonderful memories of the past can never happen anymore, he becomes depressed too. He sees that not only is his city isn’t perfect but along with that he sees that it is boring as well. My last reason is that Jonas isn’t his happy self any more; he thinks that there is no point when his only home is not as fun as it used to be long ago. His home is but a dull boring place that he does not want to live in anymore. Which is why at the end of the novel, Jonas leaves his wasteland of a home to find a new one. To find place far away that he may find people like him who know the wonders of joy.

I strongly believe the main topic for the Giver is loss of innocence; it made a huge impact on Jonas when the Giver told him what used to happen. Jonas becomes depressed and furious and loses his innocence that his world is perfect.