Analyzing Page per Page

27/11/2014

I read the first 4 chapters of the book The Giver. In these chapters several things have happened and I was learning many new things about each character and their lives. On chapter number 1 the author introduces the main and secondary characters, they are Jonas, Lily (Jonas´ sister), Father, Mother, (Jonas´parents) Asher (Jonas´ best
friend). Later on in this chapter, Jonas and his family make the dinner nightly ritual in which everyone tells the rest of their family how they were feeling that day. When it was Jonas turn he told his family that he was feeling apprehensive about the upcoming Ceremony of Twelve. The Ceremonies were celebrated each year on December and they marked the different ages of people. In the Ceremony of Twelve the committee of elders chose an assignment for each person, this is why this ceremony was the most important. On chapter 2 Jonas´ father was telling him about his own experience with the Ceremony of 12 and told him how he became a Nurturer. The same thing did his mother. After, Jonas´ was worried about what his assignment would be because unlike his father he had no idea. On chapter 3  the author is telling us about how Jonas managed to be announced in the speakers without the announcement to contain his name. This happened because when Asher and Jonas were playing catch with an apple at the Recreation Center, Jonas saw something strange in the apple and took it home, which was against the rules. Also, in this chapter Jonas´father took baby Gabe from the Nurturing Center to his home. On chapter 4 Jonas goes to volunteer at the House of the Old with Asher and Fiona, one of his friends. While he was helping Lariza take a bath, she told him about the celebration of the release of Roberto and told him his life story.  

       "There were only two ocations of release which were not punishment. Release of the elderly, which was a time of celebration for a life well and fully lived; and release of a new child, which always brought a sense of what-could-we-have-done." (7)

 This quote makes me ask myself some questions about the meaning of release and how important it is in the community. One question that still troubles me is what is release? From what I could infer release is to like "kick out". Another thing that makes me question a lot is weather release is a good or bad thing in this community. For instance when during a game Asher made a wrong move and they lost the match Jonas shouted "That´s it Asher, you´re released!", and he was taken outside for a serious talk and later on had to appologize with Asher. However, on chapter 4 when Lariza is telling Jonas about Roberto´s release she says, "This morning we celebrated the release of Roberto, it was wonderful", it makes it seem like being released is something good and honorable. The word release and its meaning confuses me very often and I am eager to find out what it means while I read more of the book.


   The Giver is a book filled with interesting topics, characters and events. I can´t wait to finish the book and find out more about all of these very interesting and great characters. By reading this book I have learned many things about live I didn´t before which makes it always interesting to read more. In the last four chapters I read I discovered many new things about each person and the organization of this society. Nevertheless, with every chapter I read the more questions I had about release and its meaning. I am looking forward to learning what it is in the next chapters of the book. I am also very exited about what will Jonas assignment will be.

                                           Watch this video about the book The Giver.