Question

Both the Giver and Jonas, the Receiver, experience the urge to pass on memories to another. What kind of memories does each of them choose to give up, and what are their motives for doing so? Cite specific evidence from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

The Giver chooses to give up memories of joy, beauty, and love in order to help the community forget the pain and suffering of the past. He does this out of a sense of duty and responsibility to the community, as he states, “It was my choice to accept the memories, and it is my choice to give them away” (Lowry, 93). Jonas, on the other hand, chooses to give up memories of pain and suffering in order to help the community experience the joys of life. He does this out of a sense of compassion and empathy, as he states, “I wanted to give them something that would make them feel better” (Lowry, 181).