The Giver

Jonas begins seeing all of the colors in his everyday life, but they’re still flashes of color that return to a “flat and hueless shade” (97). Jonas finds this unfair, remarking that Sameness comes with a disappointing lack of choices. He thinks he wants more choices to be available, and that the act of choosing is what matters most. Jonas discusses his frustration with the Giver, noting that Gabriel should be able to choose a red toy or a yellow one. The Giver points out that the baby might make a poor choice, and Jonas realizes that making decisions is a risky activity. He wonders what might happen if someone chose the wrong spouse or job. Protecting people from poor choices increases safety, Jonas concludes, but he still feels frustrated.

Jonas is experiencing anger more often than before. Sometimes it’s irrational anger at classmates for being “satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was taking on” (99). Other times he feels angry that he can’t give him this vibrance. Jonas starts trying to share his new awareness with his loved ones, even though he’s not supposed to.