In a world where society is eager to achieve equality, the real question is: would true equality in a modern society actually benefit people? In ​The Giver​ by Lois Lowry, Jonas’ secluded community is watched and manipulated by the Committee to keep everyone the same. When society strives for equality, it doesn’t realize that in the process people will lose most control that they have over their lives.

At the start of the novel, Jonas has faith in his community and is confident that the “sameness” in his life is only for the best of reasons. Jonas has lived his whole life having almost every single one of his decisions being made by the Committee, but never getting the chance to be different. As Jonas considers the “sameness” in his community, he thinks, “How could someone not fit in? The community was so meticulously ordered, the choices so carefully made... He is certain that his Assignment, whatever it was to be, and Asher’s too, would be the right one for them.”(48) Jonas trusts that his community could never make the wrong choice, so he allows them to control his actions. His confidence is bolstered by his parents consistent propaganda that the Elders know best. When Jonas learns more about the reality of the world outside of his community through his work with the Giver, he asks the Giver, “But now that I can see colors, at least sometimes, I was just thinking: what if we could hold things up that were bright red, or bright yellow, and we could ​choose​? Instead of the Sameness.”(98) Jonas has always thought that his community was incapable of making a mistake, but this is the first time he starts to think otherwise. Only when Jonas takes a step back to look at his society, he finally sees that being the same might not be the best way to live.

As Jonas receives more inspiring memories and witnesses how sinister his own “perfect” world can be, he realizes that there is so much more to life than following the rules of his community. When Jonas experiences the love that lacks a part in his life and the cruelty that exists in his world, it pushes him over the edge into rebellion. When Jonas receives the warm memory of Christmas, he says to the Giver, “I wish it could be that way, and you could be my grandparent. The family in the memory seemed a little more complete... I liked the feeling of love... I wish we still had that.”(126) Jonas recognizes the love he is missing: the love that the community has taken from his life. After Jonas witnesses his father Release an unwanted infant by a fatal injection, he mimics his society as he says, “I will do whatever you like, sir. I will kill people, sir. Old People? Small newborn people? I’d be happy to kill them, sir. Thank you for your instructions, sir.”(152/153) Jonas’ intention was to sarcastically mimic the sickening reality that he lives in. All the others in the community are willing to do anything they are told because that is what they have done their whole lives, since they have never experienced love. Jonas realizes that even though equality might be a safer way to live, he is losing a lot of the most important aspects of life. With no love to be shared or affection to be received, this is not a world that Jonas wants to live in.

When society strives for equality, it doesn't realize that by manipulating the world to be the same, people will have lost most control that they would have had over their lives. Jonas is blinded by the community that controls every step he takes until he takes a step back and is able to see that everyone should be able to make their own decisions. He sees that everyone should have the choice to cherish memories of love instead of living in a fake world where every little detail of life is decided by a higher power. If a society was truly equal, everyone wouldn’t be able to make their own decisions and people would lose control of their lives. Being different is what makes people themselves, so taking that away from them would be like losing them completely.