The Giver by Lois Lowry uses aesthetic features to enhance the reader’s perspective of Jonas’ coming-of-age. Jonas, the protagonist, journeys through various moments since becoming Twelve that challenge his values, beliefs, and upbringing. A specific task given to him reveals that the world he lives in is more dystopian that it seems. Through encounters with the current Giver, he realizes that the freedom the community deserves comes with dangers and for everyone he loves. The Giver plays a vital role in Jonas’s life, teaching him the valuable lesson that freedom is better than conformity, even it means to express your individuality and removes the safety of yourself and others.

This novel is interesting as it covers a relevant topic in the modern age of society where people’s daily lives are at risk of being more controlled by systems set in place by those with sinister agendas, as in communist states, and raises the question of how an individual might take a stand against a powerful regime. How do we know we are not subjected to some opiate for the masses, keeping us conforming and enslaved?

Dystopian society focuses only on everybody working as a group, “no more recreation hours” suggests that the authority is based on socialism where everybody works for the benefit of the country, or in this case their society. The society prepares the children and teens for adult life early on. If you are always working, there is no time for freedom. As described on pg. 31; “No more recreation hours.” Jonas does not realise this yet. There is little depth in society, there are no emotions of depth. Realising there may be something in the “depth” (pg. 35) of the water he has not figured out yet. Foreshadowing to the idea Jonas might need to look deeper into his existence, leading to deeper emotions in a land with no emotions. Jonas radically changed when he witnesses the killing of a twin newborn and realises his father killed the child, Jonas experiences a new and profound emotional pain “…a ripping sensation inside himself, the feeling of terrible pain clawing its way forward to emerge in a cry.” (pg. 190).

Through an early conversation between Jonas and the Giver, “that you have memories of destruction. You must give them to me because I must get the wisdom, but it will hurt” (pg. 145), Jonas is starting to see how heavy his Gift will weigh on him. Jonas shows steps towards maturity by understanding that he needs to experience pain and what it resembles. The giver taught Jonas about the harsh realities of their society, he explains that to have true freedom you must suffer and experience painful emotions. The giver provides Jonas with specific memories to provide Jonas with hurtful truths that can be replaced with hope through love, happiness, and joy. In doing so, The Giver is guiding Jonas to freedom of will, individuality, and expression that will take him on his last journey.

Jonas realises that what is shown to be good, is evil. The idea of “Releasing” is killing people, which displays Jonas’s understanding of how the dystopia he is in is evil, “My father killed it!” (pg. 188). The giver simply explains in a bitter voice referring to the giver’s wisdom and understanding of the significance of Jonas understanding this. “My work will be finished,” the Giver had replied gently, “when I have helped the community to change and become whole. I am grateful to you, Jonas… But your role now is to escape, and my role is to stay.” Jonas has grown in emotional understanding as he now wants to take the responsibility of the giver, if Jonas escapes, he will understand the true meaning of freedom. By this point, Jonas has matured and realised the extent of the challenges he has overcome to live a free life. The Giver has shown Jonas the world around him in his society was locked into conformity. Yet he would prefer to have his loved ones cared for and be in danger instead of being trapped in this dystopian society. The giver gave Jonas a hug signaling a strong bond between them. “That night, Jonas was forced to flee.” (pg. 204). He is forced by his knowledge of the truth, and what staying would mean for his little brother: certain death.

Lois Lowry uses literary devices to convince the reader that freedom is better than conformity. The Giver helps develop Jonas’s character and worldview showing him the truth about the dystopian world he lives in. Jonas gradually learns about the harsh truths of the society he is living in through his coming of age, developing more wisdom and going against the norm. This book is a great reminder that what is set out to look good might be a mask for evil, that freedom is better than conformity, that being able to express your individuality, even if it removes the safety of yourself, living a full life is better than in a cage.