The Giver

Lois Lowry's The Giver caused me to think about government control. The way the society in the novel is set up makes for a perfect community, or so the members believed.

These are just a few of the "checks" their government had on the community:

• Job Assignment-though requesting a different assignment was allowed
• Family-choice of spouse or children were not allowed, though a request for up to two children could be made (only 1 boy, 1 girl per family unit)
• Responsibilities-bikes were given only when a child became the "appropriate" age
  
• Meals-food was delivered at the same predetermined times each day
• Grandparents-did not really exist, no one really met their parents' parents
• Curfew-was against the law for people to be outside during certain hours (unless job-related)
• Clothing/Hair-the way children dressed and wore their hair was mandated according to age
• Social Conduct-certain behaviors were considered wrong and rude and apologies for these transgressions were standard

• Climate-while not a social aspect of the community was also controlled by government

Reading The Giver changed my perspective on many aspects of life. Everyone would benefit from reading this thought-provoking novel at least once in their lifetime.