Did Jonas Die in 'The Giver'

I will try to find answer whether Jonas died or not in the ‘The Giver’ dystopia essay. In the book 'The Giver', we read about a guy call Jonas. Jonas was the main character of the story who stands to take a role of been a Hero because he performed a lot of Heroic roles and showed forth some good qualities of a Hero. He went throug both postive and negative experience in his journey of been a Hero and also his his departure. He can be seen as a hero in the sense that he took in some troubles as he was a receiver of memories. but surprisingly,jonas took i all the troublesand challengesas one of his responsibilities.

Jonas saved Gabe but getting to his own destination brought to him lots of hinderances. The harshness of the job as a receiver, was very tough for him. Jonas running away from his own base (community) could posible make lots of people to see him or consider him not to be a hero in the story 'The Giver' because a true hero does not shy away from his troubles.

The role given to Jonas as a receiver was to take him into the journey of terrorism and new experiences of been a hero. refrence to pg 60, in the celebration and rejoicing of the 12 newly appointed receiver, the chief elder said in his words 'jonas has been appointed and chosen'. this simply means jonas is the person who was to hold or who is to be with the community memory because been a receiver simply makes u smart and earn great integrity because the job of the receiver is the most valuable job in there community.

Reasons for Jonas Appointment:

• Jonas was more like the other elders.
• Jonas has the ability to see beyond.
• Jonas has the courage and the ability to put others first.

Jonas' Demonstrations of Wisdom in “The Giver”

wisdom is trait that we need to infer from what Jonas does and says rather than being a characteristic that is directly applied to his person. To answer this question we need therefore to analyse what he says, does and thinks, and find an incident where he demonstrates wisdom. For me, I think we can find such an incident in Chapter Seventeen, when Jonas tries to explain to Asher that the game they are playing actually came from wars that were fought long ago through suffering. Although he tries initially to explain to Asher what is bothering him, at the same time he shows wisdom is recognising that he is not able to do so, even though this leaves him feeling intensely sad and depressed:

Jonas trudged to the bench beside the Storehouse and sat down, overwhelmed by feelings of loss. His childhood, his friendships, his carefree sense of security--all of these things seemed to be slipping away. With his new, heightened feelings, he was overwhelmed by is is an interesting question because wisdom is trait that we need to infer from what Jonas does and says rather than being a characteristic that is directly applied to his person. To answer this question we need therefore to analyze what he says, does and thinks, and find an incident where he demonstrates wisdom. For me, I think we can find such an incident in Chapter Seventeen, when Jonas tries to explain to Asher that the game they are playing actually came from wars that were fought long ago through suffering. Although he tries initially to explain to Asher what is bothering him, at the same time he shows wisdom is recognizing that he is not able to do so, even though this leaves him feeling intensely sad and depressed:

After receiving the painful warfare memory in Chapter 15, Jonas is reluctant to see The Giver again. The pain that he experienced causes him to mature, and, as a result, he loses his innocence and his childhood. He does return to The Giver, though, because he knows that 'the choice was not his.'

To help Jonas through the pain that he's experienced, The Giver concentrates on transmitting good, happy memories to Jonas. As in the previous memories, Lowry's style becomes lyrical, and the sense impressions that she creates are extremely realistic. For example, Jonas experiences a birthday party and understands 'the joy of being an individual, special and unique and proud.' He goes to a museum and sees paintings painted with the many beautiful colors that he now knows exist. He rides a horse across a field that smells of 'damp grass' and learns about the bonds that exist between animals and human beings. Also, he spends time learning about the joy and contentment that come from enjoying solitude, or time by oneself.

One day, The Giver transmits his own favorite memory, a memory of love and happiness, to Jonas. In the memory, Jonas is inside a house, and it is snowing outside. A fire is burning in a fireplace, creating a cozy atmosphere, and colored lights decorate a Christmas tree. People are laughing as they open presents and hug each other. They appear to be very happy. From this memory, Jonas learns about a traditional Christmas celebration and about the concept of grandparents. Most important, he learns about love, which, sadly, 'was a word or concept new to him.'

Jonas trudged to the bench beside the Storehouse and sat down, overwhelmed by feelings of loss.

Lowry leads us to believe that the mood of Chapter 17 will be less serious than in previous chapters. An unscheduled holiday is announced over the loudspeaker. Everyone has the day off from work, school, training, and volunteer hours. Ironically, Lowry writes, 'the community was free.' We know, however, that the community is not free. The people follow strict rules and can be observed or listened to at any moment by the Committee of Elders. The people chose this way of life because they chose Sameness. Lowry returns, once again, to a significant theme in the novel. When the people chose Sameness, they chose to give up their freedom and individuality, a choice that is ultimately destructive.

Jonas rides his bicycle to find Asher and to enjoy the holiday. While he is riding, he analyzes his feelings, which he now understands have more depth. He compares his own feelings to everyone else's feelings and concludes that people in the community have shallow feelings. Jonas knows from the memories he has newly experienced that the feelings that people discuss during the nightly ritual of emotional sharing cannot simply be discussed; they must be felt.

Jonas locates Asher, Fiona, and a group of other children at the playing field. He watches their game, which he has played many times in the past. They are in the middle of an imaginary battle pretending to shoot each other, falling down or running every which way to avoid being shot by the enemy, made up of another group of children. All Jonas can think about while he is watching the make-believe war game is the warfare memory in which the young boy dies. Jonas walks to the middle of the field without thinking about what he is doing and stops the game. The children walk away, uncertain of why Jonas stopped their game of war, and Jonas is left to face Asher and Fiona. He tries to explain how cruel the game is, but, of course, neither Asher nor Fiona understands. They don't understand death either. His friends finally leave.

Jonas' knowledge and wisdom have changed his life. He no longer acts or feels the same way as he did before he began receiving memories from The Giver; therefore, his relationships are not the same. He feels a great sense of loss. Refusing to live as a robot again, he knows that he can never go back to living without feelings (he has even stopped taking his pill for the Stirrings). He feels overwhelming sadness for his friends because they do not feel anything at all.

Lowry leaves us in suspense at the end of Chapter 17 after Jonas finds out that the identical twins will be born the next day and that one of the twins will be released and will go Elsewhere.

Did Jonas Die?

According to my findings in the book 'the giver' the story line of jonas left us with no answer but to chosse between our own understanding if jonas died or not. so according my understanding of 'the giver' jonas did not die. Jonas and Gebe went down the snow with the believe that they will get to the community on a good timing to be taking care of by the nurses and get back to good health.

Therefore, the vision was not totally reliable because of Jonas weakest moment and this made him less trustable at that moment. The feelings of music been heard behind him, which is somehow impossible because it was just an echo and this threw him off balance and really made him not to really tell if what he is seeing or hearing are real. Jonas has no way of telling if is true that they are waiting for then or them waiting for the baby because at that state, his certainty was at a very rational state. His joy and peace are not to be totally relay on.

So we can’t say for sure that Jonas did die or not although he collapsed at some point.

However, from my findings, the writer of “The Giver”, Lowry has a lot more additional story books, that clearly proved to me that Jonas didn’t die but he lives. In reference to those books are:

• Gathering Blue year 2000 was the year of publishing. In it we could find out that Jonas made it and came into town were a lot took place.
• Messenger (2004)
• Son (2012)

Where Jonas took the character of a speaker. So on this books mentioned above, I have no doubt to say that Jonas lived . Because to me , the book “The Giver” was to be a stand-alone but since the story left a lot of people under suspense of what was the fate of Jonas , then the writer published other books years after to enable the readers determine the ending and what the meaning of the book was.

In conclusion, I would say the meaning of this book is left for the reader to tell. Since it was the purpose of the writer for the readers to give the book different explanation or definition. But our imagination towards the book could help us decide what finally happened afterwards.