The Giver- Individuality versus Conformity

Within the first 5 chapters of the Giver, a major theme shown is individuality versus conformity. It is better seen to be just like everybody else than to be unique and different. This is where Jonas feels a little left out, because he is slightly different, and beginning to realize it. The first difference seen is when Jonas's father brings home the newborn, Gabe, from the nurturing centre and his little sister, Lily, draws attention to Jonas's and Gabe's similar eyes. They both have light, pale eyes, which are uncommon in the community of dark eyed people. Jonas's finds it very rude of Lily to call attention to such things that are unsettling or different about individuals.

"Now, seeing the newchild and its expression, he was reminded that the light eyes were not only a rarity but gave the one who had them a certain look- what was it? Depth, he decided; as if one were looking into the clear water of the river, down to the bottom, where things might lurk which hadn't been discovered yet. He felt self-conscious, realizing that he, too, had that look."(pg. 21)

Here, I believe that Lowry is foreshadowing future events that those with these "pale, solemn, knowing eyes" that have depth, may see and understand things that most people can not.

Another difference about Jonas that Lowry describes is the changing of the apple. She does not describe how it changes, because in Jonas's point of view, its simply a strange occurrence that is different, but something he has never seen before."But suddenly Jonas has noticed, following the path of the apple through the air with his eyed, that the piece of fruit had- well, changed. Just for an instant." (pg. 24) Jonas's uneasy feelings and the hints that he is different from everybody else, also adds suspense to the novel. "... and with his laughter tried to ignore his uneasy conviction that something had happened. But he had taken the apple home, against the recreation area rules." (pg. 24-25)

But, Jonas is not the only person who is seen as different in this community of sameness. People all through the community are noticing some differences in others. When Jonas is at the House of Old, the woman he is bathing, Larissa, talks about how everyones life has meaning, but some more than others. She describes how a man, who had just been released had an amazing life. Whereas another woman that had been released had only been a birth mother and who's life had very little meaning. The fact here is that these releasing ceremonies are meant to make each person's life sound meaningful, when they have all lived meaningless lives in a community of sameness. Also, the way that Larissa speaks of each person shows that even though this community is supposed to be a place of uniformity, people do judge each other and are subconsciously aware of each others differences.