Real Pain

The Giver is still passing on memoriews to Jonas, as time passes the memories transmitted become stronger, like poaching, opposing to the first paiunful memory Jonas recieved (sunburn). Jonas feels really conflicted, why were some things taken away, like color? why does he have to endure all of that pain? Also Jonas is trying to make his friends see what he sees, to transmit the memory of color, but for some reason he can't. Frustrated as he is he goes home that day to find his parents talking about how Gabe has improved but he is still too restless at night. Jonas volunteers to take gave to his room that night so his parents can finally rest. as the night goes on Jonas accidentally at first transmits memories, happy memories, to Gabriel. Now he sleeps soundly in his room. Afterward, after receiving the terrible memory of warfare, the giver gives Jonas the memory of Christmas. In this memory Jonas discovers love. He really enjoyed the feeling of love, and he wanted to feel that again. Jonas decides that he will not take his pill for stirrings anymore, to feel whatever he is supposed to without the mind control of the elders.

To understand what Jonas is feeling here is the link to a song about freedom:
Freedom-Anthony Hamilton









This book, as one important concept, talks a lot about the connection between pain and pleasure. "Overwhelmed by pain, he lay there in the fearsome stretch for hours, listened to the men and the animals die, and learned what warfare meant" (pg. 120). This quote took me back to another book I love, "The Fault in Our Stars". In this book there is a strong quote that relates towards pain:  This quote is very true, and I think that throughout the training to become the receiver, Jonas will soon learn that the real world, the not controlled world is filled with pleasure and with pain. The truth of the matter is that to know real pleasure, you need to have felt real pain. Jonas sees that now, but nobody else in the community, besides the Giver, can understand what he is going through. How could they? Because of Sameness they don't feel pain, they really don't feel anything legitimate, only what is allowed.

There is one thing left on my mind, once Jonas discourse the real meaning of life, how will he make the rest of the community realise that too, if memories cannot be transmitted to them? How will Jonas  make his friends believe him and not report him as a crazy, confused boy? I guess everything is in Jonas' hands now, we will just have to wait and see.