The Giver combines themes of young adult fiction, such as that of the protagonist Jonas's coming of age, with themes taken from dystopian novels such as George Orwell's 1984 or Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which deal with a society in which the population has been manipulated into blithe submission. Within the novel, Jonas learns that despite the apparently idyllic aspects of his society, the general absence of history, deep emotions, and individuality has driven the community into stagnation and dystopia. In the process, he discovers the wisdom and maturity necessary to choose his future.
Lois Lowry has named several aspects of her childhood as influences on her writing. By her...
