Connection to The Giver: In the novel, memories are selectively held by the Receiver, Jonas, making him the sole keeper of emotional and historical experiences. This allows the community to avoid pain and discomfort but also deprives them of joy and wisdom.
Real-World Connection: In psychology, memory, and emotions play crucial roles in forming personal identity and understanding the world. Suppressing certain memories, like in cases of trauma, can affect emotional health.
Resource: American Psychological Association on Memory (TED Ed) – Dig into the psychology of how memories are susceptible to false information and why we shouldn’t treat them as truth.
Resource: Would you opt for a life with nFacto pain? - Hayley Levitt and Bethany Rickwald
Resource: The Human Brain and Memory – What happens when you remove the hippocampus? (TED Ed)
Connection to The Giver: Jonas’s community represents a “utopia,” where suffering is eliminated through strict societal control. However, it’s also a dystopia, as freedom and individuality are sacrificed.
Real-World Connection: Various historical and modern attempts to create utopian societies often show similar trade-offs. Some societies prioritize order and control, leading to oppressive regimes, such as in North Korea.
Resource: TEDx Univeristy of Cincinnati – Background on utopian experiments and their outcomes.
Resource: The Dystopian Societies of North Korea – Insight into real-world restrictions and control in North Korea.
Connection to The Giver: In Jonas’s society, every aspect of life is monitored and controlled by governing authorities to maintain conformity and suppress free thought.
Real-World Connection: Surveillance in real life is a growing concern, with governments and tech companies tracking personal information, raising privacy issues.
Resource: Electronic Frontier Foundation on Surveillance – Explores how surveillance affects personal freedoms.
Resource: PBS Article on Surveillance and Privacy – Information on government surveillance and privacy concerns.
Connection to The Giver: Families in Jonas’s world are assigned, and genetic engineering is implied in the control of population traits.
Real-World Connection: Advances in genetics, such as CRISPR, allow scientists to alter genetic material, sparking ethical debates about genetic engineering and “designer babies.” Family structures also vary widely around the world.
Resource: National Human Genome Research Institute on Genetic Engineering – Basics of genetic engineering and its implications.
Connection to The Giver: Jonas’s newfound ability to see color symbolizes his awakening to a fuller, more vibrant life, in contrast to the monotony of his community.
Real-World Connection: Color perception science explores how humans interpret colors, and some people experience color blindness, affecting their view of the world. This topic also touches on philosophical questions about perception.
Resource: American Optometric Association on Color Vision – Information on color vision and color blindness.
Resource: Improve Critical Thinking– Socrates provides insight to apply critical thinking.