Skip to main content

Who are the antagonists in Lowry's The Giver?

The antagonist of any story is the main person or obstacle that stands in the protagonist's way of achieving his/her goal. There isn't one person who gets in Jonas's face and battles with him about not leaving the community, for example. The major conflict is Jonas vs Sameness; therefore, it is Sameness, the system under which everyone lives, that Jonas must conquer. Sameness was started "back and back and back" as the Giver says, by...

The antagonist of any story is the main person or obstacle that stands in the protagonist's way of achieving his/her goal. There isn't one person who gets in Jonas's face and battles with him about not leaving the community, for example. The major conflict is Jonas vs Sameness; therefore, it is Sameness, the system under which everyone lives, that Jonas must conquer. Sameness was started "back and back and back" as the Giver says, by ancestors who don't exist for Jonas anymore (95).


Some might argue that the elders are the antagonists because they are the ones who enforce Sameness and they know better. But the Giver says that they really don't know what they are doing: first, because they are products of the system of Sameness themselves; and second, they don't have the memories to help them make such a critical decision for the community. All the elders know is that the Receiver holds all of the pain and suffering for the community so they all can lead "happier" lives. If they did know the full extent at which Sameness inhibits people from leading more abundant lives, they may have sided with the Giver that Sameness should end. But there's no specific elder or elders who are the villains of the story.


Hence, there isn't anyone to point a finger at to blame or hold accountable for setting up a system of government that takes away people's ability to make choices of preference, euthanizes babies and the elderly, or forces people to take pills to oppress their sensual desires. The system just exists and Jonas must discover what it is exactly in order to know how to break it down. If he succeeds, people would be able to take back their free agency and the ability and freedom to make their own choices. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more