Skip to main content

What does Jonas's mother have that is higher than his father's in The Giver by Lois Lowry?

Jonas's mother has a more prestigious occupation than does his father.


Jonas's mother holds an important position in the Department of Justice, while Jonas's father is a Nurturer, a person who cares for the infants before they are assigned families or released. The career of Jonas's mother certainly takes precedence over the father's position; moreover, she allows it to supersede her concern for her family as well, because she often seems preoccupied by her court...

Jonas's mother has a more prestigious occupation than does his father.


Jonas's mother holds an important position in the Department of Justice, while Jonas's father is a Nurturer, a person who cares for the infants before they are assigned families or released.
The career of Jonas's mother certainly takes precedence over the father's position; moreover, she allows it to supersede her concern for her family as well, because she often seems preoccupied by her court cases. For example, in Chapter 1, during the evening session of talking about their feelings, the mother mentions her concerns about a repeat offender of the rules. She says that seeing him come before her again has caused her "frustration and anger," along with some guilt that she has had no influence over him. Also, she worries that he will again come before her a third time, which will call for sentencing him to be released.


When Jonas's father speaks, he sounds much more maternal than his wife as he expresses his interest in the infants that are under his care; further, he is concerned about a particular little baby boy that he calls Gabe because his assigned name is Gabriel for the Ceremony, if he makes it. Then, when Jonas says that he is worried about the upcoming Ceremony, the father prattles on about the last one and what he remembers, and so on.


In this new world in which Jonas lives, traditional roles are not always played by men and women. Indeed, there appears to be a role reversal in this society of the future, at least in Jonas's family. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more