Write a reaction to the events of Chapter 19. Treat this like a free-write. Let your ideas flow freely, and comment on anything that you feel is appropriate.
Make some new predictions, and, as always, include support from the book for your predictions.
37 comments:
Zach. P
I think that it is insanely wrong that when you are released you are killed. I think that it is happy for the old people because they are dying anyways and if feels good to finally end they're pain. I think that babies should however be kept alive and given to special care.
Zach. P
I predict that Jonas will have a tantrum when he goes home and will never forgive his father for killing that baby. I also predict that when the Giver apllies for release jonas will try to stop him from dying
~Megan M
There are two times in ones life to be released. One is when they are babies and one when they are very old. Being released is when they are killed. I think it is almost ok when they euthanize them when they are in pain.
Jess M
My reaction to chapter 19 is that i was pretty astonished. Why, that wouldn't be a release it would be a ceremony of loss. Isn't "Don't kill anyone a rule?" There are so many fooloish rules in that society that you shouldn't kill anyone. Thats crazy! If somebody did that here, then they would be hung or they would go to jail for a very long time. I just don't understand why they would be able t do that. They should just keep all kids or just release them into nother type of society. Killing is not the answer. They kill them like a dog! They give them a shot and next thing you know they are gone forever. Jonas's father shouldn't have even told anyone about the twins if he was gonna do that. I thought that they said release was a happy time, you can't tell me this is happy! I predict that Jonas will run away from his home because in the book they said he was disgusted with what his father has done. This should get interesting in the later chapters.
Gillette G
Chapter 19 was extremely disturbing. Everyone in Jonas's community thought that when one was released, one just left, to live out in Elsewhere. But instead, one gets injected with some chemical to put you down, eerily the same as how they put down animals. Then the body is disposed of. I can believe that mercy killings such as these would happen to old people who have diseases or are near death, but not if they are fit and healthy, ready to live to an old age, or children! They have done nothing wrong but be born too small and sleep fitfully! Or with the twins! You can't choose which one should live or die just depending on weight! This whole culture is wrong in so many ways!
I predict that Jonas will attempt to either try to tell someone about this outrage known as a 'release' but is really just a murder, or attempt to correct this error in the governing system. But the giver will tell him that he(giver) has already tried to right this wrong, and failed.
Cody S.
Chapter Nineteen does not surprise me. If being relesed is being killed then it makes sense how it can be an honor and a punishment.
Jonas' father tells him that he makes the children comfy and then sends them elsewhere. This is a lie, or is it? Maybe to him thats what is happening. The people of the community are being programed from birth so maybe they don't stop the programing with training they enhance it?
I can't believe they kill the childen. the kids haven't even had time to live.When they kill the old it's not ok either it is wrong.Why nwouln't they just adopt the new children out to people outsid teir community.That way they are at least alloud to live a life.
Caitlen B.
Cody S.
I predict that the givers idea will play a larger role. I think this because in the book it says that the giver starts to seem distant, Maybe he is planning something so that he can make the community more dependent on his knowlede. If the community is more dependent of his wisedom things will change.
are there givers in other communities or is he the only one?
I am appalled by how the people from the community are killed when then are released. It's all the same for the newchildren, the old, the people who break the rules, and those who apply for release. A small needle is injected into a vain and without the person knowing before hand, they slowly die. I cannot beleive that they would do this especially because of how there is no violence in the community to begin with. What really disturbed me is how the releasing Jonas witnessed of the twin was because there could only be one twin and the one that was released was the lighter one. I would never be able to be like Jonas' father and have to kill (yes, that's the word) a person! Another huge thing is how the people don't even know what happens when they are released and for the old, it's such a happy thing! This is such an evil thing to do.
I predict that Jonas, because he has experienced death in the memories that were transmitted to him, will take this extremely hard. I don't think that he will be able to talk to his father or anyone. I think Jonas will finally realize how horrible his community really is.
- Ellie G.
Carly.R
The whole release thing didnt suprise me that much. I had a feeling that relese would result in death. The only thing tha did suprise me is that Joans's dad would just kill him without thinking. I wonder if Jonas's father thought that it was wrong to kill someone when he first learned to do release. I also want to know why Jonas's father would react the way he did. Why did he approve of this? Do you think that they really know they are killing them or do think that they are going some where eles? I think that this communittee has became to upsesed with order. What happened that was so horrible that they would kill innoccent babies? I think that the people befour have made these rules and no one has decided to change them.
I think that Jonas will have a fit and will ignore his father for the rest of the week because he is so upset.
Sydney J.
I was accually a bit shocked while reading this chapter. I thaught they probably killed them during release, but maybe in a more painless way. I think it was disturbing how Jonas' father had to inject the needle into the baby's head. They are basicly just puting people down, ust like animals, so I think thats wrong. Mabe they should send them to a special place to live out the rest of their lives in peace, instead of killing them. I also think that it's very sad that the twin baies have to be chosen to live by weight, and the smaller one is killed and has no chance in life.
Ashley S. =]
When I read chapter 19, I was a little disturbed. I mean I knew that release wasn't all happy and nice like people said, but I didn't think it would be that gruesome. I just can't believe that they do that, even to the poor defenseless babies!!!!! It's just disgusting that they inject you with a serum that is basically what is given to animals when they are "put down". WE ARE NOT ANIMALS PEOPLE! I mean I kind of understand why they give it to the old, to help stop overpopulation and to end thier suffering, but why would they do that to everyone else? Why can't release be like exactly what it sounds like, they just let you go from the community. I do have one question about the chute that the "released" people are sent down. Where does it really go? Maybe to some creamatorium where they are burned perhaps? Another question I have is that, do these people really know what they are doing!? Jonas's father is acting all sweet to the baby while he's killing it, so either he has no clue what is actually happening, or he doesn't care. THIS SOCIETY IS MESSED UP!
I predict that Jonas will try to escape from the community. I predict this because when he found out what release is, he was utterly terrified. Also, he had already discussed possibly leaving with the Giver anyway, so this event fueled the flames. I still can't believe how morbid this supposed "utopia" is.
I think that it is horrible that a release is more like a murder. No one has the right to take another persons life unless they are suffering and have no other choice. Jonas’s father didn’t even morn over the lost new child and he treated it like he was going away.
The community celebrates release and makes a "wonderful" ceremony of it. The whole thing is just one big lie. I think that the elders are hiding more from the community than everyone realizes.
Jonas's father told him that someone from the other side will take the new child to another land. He lied. But now Jonas has access to all information and he can wee who lies to the community.
I predict that Jonas will try and tell other people about release and try to get people to better understand death.
Aly K.
The Giver
The giver is officially the worst book ever. I don’t think that the people should kill the babies if they need to be released. This chapter has had an impact on me because I know how it feels to have a child who you love die. I think that this chapter has completely ruined this book for me. I will NEVER read this book ever again. I don’t personally believe in abortion and this is pretty close to abortion this baby has not had a chance to live its life if it could.
I think that Jonas is going to be mad at his dad and not talk to him!!! (I know I wouldn’t) I think this because he was just sitting there in horror and disbelief!
To Aly
From Mrs. Meyers
I want you to understand that the author does not approve of what this society does. She had to make it shocking to get her point across. We will be discussing the themes and the author's purpose after we finish the book.
Elena Q
I beleive that it is REALLY wrong to kill people. I mean maybe old people, who are ready to die. Babies however should be given the oportunity to live a full life.
I predict that Jonas will try to reveal what realeasing is to the community. I hope there is a riot. I think this because Jnas can't honestly accept that his community is killing people all the time!
Hannah C.
I can't belive that somebody could even do that to an innoccent little kid. I know that you cant have two kids that look the same in a community but maybe there would be another community willing to take the other child. It might be ok for people who are in a lot of pain and are sick to stop them from suffering but I dont think its ok for a newborn baby.
I think that Jonas regrets watching that release. I think that he is going to remember that forever and will not be able to stop thinking about it. I also think that he is going to accidently say something to his father and ask questions he is not suppose to ask. Once he spills his father is going to start asking questions and Jonas will not be able to answer them. His father is going to start turning suposious and he might start doubting his own son.
Tori B.
My response to chapter 19 was shock and nauseousness. I can't believe they would and do do that. It isn't right and why let the baby be born if they are just going to kill it? This is sickness. I have a question. Mrs. Meyers, if they implant the babies in the mother, why implant two babies if one is going to be killed? And why don't they implant one in one mother and the other in someone else? This doesn't make sense to me. I predict that they will try to release Gabe, but Jonas will find a way to keep Gabe from being killed. But this leads me to another question. Why would Jonas' father be upset about having to possibly release Gabe, but telling everyone in his family that one of the twins would have to be released and not be upset by it?
~Bryce~
Oh my gosh! I did not expect that Rosemary wanted to give herself the lethal injection! If I found out what release was and I still wanted very badly to leave the community, I would have jumped in the river and swam to the nearest town that WASN'T crazy and scary. The whole process of release is horrible! One thing that is really sad is that the old people that are so happy when they get released, not knowing that they are about to be killed if they have never witnessed a release.
I think Jonas with be so over come with grief and stress that he will lose control of his emotions and yell at his father and demand an explanation in an very angry manner.
To Tori
From Mrs. Meyers
Good question about the twin thing. It seems like they would be able to control that if they've controlled so much more through genetics. I believe that the author used this as a device to get a point across, and also to mirror some things that have happened in our actual world in the past. It's a minor inconsistency that I guess we'll have to overlook.
As for Jonas' father, he says he is upset about Gabe, but his level of emotion is very limited. He isn't really capable of feeling strong emotions so when he speaks of being upset, he is really talking about disappointment at his own failure. I also believe that he doesn't really understand what he is doing to the twin. He has been "brainwashed" since birth, and receives pills to squash all emotion, so he is really just doing what he is told without any real understanding of it. I don't believe that he knows he is killing the twin when he injects it.
Lianne S=]
In my opinion, chapter 19 was very intense but somewhat predictable if you listened closely throughout the entire book's details about feelings. Earlier in the book, it described how people never felt any emotions and were clueless about the release and ways things were set up in the community. It only makes sense that the people never knew about release because they wouldn't understand the feelings of pain and death because they never would have to remember those feelings. At first I was surprised about how Jonas' father put down one of the twin babies so fast with out feeling guilty because he was even talking to the baby calling him "little guy". After though I relized like everyother person in the community, Jonas' father probaly doesn't relize what he is doing when "releasing" someone because since birth the community is trained not to lie and believe everything they are told. I strongly think that the community is selfish to let people willingly want to be released when they think they will be able to go to another better communtiy when the truth is they will slowly be killed by a needle with a certain fluid in it going into the person. Also its dissapointing how weight can affect a person's life saying whether they will live or not because the person could grow up to be better than or equal to their twin since weight doesn't determine other genetics.
I predict that after Jonas relizes the true meaning of release he will be fully dissapointed and so shocked he may become isolated from others including his father. At first Jonas thought that release was a happy occasion and wanted to see it happening, but after he watched release and remember the death scene in war he was horrered. Especially the fact that his father lied to him (we don't know if he meant to or is clueless about release too) he won't be able to look at his father the same way without remembering he took a person's life when they didn't even do anything wrong. I think Jonas won't be able to view or look at other community members the same way eventually leading him to not talk to others and being isolated. Also once the Giver dies or is released Jonas won't be able to discuss memories or release with others so he will be totally isolated until he can transport memories to the next receiver in training. I didn't really like chapter nines events but they do go along with the story and community's setting.
My opinion on releasing is that it is not right. I also dont like that people dont really know what it is. When jonas was talking to the old woman in the bath house i dont think she relized that being released is basically just having someone kills you.People other than a few sxceptions probably dont know either.
however i dont know if they completly understand what they are doing when they think they are releasing the people. mabey they dont understand ?
I dont see why one of the twins had to be release. even if there was something wrong with it it shouldnt have to die just because of a rule.This makes me think of how many other people have died just becuase someone was better than them. if they decided to release one of the twins so easily whats stopping anyone from just randomly releasing someone else?
I predict that now that jonas knows what releasing really is that he is going to try and change the rule. i belive that jonas assumes that he has great power since he is the reciever of memory. really there isnt much he can do cinsidering the fact that he is only one person. it would take a lot of work to change the ways of his society
Virginia D.
To:Tori B.
From: Ashley S. =]
For your question about the why people would implant two children in the birthmother, I think that the scientists still don't have a surfire way to make sure that only one baby is born at a time. Even if they only put one egg in the birthmother, there is still a chance that the egg will split in too. So even though the people who implat the eggs into the birthmother try to control the amount of babies that they give them, it doesn't always work.
Joe G.
I thought that the chapter was very shocking. I had no idea that they did that to the people when they are released. Also it made me feel good because now that I know what release really means I have a clear visual of what is happening to all these people. Release is scary to me and very unlikly. Since they kill the peeople I think that it is for the best since they are in a lot of pain.
I predict that Jonas is going to start to figure out what this society is all about.
To: Jess M.
From: Sydney J.
I totally agree with your point of veiw. I think it's so disturbing that they have to kill them like we do to dogs for release. i I were Jonas, or anyone else who knew about what they really do for release, I would do something about it. I don't know what, but it would be something HUGE, that would change the whole community/ release forever.
To: cody.s
From: Carly.r
I was asking the same question as you were. Do the people know what there doing is really wrong or do they think its is right. I would think that they would have enough common sence that they would know that thery were killing them, but the way that jonas's dad reacts makes me ask myself that question again. Why would any one use a baby voice and say bye to them when they knew that they were dead. I think that the communittee has been living by these rules for so long, that they can't tell the difference between good ans bad anymore.
To Virginia D
From Emma M
I think that it's weird that all the old people are all exited for their release when they are really being condemned to death.
When they say that the elderly watch the others get released than does that mean that they watch the injection?
To Aly K.
From Joe G.
I understand how you feel about his book but I think that there could be another book out there that sucks as much as this one. I agree with you when you said that the abies deserve to live a normal life and how it relates to abortion. Jonas possibly is mad at his dad and probaly not talk to him ever again.
To: Entire Group
From: Cody S.
I agree that this was a prdictable occurance in the book. I don't think that they are being selfish though. In the book release is a good thing and a bad thing it is nothing but those two things. This community is perfection. There is no poverty there is no pain and there is no free will. This is what perfection is in order to have happiness you must also have ignorance. The people of the community don't know what happens and they are happy. If others found out about memories I think they might side with Jonas while others might stay ignorant. It's all up to choice, with it pain and destruction, without it happiness will be the ultimate feeling.
I agree that chapter 19 was bad,I mean realy bad. I just don't understand why they can't adopt the other twin to a family outside the community unless they don't know of the other societies outside their own.Mabey the elders don't even know. But I still think it's wrong to kill little babies
Caitlen B.
To:Sydney J
From: Jess M
Syd i agree with you that the people being released should be sent away to another society or place where it is more peacefull. Nobody should be killed. Maybe if this society lived in a dome, then the people being released could just go out of the dome and never come back again. When i was reading chapter 19, i thought of a question, What if the babies were the same weight? What would happen? Which one would be released?
to:Carly R.
from: Zach P.
I agree with Carlys prediction that Jonas will ignore his Dad. If i saw my Dad kill a baby and not care i would try to kill him(not really). I predict that Jonas will try to run away from the community.
To: Jess M. & Sydney J.
From: Hannah C.
I totally agree with you about how they release people. I think that they should give the baby to another society. In some ways it may be ok for the release to happen to elders, if they are in pain or seriously ill. Even though they may be in pain, I think that they should die on their own unless nthey apply for release. Either way, release should not be aloud in this commiunity.
To: Aly K
From: Elena Q
I think that you're being a little too dramatic here. I don't like the deaths of little babies either, but the book is showing people how wrong killing babies is.
<3Always
Your BFF
Elena
To: Elena
From: Bryce
I completly Agree that killing the babies in the town is a horrible thing for them to do! Jonas Should start a riot. I know it is remotely okay to end the lives of the elders but the babies should be shipped off to another community.
To Cody
From Lianne S
I disagree with your last comment about how Jonas' community was perfect. I don't think Jonas had a perfect community because although everyone was happy and pain-free, they never knew the truth and everyone was the same. They were never truely happy in my opinion because they never knew any feelings that they could truely experience. Would you rather have a community where everyone was happy but ignorant, or a community where there are mixed feelings but people have the option of what they want to feel, know, or love?`
Lydia J.
May I just say I indirectly told you so? May I say I slipped through the loophole and told you about a Release? Yes, I mentioned Gabe to throw you off (clever aren't I?)but did I not tell you what was going to happen? Is it so shocking that I was right?
I hate to sound heartless, but the Release didn't affect me. Release is death, Release is murder, murder is death, it is the end of something, just as the last sentance of a book is the end of a story, just how the last syllable of a sentance is the end of a thought or statement, and so it should be accepted. Morally, I find an accepted murder shocking, but it is still something that happens, and I suppose it doesn't bother me incredibly.
I predict that Jonas will take some drastic action to get some sort of revene or colsure over the event that happened.
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