Sunday, August 23, 2009

In The Giver by Lois Lowry, how does Larissa describe the process of Roberto's release?

In The Giver, Larissa, who is one of the Old in the community, describes to Jonas Roberto's release as "wonderful" (Lowry 31). She describes it as a kind of celebration of Roberto's accomplishments, as an Instructor, an important committee member, a landscape designer for a plaza, and a parent. This seems to be "the telling of his life" (32). She tells Jonas there is a toast and an anthem chanted.  Roberto made "a lovely good-bye speech" (32), and then various individuals made speeches to him, "wishing him well" (32). After bowing, Roberto walked through a door to the Releasing Room. She characterized the look on his face as he goes as "pure happiness" (32). That is all Larissa is able to share, since only a special committee is present in the Releasing Room. On the face of it, this sounds like a lovely way to celebrate a life.  But as Jonas learns from the Giver, this ceremony is a prelude to euthanasia.  

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