Summary Of The City Of Ember

The first chapter in Jeanne Duprau’s The City of Ember, establishes the city’s high expectations from the graduation adolescents. They have completed their education and will be assigned a city job at the age of twelve. At this age most adolescents of entering the conventional level of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development. They are beginning to internalize moral standards and look to society to base many of their decisions on. The job they choose on that day is how they will benefit and contribute to society. The major proclaims, “Students should be glad to work for their city” (pg 13).

Lina and Doon have similar, yet contrasting reactions to their chosen job. They are both disappointed, which falls back into Kohlberg's first preconventional level. They recognize the rules and needs of others, but their satisfaction is a higher priority. They both become envious and defeated when they do not receive the job of their choice. Lina is
They gain more responsibility and they become driven to find a solution for the City of Ember. Lina not only has to take care of herself, but her grandmother and sister Poppy as well. She always has their best interests at heart, but she had a moment of weakness. She lets her greed and desire make decisions for her. She pays too much attention to the colored pencils and loses Poppy. Her moral decisions are based on self interest at the preconventional level. However, her consequences help her internalize her decision and she feels “fear, and shame, and darkness” (pg 83). She enters the postconventional stage when she must answer to her inner conscience and the greater good. When it becomes time to return to the boat and leave with Doon alone, Lina realizes she cannot leave Poppy behind. She makes a moral decision to grab Poppy in hopes to create a better future for her. This concept in so advanced for her age and her determination and conscience drive her decisions for the