The Giver Book Report

Many people are unaware of the dangers of an oppressive government or what it can do to a society. As George Washington once said, “A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master.” This quote shows how a strong body can have two sides, they can be very helpful to their citizens or it could become overpowering and create conflict. Hence, dystopian stories show the dangers of an oppressive government.

In the book The Giver, by Lois Lowry, the author shows an authority that takes total control over its citizen. For instance, Jonas, the young protagonist, learns that he is unable to make choices due to the law of equality. The Elders, the leaders, make all the decisions. They also decide the future of every individual in the society. They keep a watch on every kid ever since they were born. Later on, in
For example, Dickie, a twelve year old boy, has to take a test that is created by the executive to measure his intelligence. Dickie’s father says to him “Thousands of children take this test every day. The government wants to know how smart you are, Dickie” (2). This demonstrates that the authorities require the kids to take a test that determines how smart they are. After Dickie takes the test, his parents are informed that he is smarter than the average mental capacity. Later that day, the Government Educational Service calls and tells Dickie’s parents, “We regret to inform you that Dickie’s intelligence quotient is above the Government regulation, according to Rule 84 Section 5 of the new code. You may specify whether you wish his body be interred by the Government, or would you prefer a private burial place?”(4). This illustrates that the political body has to kill kids if they are too smart because they want everyone to be equal. Overall, the death of Dickie shows that a powerful regime controls their citizen’s