Hope is a powerful emotion that can drive men insane. It builds on the optimism they have, and then it crumbles down. However, it can also lead to a remarkable state of mind which allows you to accomplish things you never thought possible. A man would never have discovered a vastly uncharted land if he didn’t believe he could. The United States may not be truly the land where the free will reigns. Through a lot of scientific theory and calculations, we discovered that human beings were driven to explore a celestial object which was once only visible from hundreds of thousands of kilometers away. The Giver’s pages are filled with hope. The tone and symbols in Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver illustrate this theme.
Lois Lowry used descriptive scenarios to make it easy for the reader to identify with Jonas’s situation. The story is told in black and white, with a bitter tone. Jonas was one of the few who could see color after being the Giver. They were happy with the vibrance of their lives. He was mad at himself that he couldn’t change their lives.” Jonas doesn’t have the ability to fulfill his dream of sharing his amazing gift. This gives Jonas hope, and also encourages the reader to believe in him. The tone forces readers to put themselves in Jonas’ shoes, to feel like they are there, with all the knowledge and experience of the past. The worst thing about holding onto memories isn’t the pain. It’s not the pain. It’s the loneliness of it. The tone depicts Jonas’s pain and anxiety, and the hope for a better future. He carried the burden of all mankind who preceded him. After being exposed the world around him, he was unable to return. Lowry is one symbol that is used throughout the work to signify the theme “Hope through Gabriel”. Jonas is seeing the world become more complicated and intricate. Gabe hopes to be able experience all of its wonders. “Gabe?” The child woke up slightly from his sleep. Jonas looked at the child. Lowry 128). Jonas’s feelings are not even able to be expressed by the society around him. As Jonas was brought back to life by the reminders of his past, Baby Gabriel has been untouched and is now a new person. Gabe is quickly the main motivation. He represents hope and possibility for the future. Jonas added, “Things are possible to change Gabe.” Lowry 128). I don’t know how to make things different, but there must be a way. Gabe transformed Jonas’s perspective on the entire situation. Gabe brought an entirely new outlook to the situation. He was a newcomer to the world and had never been exposed to the same bland, controlled lifestyle that all the others in the community were used to. He offered the chance to start over.
Lois Lowry demonstrates the theme hope throughout The Giver through tone and symbols. Although it has its downs and ups, hope can lead to great things. It can motivate you even when all seems down on you. It can help you see the small, but important, opportunities for light in a dark world. It allows you to leap without worrying about the consequences or the possibility of failure. One cannot truly live without hope.
