Utopian and Dystopian Traits in Lois Lowry’s The Giver

Abstract

Some critics are of the opinion that when a rigid system of punctuality, precision, and accuracy is used in a particular society; a version of perfection may be attained in that society. In spite of these characteristics, the objective of this article is to illustrate how a meticulous reading of contrary images in a literary work as Lois Lowry’s The Giver is required to attain a comprehensive view about that society under discussion. Both facets of the same story are to be considered to reach a better understanding of the depicted plot. The purpose of this article is, therefore, to highlight not only the positive or utopian traits, which seem to be dominant in the society of The Giver; but also the negative or dystopian ones, which are somewhat recessive. The method in which this is done is by adopting a careful reading of the primary textual evidence, The Giver, along with the analysis of plentiful useful and relevant secondary sources that tend to shed light on the eventual and profound overall image of that society. The findings of the article mainly stress the belief that one is not to hastily “judge a book by its cover”; as truth is inferred in the details, and that only after he / she reconsiders all the motives, causes, effects, and motifs that a sound understanding of The Giver is finally attained. Since literature is at times a depiction of life, the importance of this article lies in the fact that a good reader of literary works, does not only recognize “the white” or “the black”; but also “the gray” as a lot of “the gray” does exist in any society with varied degrees.