The Giver Audiobook - Chapter 4
Summary
TLDRIn 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry, Chapter 4, Jonas reflects on the freedom of choice in his community as he volunteers at different places, observing others' passions and skills. He admires Benjamin's dedication to rehabilitation work and encounters Fiona at the House of the Old. Jonas assists in bathing the elderly, finding comfort in their trust and the serene environment. He learns about the release of Roberto, sparking curiosity about the mysterious release process and the community's unspoken rules.
Takeaways
- 📘 The story is from 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry, focusing on the character Jonas and his experiences in a community with strict rules and structured life stages.
- 🚲 Jonas often volunteers with his friend Asher, who tends to be playful and less focused, but Jonas is now more serious due to his upcoming 12th year ceremony.
- 🕒 The community has a strict schedule for daily activities, with volunteer hours being an important part of the young citizens' lives, leading to their eventual job assignments.
- 🔍 Jonas is intrigued by the achievements of a peer, Benjamin, who has excelled in the rehabilitation field and is likely to bypass most of his training.
- 🤔 Jonas reflects on the importance of not discussing one's successes openly to avoid breaking the community's rule against bragging.
- 🏘 Jonas rides through various community areas, including the child care center and central plaza, observing the different aspects of community life.
- 👵 Jonas finds Asher and another volunteer, Fiona, at the house of the old, where they assist in the bathing room, caring for the elderly.
- 🛁 The bathing room scene emphasizes the care and trust between the volunteers and the elderly, as well as Jonas's comfort in this nurturing environment.
- 🎉 The script mentions a 'release' celebration for an elder named Roberto, indicating a significant event in the community, though the exact nature of the release is not fully explained.
- 🤔 Larissa, an elderly woman, shares her thoughts on the release ceremony and the varying levels of interest in the life stories shared during these events.
- 🚪 The 'special door' in the releasing room is hinted at as the place where the release occurs, but the details of what happens beyond the door remain a mystery to the community members.
Q & A
What is the significance of the number 12 in the community described in the script?
-The number 12 signifies the coming of age in the community, where individuals receive their assignments, which are crucial roles they will undertake in society.
Why does Jonas often look at the bike ports beside the buildings during his volunteer hours?
-Jonas looks at the bike ports to spot Asher's bicycle, indicating where his friend is volunteering, as they often work together during these hours.
What is the role of the volunteer hours in the community?
-Volunteer hours are a way for the community's young members to explore different roles and responsibilities, helping them to discover their interests and skills before they receive their assignments.
What is the consequence of not completing the required number of volunteer hours before the ceremony of twelve?
-Failure to complete the required volunteer hours results in a public announcement of the individual's incompletion, leading to an additional month to complete the hours and a private, less celebratory assignment ceremony.
What is the significance of the 'release' mentioned in the script?
-The 'release' is a ceremony where an elder's life is recounted, and they are then allowed to leave the community, presumably to pass away, marking the end of their life cycle in the community.
Why is bragging considered a minor rule in the community?
-Bragging is considered a minor rule because it goes against the community's values of humility and equality, and while it is punishable, it is not as severe as other offenses.
What is the role of the 'old' in the community, as depicted in the script?
-The 'old' are cared for in the community, often residing in dwellings separate from the main community centers. They engage in quiet activities and are assisted by volunteers in their daily needs, such as bathing.
What does Jonas find impressive about Benjamin's achievements in the rehabilitation center?
-Jonas is impressed by Benjamin's dedication and skill in the rehabilitation center, as he has developed machines and methods to hasten rehabilitation and is rumored to bypass most of the training for his future assignment.
What is the role of the nurturing center in the community?
-The nurturing center is a place where children, like Lily, stay after school and engage in play and other activities, indicating it serves as a childcare and early education facility.
What is the significance of the bathing room in the script?
-The bathing room is a place where volunteers assist the 'old' in bathing, symbolizing care and respect for the elderly. It also serves as a setting for Jonas to reflect on his own life and the community's practices.
What does Larissa's conversation with Jonas reveal about the community's views on the 'release'?
-Larissa's conversation reveals that the 'release' is seen as a joyous occasion, with the community celebrating the life of the individual being released. However, it also hints at some skepticism about the ceremony's details and the lack of transparency about what happens after the release.
Outlines
🚴 Volunteer Hours and Jonas's Observations
In this paragraph, Jonas reflects on the freedom to choose where to spend his volunteer hours as he approaches his 12th birthday. The narrative describes how children in the community are initially assigned to recreational duties, then gradually move on to jobs that align with their interests and skills. Jonas admires a peer, Benjamin, who has excelled in the rehabilitation center. The paragraph also touches on the community's unspoken rule against bragging about one's achievements. Jonas's search for his friend Asher leads him to the House of the Old, where he encounters Fiona, another volunteer, and engages in the comforting routine of bathing the elderly.
🛁 Bathing the Elderly and Life Reflections
Jonas assists Larissa, an elderly woman, during her bathing routine, which is a familiar task for him. The warm, moist atmosphere of the bathing room provides a sense of safety and trust. Larissa shares her thoughts on the recent 'release' of Roberto, a fellow elder, and the life celebration that precedes such an event. She also expresses her opinion on the varying levels of interest in the life stories shared during these ceremonies. Jonas and Larissa engage in a light-hearted discussion about the community's practices, including the exclusion of children from the release ceremonies, hinting at a desire for change.
😂 Humor and the Elderly's Perspective on Community Traditions
In this final paragraph, Larissa humorously suggests enlarging the releasing room to accommodate children, showing a playful critique of community customs. Jonas playfully agrees, hinting at the possibility of suggesting this to the committee. The conversation between Jonas and Larissa is filled with laughter and camaraderie, illustrating the bond formed between the volunteers and the elderly, and the shared understanding of the community's unique traditions.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Volunteer Hours
💡Assignment
💡Rehabilitation Center
💡Bravado
💡Release
💡Old
💡Nurturing Center
💡Central Plaza
💡Bragging
💡Ceremony of Twelve
Highlights
Jonas finds the freedom to choose where to spend his volunteer hours a wonderful luxury, contrasting with the regulated life in their community.
Asha's playful nature during volunteer hours sometimes makes serious work difficult, but Jonas doesn't mind as his own Assignment is approaching.
The process of choosing volunteer work reflects the community's transition from childhood to adulthood, with the freedom of choice being a significant step.
Benjamin's dedication to rehabilitation work is highlighted, suggesting a possible future in that field.
Jonas admires Benjamin's achievements but is aware of the community's unspoken rule against discussing one's successes to avoid bragging.
Jonas's journey through different volunteer roles allows him to experience the diverse aspects of community life.
The strict rules about nudity, especially for new children and the old, reflect the community's unique social norms.
Jonas finds comfort in the serene environment of the bathing room, contrasting with the busy centers of manufacture and distribution.
Larissa's conversation with Jonas about the release of Roberto reveals the community's practice of celebrating an individual's life before their release.
The description of the release ceremony provides insight into the community's rituals and the emotional impact on its members.
Larissa's candid opinion about some life tellings being boring and elders falling asleep during them adds a touch of humor to the narrative.
Jonas's gentle care for Larissa during her bath reflects the community's values of respect and care for the elderly.
The community's strict enforcement of volunteer hours is underscored by the story of an eleven who missed his Assignment due to incomplete hours.
Jonas's interaction with Fiona shows a sense of camaraderie among the volunteers and a shared understanding of their roles.
The concept of 'release' is introduced as a mysterious and significant event in the community, with details kept from the general population.
Larissa's suggestion to enlarge the releasing room and Jonas's sly remark about suggesting it to the committee adds a layer of subversion to their conversation.
Transcripts
The Giver by Lois Lowry chapter 4
Jonas wrote at a leisurely pace glancing
at the bike ports beside the buildings
to see if he could spot ashes he didn't
often do his volunteer hours with his
friend because Asha frequently fooled
around and made serious work a little
difficult but now with 12 coming so soon
in the volunteer hours ending it didn't
seem to matter the freedom to choose
where to spend those hours had always
seemed a wonderful luxury to Jonas other
hours of the day were so carefully
regulated he remembered when he had
become an 8 as lily would do shortly and
had been faced with that freedom of
choice the eights always set out on
their first volunteer hour and little
nervously giggling and staying in groups
of friends they almost invariably did
their hours on recreation duty first
helping with the younger ones in a place
where they still felt comfortable but
with guidance as they developed
self-confidence in maturity they moved
on to other jobs gravitating towards
those that would suit their own
interests and skills a male 11 named
Benjamin had done his entire nearly four
years in the rehabilitation center
working with citizens who had been
injured it was rumoured that he was a
skilled now as a rehabilitation
directors themselves and that he had
even developed some machines and methods
to hasten rehabilitation there was no
doubt that Benjamin would receive his
assignment to that field and would
probably be permitted to bypass most of
the training Jonas was impressed by the
things Benjamin had achieved he knew him
of course since they had always been
group mates but they had never talked
about the boy's accomplishments because
such a conversation would have been
awkward for Benjamin there was never any
comfortable way to mention or discuss
one successes without breaking the rule
against bragging even if one didn't mean
to it was a minor role rather like
rudeness punishable only by gentle
chastisement but still better to steer
clear of an occasion governed by a role
which would be so easy to break the area
of dwellings behind him Jonas rode past
the community structures hoping to spot
a sure's bicycle parked beside one of
the small factories or built office
buildings he passed the child care
center where Lily stayed after school in
the playing area surrounding it he rode
through the central plaza and Lara
Torian where public meetings were held
Jonas slowed and looked at the nametags
on the bicycles lined up outside the
nurturing Center then he checked those
outside food distribution it was always
fun to help with the deliveries and he
hoped he would find his friend there so
that they could go together on the daily
rounds carrying the cartons supplies
into the drones of the community but he
finally found Ash's bicycle leaning as
usual instead of upright in its port as
it should have been at the house of the
old there was only one other child's
bicycle there that of a female 11 named
Fiona
Jonas liked Fiona she was a good student
quiet and polite but she had a sense of
fun as well and it didn't surprise him
that she was working with Asher today he
parked his bicycle neatly in the port
beside theirs and entered the building
hello Jonas the attendant at the front
desk said she handed him the signup
sheet and stamped her own official seal
beside his name all of his volunteer
hours would be carefully tabulated at
the Hall of Open Records once long ago
it was whispered among the children and
eleven had arrived at the ceremony of
twelve only to hear public announcement
that he had not completed the required
number of volunteer hours and would not
therefore be given his assignment he had
been permanent and an additional month
in which to complete the hours and then
given his assignment privately with no
applause no celebration a disgrace that
had clouded his entire future it's good
to have some volunteers here today the
attendant told him we celebrated a
release this morning and that always
throws the schedule off a little so
things get backed up she looked at a
printed sheet let's see yeah Asher and
Fiona are helping in the bathing room
why don't you join them there you know
where it is don't you
Jonas nodded thanked her and walked down
the hammam hallway he glanced into the
rooms on either side the old were
sitting quietly some visiting and
talking with one another others doing
handwork in simple crafts if you were
asleep each room was comfortably
furnished the floor is covered with
thick carpet it was a serene and slope
paced place unlike the busy centres of
manufacture and distribution where their
daily work of the community occurred
Jonas was glad that he had over the
years chosen to do his hours in a
variety of places so that he could
experience the differences you realized
though they're not focusing on one area
meant he was left with not the slightest
idea
not even a guess of what his assignment
would be he laughed softly thinking
about the ceremony again Jonas he teased
himself but he suspected that with a
date so near probably all of his friends
were too he passed a caretaker walking
slowly with one of the old in the hall
hello Jonas the young uninformed man
said smiling pleasantly the woman beside
him whose arm he held was hunched over
as she shuffled along in her soft
slippers she looked towards Jonas and
smiled but her dark eyes were clouded in
blank he realized she was blind he
entered the bathing room with with its
warm moist air and scent of cleaning
lotions he removed his tunic hung it
carefully on a wall hook and put on the
volunteer smock that was folded on a
shelf hi Jonas Asher called from the
corner where he was kneeling beside a
tub
Jonas saw he owned and nearby at a
different tub she looked up and smiled
at him but she was busy gently washing a
man who lay in the warm water
Jonas greeted them in the care taking
attendance at work nearby then he went
to the row of Patton lounging chairs
where other of the old were waiting he
had worked here before he knew what to
do your turn Larissa
he said reading the name tag on the
woman's robe I'll just start the water
and then help you up he pressed the
button on a nearby empty tub and watched
as the warm water flowed in through the
many small openings on the sides the top
would be filled in a minute and the
water flow would stop automatically he
helped the woman from the chair led her
to the tub removed her robe and steadied
her with his hand on her arm as she
stepped in and lowered herself she
leaned back and side with pleasure her
head on a soft cushion headrest
comfortable he asked and she nodded her
eyes closed
Jonas squeezed cleansing lotion on to
the cleaning sponge at the edge of the
tub and began to wash her frail body
last night he had watched as his father
bade the new child this was much the
same the fragile skin the soothing water
the gentle motion of his hand slippery
with soap the relaxed peaceful smile on
the woman's face reminded him of Gabriel
being bathed and the nakedness - it
wasn't against the rules for
children or adults to look at another's
nakedness but the rule did not apply to
new children or the old Jonas was glad
it was a nuisance to keep oneself
covered while changing for games and the
required apology if one had by mistake
glimpse to another's body was always
awkward you couldn't see why it was
necessary he liked the feeling of safety
here in this warm and quiet room he
liked the expression of trust on a
woman's face as she lay in the water
unprotected exposed and free from the
corner of his eye he could see his
friend Fiona helped the old man from the
tub and tenderly Pat his thin naked body
dry with an absorbent cloth she helped
him into his robe Jonas thought Larissa
had drifted into sleep as the old often
did and he was careful to keep his
emotions steady and gentle so he
wouldn't wake her he was surprised when
she spoke her eyes still closed this
morning we celebrated the release of
roberto she told him it was wonderful I
knew Roberto Dona said I helped with his
feeding the last time I was here just a
few weeks ago he was a very interesting
man Larissa opened her eyes happily they
told his whole life before they released
him she said they always do but to be
honest she whispered with a mischievous
look some of the tellings are a little
boring I've even seen some of the old
fall asleep during tellings when they
released Edna recently did you know Edna
Jonas shook his head he couldn't recall
anyone named Edna well they tried to
make her life sound meaningful and of
course she added primly all lives are
meaningful I don't mean that they aren't
but Edna my goodness she was a birth
mother and then she worked in food
production for years until she came here
she never even had a family unit Larissa
lifted her head and looked around to
make sure no one else was listening then
she confided I don't think Emma was very
smart
Jonas laughed he winced her left arm
laid it back into the water and began to
wash her feet she murmured with pleasure
as he massaged her feet with sponge but
Roberto's life was wonderful Louis her
went on after a moment he had been an
instructor of eleven so you know how
important that is and he had been on the
planning committee and goodness I don't
know how he found the time
he also raised two very successful
children and he was also the one who did
the landscaping design for the central
plaza he didn't do the actual labor of
course now you're back lean forward and
help you sit up
Jonas put his arm around her and
supported her as she sat he squeezed the
sponge against her back and began to rub
her sharp bones shoulders tell me about
the celebration well there was the
telling of his life that is always first
than the toast we all raised our glasses
and cheered we chanted the anthem he
made a lovely goodbye speech and several
of us made little speeches wishing him
well I didn't though I've never been
fond of speaking publicly he was
thrilled you should have seen the look
on his face when they let him go Jonas
slowed the strokes of his hand on her
back thoughtfully Larissa he asked what
happens when they make the actual
release where exactly did Roberta go she
lifted her bare wet shoulders in a small
shrug I don't know I don't think anybody
does except the committee he just bowed
to all of us and then walked like they
all do through the special door in the
releasing room but you should have seen
his look pure happiness I'd call it
Jonas grinned I wish I had been there to
see it
Larissa frowned I don't know why they
don't let children come not enough room
I guess they should enlarge the
releasing room we'll have to suggest
that to the committee maybe they'd study
it Jonas said slyly and Larissa chortled
with laughter right she hooted and Jonas
helped her from the tub
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