The Giver

Describe how jonas's life diifers from the lives of his classmates

Chapter 15-16 

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Chapter 15 is a pivotal event in Jonas's training as The Receiver because it introduces him to the concept of war, which drives home the terrible nature of a violent death. It certainly seems reasonable that a society would want to avoid such experiences for good. The memory is intense, visceral, and hopeless, and it sensitizes Jonas to the idea of death, a development in his character that will become pivotal in later chapters. The Giver almost immediately regrets transmitting the memory to Jonas, and he asks Jonas for forgiveness, but on another level, the chapter shows that Jonas's society may be to blame for forcing such memories onto one man.

Gaining a memory of war deeply affects Jonas, who knows that everyone in his community is able to live a carefree, ordinary existence because of his suffering and the suffering of the past. It is for this reason that the behavior of Asher and the children in the play area nearly causes Jonas to break down. He understands that they do not understand that their imitation war game is cruel and representative of terrible suffering, but their inability to understand further isolates and frustrates him. The incident shows how their innocence of war makes playing at war possible, and it also highlights the lack of understanding that Asher and Fiona have about certain aspects of life as it used to be.

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http://www.gradesaver.com/the-giver/study-guide/summary-chapters-16-17