Throughout literary history the idea of a utopian society has been a prominent topic. Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines utopia as "an ideal place or state" or "any visionary system of political or social perfection," both of which have been used to define the state of utopia portrayed in literary works, however, after completing many of these works; it becomes extremely obvious that the eulogized "utopian society" is non existent and in most cases simply a misrepresented dystopia. The utopian society and its underlying problems are the base of literary works such as, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, 1984 by George Orwell, and Lois Lowry's The Giver.
Lowry's The Giver introduces readers to a world without pain, warfare, poverty, hunger, or terror. This may be what one would consider the basis of your typical utopian society, however, take away feelings such as love, diversity, the ability to make choices, and even the ability to see in color and one's mind may begin to wonder whether utopia is a proper adjective to describe such a society. In the opinions of many, such a place is considered a utopia, due to the fact that these precautions aid in shielding its inhabitants from works of maliciousness, and all types of evil. Those who see the precautions as nothing more than a way for the heads of society to gain control of society may more closely relate this scene others to a dystopia, by acknowledging the fact that in this society in no one has the right to express themselves through freedom of speech, free choice, or the ability to develop feelings of affection for one they choose. .
The tale of The Giver is told through the eyes of twelve-year-old protagonist Jonas, who at the renowned coming of age ceremony known to Jonas' society as the Ceremony of Twelve is given the highly honored Assignment of Receiver of Memory. The Receiver of Memory is the sole keeper of the community's collective memory.
