Why?

[Exlibris_keagan]

Do you think the way the community released people was a little harsh? I sort of did especially if your are a newchild because well...you die. I don't like it. What do you think?

[[deleted user]]

I completely agree, but I guess that it was the point. To show how... secretive... somethings were, or how the place was ruled. Yeah, but I sort of hate it too. The worst part was that you didn't know that they did that too your child.

[Kristen]

Yes, it is terrible, and that's the point. Since this is a kids book, there has to be some really clear thing that is unmistakably wrong, that kids will recognize. They might not understand all the more subtle ways this society is so completely messed up. I think they would sort of get the feeling that it's strange and not quite right, but the idea of "releasing" people gives that definite line so that it's impossible not to see that it is a bad society that needs to change.

[Amber]

Completely agree with Kristen.

[Susan]

The worst part is that they called murder being "released" and that the rest of the community had NO idea what being "released" meant. It was ritualized, normalized, secretive murder.

[Kristen]

Susan wrote: "The worst part is that they called murder being "released" and that the rest of the community had NO idea what being "released" meant. It was ritualized, normalized, secretive murder."

I don't think that's the case. Jonas doesn't understand at first because he's so young. But his dad knew what it was. As I'm sure everyone at the childcare place did, not to mention the people at the house of the old or whatever they called it. Also in the later book, Claire seems to understand what it means, and she's not much older than Jonas. I think the people mostly know, they just don't see it as a big deal. It's just the way things are for them.

[Susan]

His dad knew because he had to do some if the releasing for the babies. I still don't think that they knew.

[Renae]

There was a sort of elation or feeling of longing about being released which led to the stigma. This is from the perspective of those who did not fully know what being released meant but thought rather of it as being freed and rewarded with freedom. This can be seen as a longing for death,which can be a rather dangerous precipice to stand on when dealing with the younger audience.

The father definitely had a problem with it as well on some level especially in regards to the method and lengths he went though to save the baby. Although, he tried to speak of the special nature of a releasing ceremony to his son. Yet, he was ambivalent about the release of the child he wished to save.

The people in generally were anesthetized too much to the pleasures of life. They were brainwashed into evading any feelings of pain or pleasure. one's release was seen as a ceremony of passage into a place more rewarding it was to be carried out as a ceremony by a select group. This helped keep the emotional feelings associated with loss at bay. The girl who released herself catalyzed an emotional cleansing for the entire community. They attempted to wipe out remembrance of her by not permitting her name to be spoken and replacing her with another child. It was a form of mind control so the whole plot including the release was unsettling. Even birthing babies was a job, nurturing only fell to a select few, and limits were imposed on the number of children parents could have.

It reminds me a bit of the story The Lottery. There was a certain elation surrounding the lottery although to be picked meant death. This simply masked the fear which ran as an undercurrent. It's almost like trying to conceal the harshness of death by making one's absolution to look positive, rewarding, or welcoming. Definitely unsettling for those who conclude that assisted death is acceptable in maintaining a society and that seeking such is a sort of freedom from an oppressive situation or society.

[Shayla]

I agree! They are a bit harsh in this book...

[Rebecca]

Well that's kind of the point isn't it? They live in this "prefect" world, an utopia. But there is no such as a society with no problems. Their society sacrifices some things in order to have a more prefect world. To them they probably see it as being for the greater good. Of course we see the flaw in this but they wouldn't see it as that. I do think that people in the society knew what being released was. They didn't view death the way we do. They've been taught that being released is something you should look forward to. To them when they "release" a child who is weak or sickly they are letting it skip what would be a difficult life and go straight to the reward. It would be seen as a win win since that child would also not be a strain on society with its needing extra care and attention and not able to give back in anyway that they would see valuable. Or at least that's the thought process I believe they would have. It's not a nice thought but it is necessary for the sake of the story and it's bigger message. On a side note, abortion is legal in our society and seen as acceptable to many (not me, I'm pro-life) but what do you think a person who has never heard of this being practiced would think? I'm sure it would seem harsh too.

[Shayla]

If I had never heard of this society, I would think it was harsh and a VERY different life (if I were coming from life liked today's). I probably wouldn't want to live in the society. If I didn't have a choice, then I wouldn't mind.