What is the hidden symbolism in The Giver?

[Cailtin]

If you have read The Giver, please comment on the hidden symbolism and foreshadowing.

[Keerthu]

No matter how hard you try, you can never achieve perfection. I guess that even after they "reached" sameness the community still had flaws. In my opinion, the book is saying that imperfection is beautiful and that you don't have to be perfect in order to reach peace. But I am sure there are many more, its a deep book.

[Lolo]

"If you were to be lost in the river, Jonas, your memories would not be lost with you. Memories are forever." (144)
This quote really stuck with me. It shows how important memories are to this society, even though the general people are not allowed to have them. And it can also connect to our society today, because we rely on memories to ensure we don't make the same mistakes we made in the past.

[Erin]

Lolo wrote: ""If you were to be lost in the river, Jonas, your memories would not be lost with you. Memories are forever." (144)
This quote really stuck with me. It shows how important memories are to this soci..."

I think you make an interesting point. I also think that the fact that they take such great care in choosing someone to translate those memories into current action is useful. In our society history tends to be transformed into what suits the agenda of current leaders. All too often we get a version of the truth and have been known to repeat mistakes throughout history.

[Silver]

I think this book is also somewhat about optimism. No matter how horrible your life gets, it's better to feel pain than to feel nothing at all. And in order to have the good than you must also have the bad too.

[Sudharman]

I truly felt that this book throws a challenge to all of those people who dream of an idealistic world. It seems to say, "The world is perfect because it is imperfect." Imperfection is perfection.

[Silver]

Yes! I definitely agree :)