Do Gabe and Jonas die at the end

[Binibining `E (of The Ugly Writers)]

i havent read the other books just finished reading the giver and currently reading gathering blue.. but i do think that they're alive somewhere..

[Fallen]

Elaine wrote: "i havent read the other books just finished reading the giver and currently reading gathering blue.. but i do think that they're alive somewhere.."

idk yet. I haven't had time to read them. my teacher loves them

[Sophie]

I believe that they do reach elsewhere, because at one part in the book it says when they reach elsewhere they will hear the music and in the end Jonas says they can finally hear the music

[Fallen]

Kyros wrote: "You have to read the other books in the series to under stand what happens."

yeah. Son looks like it will be really good.

[Hana]

This book was really great! They do survive at the end. Jonas finds a sled at the top of a hill, and he and Gabe ride it down to a village.

[Erika]

I think they do and don't they talk about it in a later book?

[Teddy]

I think that they do not die, because there is a reference to Jonas in Gathering Blue. Towards the end of the book, it says that there is a pair of icy blue eyes through the trees.

[Fallen]

they cant die.

[Eve]

no, in Gathering Blue Jonas becomes Leader and later marries Kira. Gabe is left at an orphanage in elsewhere.

[Italia8989]

Even though the author says in her Q & A that they live and Jonas appears in the sequel, I believe based on solely what she writes they do indeed die. The statement (in which I paraphrase) convincing me of this is when the narrator says, "It was a place he dimly recognized before." How would he remember Elsewhere if he had never been there before? This statement can be inferred to mean Heaven, for nothing else could make any sense.

[Fallen]

just read them

[Ariz]

i like how it was unfinished. in my class people were making interesting assumptions one of my favorites was that they were going in a loop and arrived where they first started and that there was no elsewhere. i know it is improbable but still would make an awesome ending.

[Anna]

Loved the book!
thought that Jonas and Gabe made it but you could end it either way happy or sad... :)

[Nadia]

read on

[Rachel Munch]

The author left it unclear because he wanted the reader to decide if the light they saw was the white light meaning death or the lights of towns. But really, your suppose to decide the ending.

[Claire]

If you read the rest of the series including the fourth which is called "Son" it answers that question. its an amazing series please read it! :)

[Abby]

*SPOILER ALERT*
Of course not! Read the rest of the series for proof of that! The next books aren't about Jonas but but one is about Gabe.

[Abby]

Katrina wrote: "Yeah, i think she also said she didn't mean for it to seem like they died. My english teacher's guess was they had gone in a big circle and went back to the community but now they had memories!"

Makes sense.. but not true.

[Paula]

don't think they did. The ending hinted that they lived.

[Kelli]

Interesting debate going on... I think that the later books in the series need to be judged separately from The Giver. I believe that Lowry's intention (at first) was to write this as a stand alone, and only later decided to continue the series, and therefore the possible lives of Jonas and Gabe. For our purposes of discussion, I will hence be reviewing and making inferences about this book as a stand alone only, completely separate from any sequels.

Let me first say that I love this novel. It was my first introduction to dystopia, and will remain my first love within the genre. The story captivated me enough to prompt me to continue rereading this novel each and every year for the last 18 yrs. I always seem to get something new from the read, and I always seem to love it a little more.

I believe that Lowry is a master crafter as evidenced by this powerful work. Her words are such that depending upon the personality and life circumstances of the reader, there can be numerous (yet all equally valid) interpretations of theme and intention. This, above all else is what elevates this work to the level of classic. It requires some metacognition on the part of the reader.

As far as the ending, I believe that depending on your current life circumstances and worldview you can validly believe that they lived or died.

Because of my personal background, I tend to believe that they died in the end. It fits well with my nature as a realist and my understanding of what happens to the human body when dying. The lights Jonas sees could be the random misfiring of neurons as the brain finishes shutting down. The sled and music could be very real hallucinations exhibited by Jonas as he goes through the later stages of hypothermia. Gabe seems to be either already dead or beyond responsiveness when Jonas finds the sled. And even though the feeling is so completely real to him, so are many hallucinations - that's why they can be so disconcerting to the person experiencing them.

It could be that Jonas and Gabe reach heaven and that's why they hear music and see lights, etc. I tend to waffle on this with each reread. But, again, that's because of personal beliefs.

Whether Jonas lived or died really doesn't matter in the end. It's what you, as a reader, get from the experience that truly matters. Were you left with a feeling of utter hopelessness at the conclusion? Were you left feeling happy that Jonas escaped with Gabe? Were you left feeling like something more or different could have been done to help change the community? Or, did you feel that the community was the sufferer in this whole thing? Were they right to limit the lives of their citizens? These questions and more are the real point of the novel. Whether or not the main characters live, well I believe that's up to the individual reading the story, not necessarily the writer in this case.

[NerdyJen]

Whitney :) wrote: "no. they travel around in a circle and then they come back to his old community with all of the memories. i even emailed her. she told me.

mailto:info@loislowery.com <- Her email address!"

Her name is spelled Lowry, not Lowery. I think you've been duped. She wrote 3 sequels.

[Alec]

There's three other books, including one that was just published a year or two ago, 'Son'

[Renae]

In short, yes.

[Renae]

Madeline wrote: "So bazaar! I love this book but really, imagine a world without color or love!"

So they didn't die because your teacher said so.

[Renae]

Karin wrote: "I always thought Gabe and Jonas freeze to death at the end. No one leaves a sled at the top of a hill."

I agree. Plus he saw a community that was in a memory that was given him. That does not sound like living to me.

[Renae]

I think that others who are given spoilers in regards to two other books not the Giver cannot in good fairness answer this question.

The question asks what do you think happens at the end of the Giver and to give an account. The question is not what do you know happened dependent on two other books that are not titled "The Giver".

I have not read the other two books so I will not let it influence my thinking. Based on what I read from the Giver all evidence points to their death.
It would have been nice if there was a community to welcome them but I just don't buy that because of the type of story this was.

For the fact that they lived in two other books and he became a leader in his own community that could simply be a utopian paradise of sorts. I will not comment on that for not having read the book.

[Renae]

Sarah wrote: "So if you just read the first book in the series, you have to infer what happened to Jonas and Gabe. I personally believe, by just reading the first book and infering, that they do make it somewher..."

What place did they reach? The place is exactly like the memory of Christmas that he was given by the Giver I don't see this as evidence of reaching anywhere.

[Renae]

Italia8989 wrote: "Even though the author says in her Q & A that they live and Jonas appears in the sequel, I believe based on solely what she writes they do indeed die. The statement (in which I paraphrase) convinci..."

I agree. He recognized a place in a memory given to him by the giver that he did not have. Everyone who read this book will recognize that the place he happens upon is identical the memory that the Giver gives him.

[Anna]

Dee wrote: "the next one is called Gathering Blue, which features someone else in the community and the final one is called the Messenger (I think)

Madeline wrote: "Zoha wrote: "Oh I read the next book and in..."

Well the last one is son and that's it.
First
The giver
Gathering blue
The messenger
Son

[Amy]

I loved that the ending was unclear. It allowed for wonderful discussions. Read all of the books in the series, concluding with Son (Giver #4)and all questions will be answered.

[Fabiemg]

I'm sure they lived. I think the communities were Jonas and Gabe lived were isolated societies that decided to forget memories and feelings. Jonas and Gabe reached "the real world" were people have memories and feelings

[Fabiemg]

Katrina wrote: "Yeah, i think she also said she didn't mean for it to seem like they died. My english teacher's guess was they had gone in a big circle and went back to the community but now they had memories!"

wow that's a very interesting thought! I just thought they lived and reached the "real world" were ppl have memories and feelings.

[Jonah]

GAbe and Jonas survive. in Son... they might say something....

[Aly]

is johas gabe "father figure" in the book

[Jonah]

Alyssa wrote: "is johas gabe "father figure" in the book"
kind of. you just have to read it for yourself.

[Bonnie Gleckler]

Actually, in order to truly know the answer to this question, you must read Lois Lowry's latest book in "The Giver Series." SON is the quintessential answer to "Did Jonas and Gabe survive?" You've got to read it - excellent!

[Jonah]

Bonnie Gleckler wrote: "Actually, in order to truly know the answer to this question, you must read Lois Lowry's latest book in "The Giver Series." SON is the quintessential answer to "Did Jonas and Gabe survive?" You'v..."

I said that already silly! :b

[Bonnie Gleckler]

Oops!!! Didn't notice your previous comment. Sorry snout that. At the least, we both agree. Hey, have you read the "Wool" omnibus by Hugh Howey. It's excellent!!!!

[Jonah]

Bonnie Gleckler wrote: "Oops!!! Didn't notice your previous comment. Sorry snout that. At the least, we both agree. Hey, have you read the "Wool" omnibus by Hugh Howey. It's excellent!!!!"

No but i will read it. Thanks!

[Kyra]

Nope they make it to another community *_*

[Kyra]

The only people think that this book is bad are people who never read it

[Jonah]

Kyra wrote: "Nope they make it to another community *_*"

Why do you have to give all away!

[Kelli]

I think most of you are missing the point of the question. It's not a question in the literal sense of what actually happened to these characters. One can infer from the text what they thought actually happened. Nor does it matter what happened in subsequent series books written by Lowry.

The real question is, based upon your thoughts of whether or not Jonas and Gabe died at the end of The Giver, what does this say about you? What societal implications can we glean from answers to the positive or negative? Are you necessarily optimistic if you think they survived? Are you necessarily pessimistic if you think they died? Whether they lived or died, did Jonas make the right choice by leaving? Would you have done the same?

These are the deeper issues surrounding the question of whether or not Jonas and Gabe died in the end. These are some of the metacognitive and thematic issues raised by the book. This is where Lowry's true genius lies.

[Jonah]

Kelli wrote: "I think most of you are missing the point of the question. It's not a question in the literal sense of what actually happened to these characters. One can infer from the text what they thought actu..."

Good reply. I will think about it . Thanks!

[[deleted user]]

No, they don't die
Jonas becomes the leader of another community, and idk what happens to Gabe

[Josh]

Originally, yes, they do die. However, their fate was retconned after she wrote the sequels.

[Susan]

Kelli wrote: "These are the deeper issues surrounding the question of whether or not Jonas and Gabe died in the end. These are some of the metacognitive and thematic issues raised by the book. This is where Lowry's true genius lies. "
THAT. I totally agree. Lois Lowry is genius.

[Mackenzie]

Sophia wrote: "i read the book but it seems unclear.

"
There are three sequels to the giver. They don't die.

[Mackenzie]

Madeline wrote: "Zoha wrote: "Oh I read the next book and in that Gabe or Jonah is alive."

NO WAY! WHAT'S THE BOOK CALLED? MUST READ IT!"
It's called Gathering Blue. After that there are two more, Messenger, and Son.

[Brittney ♥]

LOL, the Author leaves that for you to decide because I've watched the interview with her. you get to choose how it ends. I love happy endings, so to me, they made it ;) google it, but that's what she claims. she will not say one or the other... period.