PARAGRAPH 1 Flashcards
TS
Characterisation has been skillfully used in the novel position the reader to understand how the character’s problematic morals are issues produced as a result of the dangerous principles that the dystopian world has pressured him to conform to. This aids in further communicating the idea that “one man’s utopia is another man’s dystopia”; by thoroughly inspecting the dialogue, actions and appearance of Jonas’s father.
summary
Losing love for human life and forgoing the ability to empathise with others is displayed by the people of the community who work in the nurturing centre or at the house of the old and are “trained in the fine art of release” otherwise known as medically induced death and are essentially killing these citizens without them knowing that it is about to happen to them.
e.g 1
When we are first introduced to the father he is working at the nurturing centre and is holding up a little boy while three very similar looking ladies are holding babies all in the same way illustrating to the reader that these newborns are triplets which symbolises the major plotline later on in the novel where the father murders the smaller twin baby.
e.g 2
In addition when Gabe is first introduced we see the elders staring at him with intrigue as if he was a product that Jonas’s father was pitching to investors, due to gabe being a underweight baby and in the community babies that have problems are released; except in this case he was asking the elders to invest time rather than money because he believed he could fix Gabe’s sleeping problem in a year. Readers can also see the contrast between Jonas smiling at the beginning when he found out about Gabe staying with them versus when he was upset a year later when Gabe’s time was up and knew he was about to be executed.
e.g 3
Furthermore, early on in the novel Jonas believes that “nurturers are responsible for all the physical and emotional needs of every newchild” however towards the end Jonas has a revelation that no the nurturers have not been upholding their responsibilities to the children but rather to the communities twisted rules as they are “happy to kill people, small newborn people”.
explanation
The similar and contrasting elements from both scenes visually demonstrates how Jonas’s father was a beacon of light in his life and the most empathetic and caring person in his life; however he later learns that his father’s assignment not only entails looking after babies but murdering them which signifies how desensitised he is to feelings of guilt and empathy due to conforming to the communities distorted values of positivity, safety and sameness.
lead out
Characterisation has been effectively used to position readers to understand that due to being forced to conform to the community’s morals the father became heartless and automotive; however these morals allow him to be more logical than the average person, not easily swayed by emotions or bias. Which further aids in communicating how an emotionless world could be a dystopia for many, however for others living in a world where decisions are made from a utilitarianism perspective and based on facts is their ideal utopia.
