기억 전달자 에 나타난 유토피아 언어와 기억

Utopian Language and Memory in The Giver

A planned utopia where the protagonist Jonas lives attracts many current readers because his well-disciplined society is exempt from many problems that afflict readers. However, this society is not defined as a utopia in that the hero defects his community and tries to find an alternative society. The category of dystopia also cannot fully explain the relative peace and order that pervade its occupants. This paper focuses on how and why this society imposes “the precision of language” on its citizens. The standard phrases are prescribed to people and they are expected to use those phrases automatically. These standard phrases intend to standardize people’s behaviors, so that their unwavering commitment to words contributes to keeping their ideal of “Sameness and predictability.” The newly-coined words such as “sleepingroom,” “comfort object” reflect the utopian ideal that the objects, both visible and invisible, should be practical and that their functions be well-defined. As an inclusive concept, memory encompasses the objects and creatures that were suppressed and exterminated for the sake of the utopian ideal. Exposed to the past memory which extends to the previous generations and the untrodden locales, Jonas intuitively perceives the names of the objects and understands “the new, heightened feelings,” which cannot be translated into words. Past memory instills hope toward a better society for Jonas and guides him and his young company out of his community toward an unknown utopia where people are celebrating their familial love.