Son discussion

Spoilers
I understand Claire was afraid of the sea, but seeing as how she would do anything for her son, why take a MUCH harder route climbing a cliff that takes years to prepare for, and knowing there is a crazy guy waiting at the end? Why not take the next boat out?
What about staying on the boat and searching for her child as it visited the different communities? That' s where the story seemed to be going when she leaves in the first place.

I think that if you're desperate enough, you'll do anything. But I see what you're saying.

The geography of this world is pretty strange anyway. It must just be a magical land with barriers and gateways here and there.

Don't climb out of the canyon, Claire!! It was all just too tidy and sentimental, and then fantastic, too. Claire should have learned to deal with loss (child loss is particularly brutal and relevant to today) and rebuild her own life, which would have been much more courageous than climbing up a canyon wall. Claire's introspective drama produced by addressing and living with grief, making realizations about and passing judgments on your native land/parenting, and then becoming a valued part of her new community would have been more in line with Lowry's thought-provoking components of The Giver series. It would also be appropriate to delve into the original community's response to the loss of Jonas and Gabe. This could have been a book about fixing America and healing loss, but instead it's just Harry Potter and Star Wars-- love conquers evil all over again. So please don't climb out at all, Claire.

Laura wrote: "Spoilers
I understand Claire was afraid of the sea, but seeing as how she would do anything for her son, why take a MUCH harder route climbing a cliff that takes years to prepare for, and knowing t..."

I agree! Or read my suggestion-- don't climb out! Acknowledge grief and rebuilding!

Even so, I think that the books tells us that its almost impossible to travel far in the water, and that many men have died from using that travel route. That makes climbing the wall the only way to escape. However, I wasn't thrilled about the character of the Trademaster. It didn't mesh with the world that Lowry created.

Yea, I understand what claim she is making with this character, but I though having evil as an actual being wasn't a good choice. Look at the Messenger where there is an evil force that is affecting the community. There is a mystery to that. It's an evil that is "bigger" than us, but it doesn't stop humanity from trying to overcome it. For allegoric purposes, it makes sense why you would make evil into a tangible being, but the first way relates to the human experience much better.

Laura wrote: "Spoilers
I understand Claire was afraid of the sea, but seeing as how she would do anything for her son, why take a MUCH harder route climbing a cliff that takes years to prepare for, and knowing t..."

She was washed off of the boat, that's why she ended up at the village. And none of the boats left the village, they just went to see, fished, and came back.

I have to say this because it bothered me...I really liked this up to the ending where I felt left without closure. Maybe it's just me but I was a bit disappointed. I felt I had to assume a lot about what happened next.

Natalie wrote: "I have to say this because it bothered me...I really liked this up to the ending where I felt left without closure. Maybe it's just me but I was a bit disappointed. I felt I had to assume a lot abo..."

I would agree with you. For a book that was supposed to tie up the end of the series, it sure left a lot unsaid. I felt like the whole series would be strong without this book. It doesn't necessarily add anything.

Katie wrote: "Natalie wrote: "I have to say this because it bothered me...I really liked this up to the ending where I felt left without closure. Maybe it's just me but I was a bit disappointed. I felt I had to ..."

I don't feel like it added so much as ran with the same theme. It can stand on its own though, and I see it as more of a stand alone than an end to a series.

It shows Claire's strength as a character, and her deep love for Gabe.

I thought the same ... why climbing out? Until I re-read this part all over again. It shows that Claire was willing to endure pain and overcome obstacles because of her love for Gabe.

Besides, Einar didn't tell her about how his feet had been damaged after the successful climb until the day he took her to climb. Claire had no idea until then. Also, I believe Einar had a solid idea that the guy with mysterious powers was capable to fulfill anyone's wish with a trade. As long as Claire agreed with his trade, her wish would be granted. That was why Einar agreed to train her. Should he know that Claire would be miserable and lonely after the trade for many years, Einar probably wouldn't take her down this path. I actually wish that Einar and Claire would get married and he could take her out to the sea to find Gabe together.

Going out by sea was dangerous and highly risky as some readers pointed out above, and Claire would have no idea how to find her son. She would probably end up being drowned or wandering aimlessly. Besides, Claire had not known sea in her life, and her only experience had almost drowned her to death.

Finally, I believe the author wanted Claire to fall in love with Einar, like he had fallen in love with her as well. I believe he had always liked her since the beginning, and after finishing the book, I have a profoundly sad feeling not knowing if Claire and Einar would reunite. I wish she would go find him, the man she still remembered fondly eight years later when relating her story to Jonas.

Sarah wrote: "The geography of this world is pretty strange anyway. It must just be a magical land with barriers and gateways here and there."

I agree. I felt like I was reading Narnia books whenever Lois Lowry describes the surrounding areas in her books. I don't think the geography makes sense... which makes sense if these are all fantasy books.

Katie wrote: "Look at the Messenger where there is an evil force that is affecting the community. There is a mystery to that. It's an evil that is "bigger" than us, but it doesn't stop humanity from trying to overcome it. For allegoric purposes, it makes sensei..."

But when I began reading The Giver series, I wasn't looking for fantasy or allegories. I read The Giver because it's a great introduction to dystopian literature.

Adding the Trademaster and these magical landscapes ruined the science fiction aspect.

The place where Claire ended up after being lost from the boat was similar to the Hotel California: you can check out any time you like but you can never leave.

Katie wrote: "Yea, I understand what claim she is making with this character, but I though having evil as an actual being wasn't a good choice. Look at the Messenger where there is an evil force that is affecti..."

I'm pretty sure the evil force affecting the community in Messenger IS the Trademaster. All the negative changes the people experience are because of the trades they have made with him. Giving up the essence of their personalities and their compassion to gain the outward signs of world sees as desirable - wealth, physical attractiveness etc. The point is that even though they overcame it the first time, this power is still waiting in the world. Waiting to take advantage of people who think they are willing to give anything to get what they desire, regardless of the consequences.

A thought to those of you that feel the open ending is disappointing. Life is open ended. The books ends, but not the story, just like real life. Lowry leaves room for the young to think about what happens next.

Amber wrote: "Don't climb out of the canyon, Claire!! It was all just too tidy and sentimental, and then fantastic, too. Claire should have learned to deal with loss (child loss is particularly brutal and releva..."

You must not be a parent to make that statement....

Papaphilly wrote: "Amber wrote: "Don't climb out of the canyon, Claire!! It was all just too tidy and sentimental, and then fantastic, too. Claire should have learned to deal with loss (child loss is particularly bru..."

I agree with you, though I'm only a teenager myself. Sure Claire COULD have stayed and dealt with the pain and sorrow, but she didn't. I don't know anyone who wouldn't do anything they could to find their child. I would, even if that's what it meant. Claire doing that showed just how strong she was. And then she left the new people she had learned to love! She could've easily lived the rest of her life there in comfort, but she was willing to give it all up.

Amber wrote: "Don't climb out of the canyon, Claire!! It was all just too tidy and sentimental, and then fantastic, too. Claire should have learned to deal with loss (child loss is particularly brutal and releva..."

Claire was strong and courageous in the way she climbed out. she could have stayed and lived a nice life which would have been the easier route. But she didn't because she had a sense of love about her, she wanted her son, her mind was set on it. I think these books were very different from Harry Potter and all that.

Amber wrote: "Don't climb out of the canyon, Claire!! It was all just too tidy and sentimental, and then fantastic, too. Claire should have learned to deal with loss (child loss is particularly brutal and releva..."

I disagree with that statement. If you have even the slightest chance of seeing your child, why wouldn't you take it? Finding her son was important to her and she could always climb back in if she needed to.

I don't think she would've found Gabe without the Trademaster. It would've taken her a longer time to sail out and try to find him on his own.

I just finished this book and although open ended finales (like in Grapes Of Wrath) don't bother me, this one did. I would have liked to know the aftermath of Jonas and Gabe leaving their former community, even if it was only a snap shot. I also felt the end was anticlimactic and somewhat cheesy (I won't add a spoiler).

As for Claire climbing the cliff, I thought it was a rather suitable reaction to her re-emerging memories of her lost child. Is he alive or dead? There was only way for her to find out, and if there is a possibility of a lost child still being alive, parental love dictates that one would go to great lengths to reunite. I don't know many mothers who wouldn't at least try.

Im thinking the boat she was on in the beginning sank and that is why she had such fear that she would climb the cliff vs taking a sea route. oh and that guy - wasn't he just CREEPY -reminded me of Satan
Luna Belle Pris wrote: "Spoilers
I understand Claire was afraid of the sea, but seeing as how she would do anything for her son, why take a MUCH harder route climbing a cliff that takes years to prepare for, and knowing t..."

I honestly never thought about that before. Good point! It probably just shows her love for Gabe though.

Do you think that right at the end of the book when Gabe destroys the Trademaster that Einar is cured? Maybe he gets his legs back and can climb the cliff to find Claire!

Yes, I was wondering too if Einar's fate was reversed when the Trademaster is destroyed. I think I have decided that that's what happens.
As far as sailing away, I think the first and only time Claire was on a boat was so terrifying that she could never get on one again. The people on the boat knew a storm was coming, but they were not allowed to leave while the others were searching for the missing Jonas and Gabe. So they sailed out into the storm at the worst time.