A member of Jonas' community might be "released" as a form of punishment or euthanasia, although the ethics of this second purpose are up for debate. Jonas lived in a highly regulated society, and one of the means by which order is maintained is by releasing people who don't fit into the organized structure of the community. People who commit crimes or fail to perform their jobs well may be released as punishment, like the pilot who has made a navigational mistake early in the book. People who are too ill, too old, or whose behavior doesn't meet community standards might also be released.
We learn the community believes the release of the elderly should be celebrated, though this has implications about what it means to live to old age in Jonas' society. Though these people have presumably lived pleasant, productive lives contributing to the community, they do not live to see a natural death. We also learn that babies like Gabriel may be released. Gabriel's fussiness makes authority figures believe he should be released, as this fussiness could cause a lot of problems for the people who take care of him. In order to protect Gabriel from release, Jonas escapes with him.
No comments:
Post a Comment