Was the Giver a child Molester?

Question

Okay so I read the giver a few years back and I was thinking about the end when Jonas and the little boy are leaving and he hears music. Well to pass memories the giver had to touch his back. So my quesion is when did the giver give Jonas the memory of music becuase I believe he gave him the memory someother way. If it was possible for him to give him memories some other way why did he touch jonas's back all the time? I might not remember it correctly or the Giver is a child molester.

Answer 1

I think people read into things things that just aren't there. You're not the first one to jump to that conclusion or speculate that. It comes up for debate now and then. But it's something that is just not there in the text...there are no hints or clues that would lead anyone to seriously believe that LOWRY intended The Giver to be a molester-type. Sometimes readers imagine things that aren't there. I'm not picking on you personally, it's just that Lowry didn't write the Giver with that intention. It wasn't underneath the surface lurking in dozens of clues.

Answer 2

the giver is definatly not a child molester. The music that jonas remembers is part of a memory of christmas day If I remember correctly, and that memory was gien the way as the other ones, by touching his back.

Answer 3

NO WAY! It was the significance of touch in a society where people didn't have to tough each other and were encouraged not to.
Not all the memories were mentioned with great detail - the music one was probably one that wasn't listed.
My first reaction to this question was one of outrage that somebody was degrading a great book by suggesting such a thing.

Answer 4

Absolutely not. The Giver has deeper themes of euthansia and growing up. This is one of my favorite books to teach.

Answer 5

No, he's not a child molester.