The Giver

Jonas is surprised to see the Annex’s attendant stand when he enters; no one has ever done this for him before. He hears the click of a door unlocking, an unusual occurrence since “[n]o doors in the community were locked, ever. None that Jonas knew of, anyway” (72). The attendant tells Jonas that the locks are for the Receiver’s privacy, because he needs to concentrate. He notices that the furnishings in the Receiver’s home are similar to the standard furnishing in his dwelling and many others, but a touch fancier. The most obvious difference is the book collection, which is large and varied. Jonas never knew so many books existed because he wasn’t allowed to see books other than those in his dwelling. He wonders if any of these books talk about the rules of other communities.

Jonas stares into the Receiver’s pale eyes, which look like his own. He sees that the Receiver is looking back at him with “interest, curiosity, concern, and perhaps a little sympathy as well” (75). As of this day, Jonas is the Receiver, he says. Jonas notices that the outgoing Receiver is particularly old, so he responds as respectfully as possible since elderly people are “always given the highest respect” (76).