Chapters 3 and 4: Summary

One day, Jonas’ father brings home Gabriel, a newborn in need of care. Lily remarks that, like Jonas and unlike other residents, Gabriel has blue eyes. This remark is considered rude since the community does not like to highlight differences; it takes pride in homogeneity.

Gabriel’s presence prompts Jonas’ family’s conversation about Birthmothers, and Lily hopes that she will be assigned the role of a Birthmother when she becomes a Twelve. During the conversation, we learn that Birthmothers give birth to three babies over a three-year period. Each new child is immediately taken away from its Birthmother and is cared for by Nurturers. Eventually, Birthmothers become Labourers.

The residents are controlled by announcements and chastisements via loudspeakers. Interestingly enough, there is no room for secrets within the community: Jonas, for instance, was once publicly chastised for taking an apple home from the Recreation Area.

When children become Eights, they begin their volunteer hours. The purpose of volunteering is to give the Committee of Elders the opportunity to observe each child in different working situations. Doing so allows the Elders to choose appropriate lifelong Assignments for the children when they become Twelves.

Jonas’ Assignment takes him to a place called The House of Old. Jonas goes to the Bathing Room, where he gives Larissa, an elderly woman, a bath. It is against the rules for anyone to look at a naked person; notably, only infants and the Old are exempt from this rule. Larissa and Jonas go on to discuss Roberto, who was recently “released.” During this discussion, Larissa tells Jonas that the “release ceremonies” are rather beautiful.

Chapters 3 and 4: Analysis

The chapters give the readers an insight into the role of the so-called Speakers, and this adds more nuance to the novel. The residents of the community are constantly watched and reprimanded for breaking rules.

We are also introduced to the concept of “release.” At this point in the novel, this is presented as a beautiful way to bid farewell to someone in the community. Ironically, Larissa’s comment that everyone should witness these ceremonies reveals the release for what it really is—murder. According to Larissa, the ceremony is designed to celebrate the residents’ meaningful lives. This, however, is ironic and underlines a key theme of the novel: the residents are under the impression that their lives are meaningful, but in reality they all lead meaningless lives.