The theme of The Giver is, we need emotions to shape ourselves and to have change. Emotions are very important to the plot in The Giver. People in The Giver don't have emotions, to prevent people breaking any rules or causing chaos. However, we see Jonas gained a familiar emotion through a memory, joy. “He had seen a birthday party.... now he understood the joy of being an individual, special and unique and proud.”(121). We can see that when Jonas gains this emotion, he changes. He also then understands the concept of age and birthdays in a whole different level. We truly see that emotions are becoming a huge thing in the story because it begins to affect our main character, and soon the plot. Then, as the plot escalates we then go to Jonas experiencing selflessness. Jonas leaves the community and is now experiencing the obstacles of the outside world. He then puts Gabriel's safety first and doesn't care for his own well being. “He wept because he was afraid now that he could not save Gabriel. He no longer cared about himself ”(174). Jonas at this point in time now doesn't care about himself, but only cares about keeping Gabe safe. And getting all of the memories to the community. At this point in the story we see that Jonas has grown from gaining all of the emotions, and only cares for the greater good.

Jonas is a dynamic character who changes rapidly throughout The Giver.In the beginning of The Giver Jonas starts off as a apprehensive character. Always second guessing himself, and worrying about the situation. When Jonas goes into Annex and begins his training, he introduces himself and The Giver had no response, “Jonas looked self consciously into the pale eyes that mirrored his own…. Sir I apologize for my lack of understanding….” (75). This is a clear example of how shy and nervous Jonas was in the beginning of the Giver. At this point of the story Jonas hasn't changed yet and was still apprehensive and nervous, still afraid to speak his mind.Then, after the passing chapters we see Jonas truly become a developed character who has feelings. At the end of the story, Jonas becomes more aware of the conflict. In the end of the book where Jonas is leaving the community with Gabe. We see Jonas develop selflessness and courage. “Jonas felt himself losing consciousness and with whole being willed himself to stay upright atop the slam...”(179). In this scene we see Jonas is experiencing so much pain and suffering, however, Jonas kept on to keep Gabe safe and to release the memories to the community. Jonas has lost all interest in keeping himself alive and only to do the initiative. This shows that Jonas is a dynamic character with a large change throughout the book.