Jonas is the protagonist of The Giver. He is a careful, thoughtful, pale-eyed boy who sometimes struggles to make sense of his emotions and reactions. At the start of the book, Jonas is about to turn 12, the age at which children in his community receive the job assignments they will hold for life. After he learns that he’s to become the new Receiver of Memory, he undergoes a transformation. With help from the outgoing Receiver, Jonas begins to hold all of the world’s memories, good and bad, so others do not have to experience them. Jonas is expected to draw wisdom from these memories and use it to help his community’s leaders make important decisions. He’s also expected to endure the excruciating pain that comes with memories of war, starvation, neglect, and other dire situations. Once Jonas starts training to become the Receiver, he is no longer allowed to apply for release from the community. He is allowed to be rude, ask questions of anyone, and lie when necessary, things he couldn’t do before training for this role.

As the book progresses, Jonas discovers the value of emotions and begins to feel them more deeply. He also grows to appreciate the existence of choices, even though choices come with risks.