In The Giver, what is valued by society?
Lois Lowry's 1993 young-adult novel The Giver is a well-known example of the Dystopia in literature, and is often taught in middle and high schools.
The world of The Giver is a standard closed-community dystopia, showing the government controlling every aspect of life through censorship and ignorance; the people inside are happy because they are literally ignorant of reality. The society values censorship, "Sameness," and euthanasia.
Censorship is strictly enforced by the government body, which keeps all outside knowledge locked in a single person in case of emergencies. Otherwise, there is no contact with the outside world, and no "free press" or other method of creative knowledge.
"Sameness" is the overpowering philosophy of society; it is vital to the continuing viability of the community for everything to be "The Same" as before, with no variations in routine or unforeseen events.
Euthanasia is shown to be integral in keeping population levels down; at a certain age, people are given an elaborate "going-away party" and then sent through the Door of Release. Adults know the truth, and accept it as part of "Sameness."