The fact that the very city is named “Ember” is ironic indeed. After all, what is the definition of an ember? An ember – is a small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire that is fighting to stay lit, to keep its spark of life. One may see why the builders might name the city “Ember” with its constant struggle for survival, with the looming darkness and flickering lights. Moreover, the paralyzing fear that the last bit of vibrant light may ultimately disappear from this ancient failing city. Once a great city meant to rebuild a civilization, now the darkness seems to inch in just like the fear. That fear that grips you “... to a halt in the middle of the street or stood stock-still in their houses, afraid to move in the utter blackness, they were reminded of something they preferred not to think about: that someday the lights of the city might go out and never come back on” (4-5). Constantly experiencing blackouts, where lights flicker and die. Just like the flicker of an ember, the flicker of survival. Will Ember endure this struggling civilization or will the people like Lina and Doon resuscitate it and keep the spark of life illuminated? You can observe how Lina and Doon are seeking to be released from the darkness. The darkness is related to an exhausted ember just as the entire city is debilitated and dying. A forewarning to our countries and nations handling …show more content…
In The Giver the community has removed the emotion of love in an attempt to create a utopia for its citizens. Consequently, most humans crave human emotion, love is somewhat uncertain, a very fragile central emotion to our being which makes us who we are. Should our environment be unsuitable or sterile of emotion, we crave change. Moreover, the environment and quality of life in which we provide to our children is immensely important. Clearly, the atmosphere and quality of life that Jonas desires for Gabriel is a semblance of his love for the child. “His thoughts continued. If he had stayed, he would have starved in other ways. He would have lived a life of hungry for feelings, for color, for love.” (162) Love is essential to the story and our existence, without it we are an empty colorless shell starved for intimacy, void of emotion. However, being a complicated and imperfect emotion, it does not always make since why we feel the way that we do. Our experiences, memories, senses and thought patterns all come back to the emotion we desire most, love. There is no greater desire or cause to fight for than love. An example is why people join the military, if you didn’t care for and love your nation, why do it? There would be no point, to give up so much for something or someone is true love for country and its citizens. The love has to be there for all of us to experience, it makes us stronger as