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Mentor
Water
As in The Giver, water symbolizes escape, as well as the uncontrollable nature of the world. This symbolism is particularly apparent in Book One, as Claire begins to feel curiosity about the river, the…
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The Boat and Paddle
Gabe’s boat and paddle suggest the dangers of working alone—and the importance of community. Gabe begins building his boat and carving his paddle with the goal of leaving his village and returning to the…
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Fish
Fish—and the fish eggs and embryos Claire works with at the Hatchery—represent the community’s cruel detachment from its citizens and its total control over them. One of Claire’s jobs is to carefully inspect trays of…
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Veering
Gabe’s gift, which he calls “veering,” symbolizes empathy. By veering, Gabe can enter another person’s mind and feel what they’re feeling—a fantastical and literal manifestation of empathy, in which a person puts themselves in…
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