Jonas’ feelings while he’s reading his instructions.
Instruction one:
Go immediately at the end of school hours each day to the Annex entrance behind the House of the Old and present yourself to the attendant.
Thoughts:
Jonas is thinking what would happen with his friendship, if he has to go immediately to the house of the Old, because he doesn’t know what will happen with the activities, which he did with his friends (playing ball, riding his bike).
Jonas is thinking what would happen with his friendship, if he has to go immediately to the house of the Old, because he doesn’t know what will happen with the activities, which he did with his friends (playing ball, riding his bike).
Instruction two:
Go immediately to you dwelling at the conclusion of Training Hours each day.
Thoughts:
He doesn’t know where there will be time for recreation, pretty much the same as 1.
He doesn’t know where there will be time for recreation, pretty much the same as 1.
Instruction three:
From this moment you are exempted from rules governing rudeness. You may ask any question of any citizen and you will receive answers.
Thoughts:
He’s frightened about the abolition from rudeness, but he would never take advantage of it. Any intimate question would fall on his nerves, so he won’t do this.
He’s frightened about the abolition from rudeness, but he would never take advantage of it. Any intimate question would fall on his nerves, so he won’t do this.
Instruction four:
Do not discuss your training with any other member of the community, including parents and Elders.
Thoughts:
Didn’t say anything.
Didn’t say anything.
Instruction five:
From this moment you are prohibited from dream-telling.
Thoughts:
Jonas said that this would not be a problem, because he dreamed so rarely and if he dreams something he can say that he didn’t dreamed. (Last rule)
Jonas said that this would not be a problem, because he dreamed so rarely and if he dreams something he can say that he didn’t dreamed. (Last rule)
Instruction six:
Except for illness or injury unrelated to your training, do not apply for any medication.
Thoughts:
Jonas isn’t happy about this, because every time someone has, because of an injury or an accident, physical pains, he or she receives medication. He realizes that he has to be carefully, but if the accident or injury is unrelated to the training, he could receive a pill. He remembers the time, when the Chief Elder was talking about the indescribable pain during the training, and he knows that he hasn’t any medication for that.
Jonas isn’t happy about this, because every time someone has, because of an injury or an accident, physical pains, he or she receives medication. He realizes that he has to be carefully, but if the accident or injury is unrelated to the training, he could receive a pill. He remembers the time, when the Chief Elder was talking about the indescribable pain during the training, and he knows that he hasn’t any medication for that.
Instruction seven:
You are not permitted to apply for release.
Thoughts:
He never thought about being released or applying for release.
He never thought about being released or applying for release.
Instruction eight:
You may lie.
Thoughts:
Jonas is confused about this rule, because everyone taught the children and citizens not to lie. He remembers back, when he said he was starving and that he had taken aside to a talk and that nobody in the community is starving or will be starving they’re only hungry and if he says he’s starving that that is a lie.
He thinks about asking other if they had all been instructed: You may lie? , but then he realizes they can lie when they answer.
Jonas is confused about this rule, because everyone taught the children and citizens not to lie. He remembers back, when he said he was starving and that he had taken aside to a talk and that nobody in the community is starving or will be starving they’re only hungry and if he says he’s starving that that is a lie.
He thinks about asking other if they had all been instructed: You may lie? , but then he realizes they can lie when they answer.
Sophie! Fabulous work! I was hoping for someone to work on the instructions Jonas gets... as I think they are very confusing - at least there's a huge contrast between them and the rules we got to know so far while reading the book. Your description of Jonas' thoughts and reactions help us to know what Jonas is going through and what impact those instructions have on his life!
ReplyDeletePS: there's no such verb as "to nerve"; it's rather "to fall on somebody's nerves"