What is “Sameness”?

"Sameness" in The Giver is the system that Jonas’s community uses to eliminate differences between people in order to create stability and prevent pain. The community gives up color, weather, personal choice, strong emotions, and even memories so that life will be orderly and predictable. The Giver explains, “Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness. [...] We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with difference.”

Sameness affects every part of life. Families are assigned instead of formed through love. Jobs, spouses, and children are chosen by the Committee of Elders. People wear similar clothes, have similar hairstyles, and even stop caring about age after 12. Sexual feelings are controlled with pills, and citizens are discouraged from noticing differences in one another. The society believes that by removing choice and individuality, it can also remove conflict, jealousy, and suffering.

At first, Sameness makes the community seem peaceful and safe. There is little crime, hunger, or fear. But Jonas gradually learns what has been lost. Because people have no memories or deep emotions, they cannot truly experience love, joy, grief, or personal connection. They also accept terrible practices, such as “releasing” (euthanizing) innocent people, without understanding what death really means. Jonas realizes that people in the community live comfortable yet empty lives, unable to feel the richness of human experience. Jonas’s growing rejection of Sameness comes from his belief that real life requires both pleasure and suffering, along with the freedom to choose between them.