Can you imagine a world without pain, warfare, poverty, hunger, or terror? Sounds pretty good so far, right? Now, take away feelings, love, diversity, choices, and even the ability to see colours. It doesn't sound so great anymore, does it? Some people may consider such a place a utopia, shielding its inhabitants from all evil; others would say it is a dystopia, in which no one has the right to speak out, have choices, or to love one another. In the novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, a 12-year-old boy called Jonas finds himself in a dystopia when he realizes that there is more to life outside of his sheltered community. Although the people of Jonas' community know no different than their way of life, the society is a dystopia, rather than a utopia.

To be able to make choices for oneself is an important aspect in life...