Chapter 3 Summary

We meet Gabriel for the first time when Father brings him home for the night. His comfort object is an imaginary animal called a hippo. Lily has one called an elephant. Children are given the comfort objects at birth. Then they give them up at the ceremony of Eight. The comfort objects are recycled to a new infant. Animals are unknown in this culture, considered imaginary.

Gabriel has pale eyes, as does Jonas. Pale eyes are rare. Lily makes a comment about becoming a birthmother, only to be sharply reprimanded by her mother. Birthmothers have three births - three years of comfort and luxury. Then they are laborers until they enter "the house of the Old."

Jonas thinks that Lily could be a Speaker, one who makes the announcements. Some announcements are delivered to the community, but directed at a single person. Such...