Jonas' father

The loving Nurturer

Jonas' father is an important character in the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry. He lives in a row house together with his wife, his son Jonas and his daughter Lily. He is not the biological father of his two children, who were assigned to the family when they were about one year old. He also did not choose his wife himself. The assignment of the partner was determined by the Committee of Elders.

Jonas' father is a Nurturer by profession, which is considered a very important job in the community. Nurturers look after babies at the Nurturing Center until they are about one year old. When the children have passed a maturity test and if they sleep through the night, they can be given to a family (Chapter 1, 17%).

Jonas' father loves his job. He has felt the inclination to take care of babies since he was a child. He did all his volunteer hours at the Nurturing Center. He suspected and hoped then that his Assignment would be that of a Nurturer (Chapter 2, 60%). He was also a hardworking student (Chapter 2, 60%).

Caring, patient, and understanding

Jonas' father is joyful and playful: " 'I did,' his father said, laughing. 'I still do. Every day, at the Nurturing Center, I play bounce-on-the-knee, and peek-a-boo, and hug-the-teddy.' He reached over and stroked...