In Lois Lowry’s dystopian novel, The Giver, the treatment for ‘stirrings’—which refer to the onset of sexual feelings or desires—is a mandatory daily pill that citizens must take. This practice is enforced by the community to maintain a controlled, emotionless society devoid of passion or strong emotional connections.
The rationale behind this treatment is to suppress individual desires that could disrupt the community’s carefully constructed order. By eliminating stirrings, the authorities believe they are preventing complications in relationships and societal stability. This control over personal feelings reflects the broader theme of the novel concerning the cost of conformity and the loss of individual freedom.
Throughout the book, the protagonist Jonas eventually begins to question the effectiveness and morality of this treatment, leading him to explore the deeper implications of suppressing human emotions and desires.