General Rules:
* No choice: Citizens are assigned their spouses, jobs, and even their children. There is no personal freedom of choice in any significant aspect of life.
* No memory of the past: The community has no memory of the world before the "Sameness" was established. This prevents conflict, but also prevents individual identity and understanding of the world.
* No pain: Pain, suffering, and negative emotions are eliminated through medication and strict social control. This creates a sense of safety and uniformity, but also inhibits emotional growth and understanding.
* No color: The world is devoid of color to prevent distractions and promote focus.
* No individuality: All citizens wear the same clothing, live in identical homes, and have similar lifestyles to maintain equality and prevent jealousy.
* No competition: There is no competition or rivalry between citizens, as the community aims for harmony and eliminates the possibility of conflict.
* Strict rules: All citizens must obey the rules without question and are heavily punished for any transgression.
* The "Release": Those who violate the rules or are considered a burden on the community are "released", which is a euphemism for euthanasia.
* The "Nurturer": Children are raised by "Nurturers" and assigned to their families at the age of one.
Rules related to The Giver:
* The Receiver of Memory: Only one citizen, The Receiver, is allowed to hold all the memories of the past. This knowledge is considered too dangerous for the community as a whole.
* Isolation: The Receiver lives in isolation and is forbidden from interacting with the community, except for the Chief Elder.
* Prohibition of sharing: The Receiver is forbidden from sharing the memories with anyone else, as they could disrupt the established order.
Consequences of breaking rules:
* Punishment: Breaking the rules leads to various punishments, including public shaming, restriction of privileges, or even "Release".
* Fear: The community is instilled with fear of breaking the rules, as they are seen as a threat to the stability of the society.
It's important to remember that these rules create a seemingly utopian society, but at the cost of individual freedom, individuality, and emotional growth. The novel raises crucial questions about the nature of freedom, the role of memory, and the potential dangers of a perfectly controlled society.