Final answer:
In 'The Giver', stirrings must be reported to suppress individual desires and maintain societal control. They are subdued through medication to promote uniformity and fulfill a moral obligation of generosity towards the community's collective well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry, 'stirrings' must be reported because they represent the beginnings of deep emotion and individual desire, which the society in the book seeks to suppress to maintain sameness and control. The community relies on strict adherence to rules to prevent discord and ensure a smooth functioning society. When characters begin to experience stirrings, which can be likened to the feelings of first love or sexual awakening, they are mandated to take medication to suppress these feelings to eliminate the complexity and unpredictability they bring.
The requirement to report stirrings also suggests a moral element of generosity, implying a responsibility to maintain the societal balance by contributing to the collective well-being over individual desires. The suppression of stirrings is an attempt to prevent people from acting on personal needs that could disrupt the community's uniformity.