Final Answer:
Jonas is not allowed to state that he is starving because in the community of “The Giver” where he lives, the concept of hunger and starvation is unfamiliar. The community has strict rules and regulations, and acknowledging hunger is considered inappropriate as it goes against the principles of their society.
Step-by-step explanation:
In “The Giver,” the community has been engineered to be devoid of pain, suffering, and hunger. The citizens are provided with precise portions of food to ensure that they are always adequately nourished. Therefore, when Jonas experiences hunger, it is a foreign concept to the community, and acknowledging it would disrupt the carefully constructed order of their society.
Furthermore, the community values conformity and uniformity, and any deviation from the established norms is discouraged. Acknowledging hunger would imply a sense of individuality and personal discomfort, which contradicts the community’s emphasis on sameness and stability. Therefore, Jonas is not allowed to state that he is starving as it challenges the fundamental principles upon which their society is built.
Moreover, by suppressing the acknowledgment of hunger, the community maintains control over its citizens’ physical and emotional experiences. This control is essential for preserving the illusion of a utopian society, where discomfort and dissatisfaction are nonexistent. Thus, Jonas’ inability to express his hunger reflects the oppressive nature of the community’s regulations.