In chapter 5 of 'The Giver', 'release' refers to a euphemism for euthanasia within the story's dystopian society, revealing the dark nature of the community's control.
The quotation you are asking about from The Giver chapter 5 refers to a societal process where individuals who break the community's rules or who are deemed no longer useful may be 'released', which is a euphemism for being killed. This event emphasizes the dystopian nature of the society in The Giver, where conformity and sameness are valued above individuality, and the community uses euphemistic language to mask the harsh realities of their practices. 'Release' is initially presented as a benign act, but as the protagonist learns more about his society, he discovers the dark truth behind this term. The ceremony of release is a significant element in the story and symbolizes the control the society has over the lives of its members.
In the given passage, the character Jane Withersteen from the novel 'The Giver' is having a conversation with Lassiter about a revelation regarding a person named Milly. Milly is mentioned as someone who disappeared and was never seen again, without even a ceremony of release. The mention of 'ceremony of release' indicates that Milly might have been a member of a dystopian society described in the novel. This passage creates suspense and raises questions about Milly's fate and the consequences of her disappearance.