When Rosemary was released after only five weeks of training, the community was in turmoil. All of the memories that Rosemary had received returned to the people in the community. Because memories are forever and are never lost, the people were forced to experience the anguish and the joy contained in the memories. For the first time in their lives, they experienced real feelings. Grief stricken and angry over the loss of Rosemary, The Giver was unable to help the community through its ordeal.
Knowing that memories will destroy the community's Sameness, Jonas asks The Giver a hypothetical question: "What if I fell into the river . . . and was lost?" The answer is clear. Every memory that The Giver has transmitted to Jonas would return to the people, and Sameness would no longer be possible. The community would have to change, and with The Giver's help, the people would endure the experience and benefit from it. Again Lowry foreshadows the future as she concludes Chapter 18 with The Giver deep in thought about Jonas' suggestion to help the community experience freedom once again.
The topic of release is on Jonas' mind because his father was scheduled to release a newborn twin earlier that morning. To Jonas' amazement, The Giver informs Jonas that he can watch the twin's release because all private ceremonies in the community are recorded on video, and being The Receiver, Jonas can ask for anything. Jonas is unaware that the community's every activity is taped. Videotaping everything that goes on in the community is yet another way that the Committee of Elders maintains control of the people.
