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What is Jonas's first reaction to his assignment after the chief elder names the qualities he posed? How do his feelings change?

Jonas is selected, not assigned, as the next Receiver in chapter 8. Everyone, including Jonas, is surprised when the Chief Elder announces his role in the community. As the Chief Elder explains that the Receiver-in-training will be alone and apart, "Jonas listened with increasing unease" (62). This means that he's not feeling too confident about his new responsibility at the moment. The Chief Elder continues to say that all of the elders have been watching Jonas for a very long time. She also says that he has demonstrated all of the qualities that he needs to be the Receiver. Those qualities are: intelligence, integrity, courage, wisdom, and the ability to see beyond. The Chief Elder says that they "feel certain" that he is brave; but, "He did not feel brave at all. Not now" (63).


Once the Chief Elder finishes with discussing the Capacity to See Beyond, she looks at Jonas along with the whole audience. As everyone is silently gazing at him, the text says, "he froze, consumed with despair" (63). Therefore, his first reaction is that he feels despair. He looks out over the audience and he sees them all in a flash of color, even though he doesn't understand what color is just yet. It is at this point that he starts to feel more sure of himself. Then, when everyone starts chanting his name, Jonas feels accepted and important. "His heart swelled with gratitude and pride" (64).

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