Community members were released when they had broken the law three times, when the requested a release, when they had become very old, if they didn't reach the proper birth weight, or if they were the smaller of a set of twins.
Release is the term used when members of the Community (from the book The Giver) are sentenced to leave. Most of the members believe that the people that are released leave the community for another place. In reality, the people being released are injected with a lethal injection, and their bodies are thrown away.
In "The Giver," when Jonas asked Larissa where members of the community went when they were released, she simply said that she didn't know, as old people being released were a rare occurrence and the mystery of where they went was not discussed openly.
The memories were released, they could feel emotions and see colors again. There was chaos inside their community.
The euphemism for death in Jonas community is "released".
They are put to death
In Chapter 4 of "The Giver," specific items provided for members of the community include assigned household bins for recycling, bicycles for transportation, and special clothing for dispensing medication. These items are regulated and assigned by the community to ensure efficiency and conformity among its members.
In "The Giver," members of the community do not have free choice in their jobs, spouses, or families. The elders assign roles and responsibilities based on skills and preferences, resulting in a lack of individual autonomy in these aspects of life.
In "The Giver," release is a term used to describe the act of euthanizing an individual in the community. It involves injecting a lethal dose of medication into the person to eliminate them from society. The community members are not aware that release actually means death, as they are shielded from the truth of what happens to those who are released.
In "The Giver," birth mothers are highly respected and valued in the community because of their vital role in bringing new members into society. They are seen as selfless and essential contributors to the well-being of the community.
The Giver can only ask for release when he has given all his memories to Jonas. If he were to get released sooner, all the memories he had currently would be spread throughout the Community. Since the Community lives its life with no color, sound, feelings, or memories, if what the Giver had in his mind got released, the Community would turn to chaos. That is also why Jonas can't ask for release.
In "The Giver," only committee members know about what happens after people are released because they have been entrusted with preserving the community's memories and knowledge. Revealing what happens after release could disrupt the carefully controlled society and create feelings of unease or rebellion among the inhabitants. By keeping this information confidential, the committee maintains control and stability in the community.
The Giver stays in the Community, after Jonas leaves with Gabriel. The Giver helps the Community deal with all of the new memories and feelings they have received, because when Jonas left, all the memories he got from The Giver were released into the Community.