Answer:
The Assignment of Birthmother
In the community depicted in Lois Lowry’s novel, the role of a Birthmother is a significant and often misunderstood assignment. Birthmothers are responsible for bearing children, but their role is viewed as a temporary position. After giving birth to three children, they are assigned to a different job, often one that is less desirable. This reflects the society’s emphasis on control and uniformity, where individual desires and emotions are suppressed for the sake of the community’s stability.
Lily’s parents, particularly her mother, provide a somewhat dismissive view of the Birthmother assignment. They explain that being a Birthmother is not a prestigious role; it is seen as a low-status job. Lily’s mother mentions that Birthmothers are not allowed to raise their children, which highlights the community’s strict rules regarding family and parenting. This conversation reveals the detachment and lack of emotional connection that the society fosters, as it prioritizes conformity over personal relationships and individual identities.
Overall, the assignment of Birthmother in the community serves as a critique of a society that sacrifices personal bonds and emotional depth for the sake of order and sameness.