I appreciated the focus of the novel on the identity of “self”. The future that Jonas was living in was one created to attain this level of “sameness”, to create a cohesive environment where people have their needs met and are assigned careers, spouses, and children in a utilitarian community where everyone is to be content. What Jonas learns upon his appointment of being the Receiver is that while the community’s “sameness” seems to reach its set goals, perhaps there are greater things being missed out on with this curated contentment.