Jonas was chosen to be the new Receiver of Memories and is the protagonist of the story. Jonas is very sensitive and thoughtful, which is unusual for him since everyone is the same in The Giver. Jonas has the power to see through the world and see colors and memories that have been taken out of this world.

The Giver is a man who stores all the memories that the community has lost when the Committee of Elders decided to make their world a utopia where everyone was the same. The Giver was Given (pun intended) all the memories from the old world and is tortured by them every minute. He believes that the community should have these memories.

Asher is Jonas's best friend and has trouble speaking using the style that the speak in because he talks too fast which makes him hilarious to the people. He is fun-loving and in the ceremony he is given the Assistant Director or Recreation.

Fiona is another one of Jonas's best friends and has red hair, which Jonas os able to see using his abilities. She works as a Caretaker in the House of Old and is Jonas's first crush after he had a dream about her.

The Chief Elder is the elected leader of the community and is the head of the Committee of Elders and is fond on each and every child at the ceremony of twelve.