Well, radnada, early on in the story there is a discussion about 'starving.' Has Jonas ever starved? He lives in a community where every tangible thing that a person could possibly need is provided. Jonas learns during a reprimand that he has, in fact, never starved because the community provides food for him. Jonas is living a completely programmed life where he wants for nothing. Or does he? Later in the book the Giver shares a memory with Jonas - one with a family, a roaring fire, grandparents, and Jonas works hard to identify the feeling - he struggles to wrap his brain around this emotion the Giver labels as love. Has Jonas, perhaps, starved for love? He asks his parents how they feel about him, and they go on and on about how they are proud of him, but they never say they love him. What are the feelings Jonas has for Gabe? They perhaps come as close to love as Jonas has ever felt. And once he and Gabe escape, Jonas finally learns what physical starving is, as he searches for food and shelter to keep him and Gabe alive.
So - in the community, perhaps Jonas *did* starve - for experiences like - sledding down a hill, soaking in the sun on a hot summer day. He starved for love.
After he left the community to save Gabe's life - he did learn about physical starvation. And fought his way through it.
Hope that helped!
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