Why might Lois Lowry have chosen Jonas as the name of her main character in The Giver?The name Jonas is a variation of the Biblical name Jonah...

The answer to this question can be observed in the way
Jonas' thoughts about his community develop in the book.  Jonas was always apt to
question the order of his community, which was looked down upon because it disrupted the
natural order of his community.  Through his lessons with the Giver Jonas comes to see
his community differently, and, like Jonah in the bible, passes judgment on the way in
which his community conducts itself.  He is frequently seen questioning why things are
done the way they are throughout the book and begins to disagree with the community's
choices.  He decides that freedom is more desirable than order and as such leaves with
the infant Gabe, thus passing his judgment on the community as an unfit
society.