Dystopia is common theme which dates hundreds of years in literature worldwide. Dystopian novels and short stories often depict a society repressed by a totalitarian government which comes to power after a cataclysmic occurrence, wielding unforgiving power and control over inhabitants for their own good. These dystopias are often perceived by the average citizen as a normal or unavoidable way of life, sometimes even a better way of life, yet there is often a single person or group of protagonists who question the justification of such living arrangements and threaten upheaval of the utopia sold by the ruling class.
In a dystopian society, there is no such thing as “freedom.” The basic rights that human beings are born with are non-existent. Life for the citizens is made unjust, unfair, selfless, and cruel in order to satisfy the needs of the corporate control, also known as the party inside of the novel. In 1984, the depicted world where the party members lives are attracted to the government in every way possible is portrayed , just as a gear would turn a wheel. The strong government power implants lies and false beliefs inside the minds of citizens, making them brainwashed and unable to contain any other substance. In every case their is always a protagonist, or two, itching to escape the tight grip of the mental and physical hold that is placed upon them by the controller. Inside of the powerful novel 1984, propaganda, rigorous laws, and surveillance characterizes the society.
The idea of being ruled by a totalitarian power has never ceased to scare an audience that fears of being controlled. By this case we can soon to establish from the reality today in certain countries, that we create our own story of how dystopian societies are seen. Dystopian societies in movies and novels have played a huge role in our lives, from Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games and Alduous Huxley’s Brave New World to Lois Lowry’s The Giver; cementing humanity's faults of suppressing power. But among those movies and novels, two have resonated in our minds, not only mimicking that of Syria and North Korea today, moreover presenting foreshadow of what is possibly to be. The film 1984 and the novel Fahrenheit 451 use fear
Dystopian novels, defined as a novel genre centered around corrupted government control, usually have similar patterns in their main plots. 1984 by George Orwell is about a government known as “The Party”. which controls every aspect of everyone’s lives, Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. is about a man who rises above the government’s control, which is in pace to make everyone totally equal, and Idiocracy, directed by Mike Judge, is about a man with average intelligence, who travels 500 years into the future to discover that he is the smartest man in the world. The one thing that all of these dystopian novels have in common is that the plot centers on the corruption of the control regarding the elites of the societies portrayed in the
With this rapid change of technological advancement, we can see how this technology is affecting society and changing the way we think, act, and communicate. This scary change has recently sparked popularity for dystopian fictions. The media seems to be very intrigued by the author’s interpretation of what the future holds. The popularity
Dystopian fiction is an alternate society characterized by a focus on that which is contrary to the author 's ethos, portraying it as mass poverty, public mistrust, police state, or oppression. This genre was chosen because it allows for readers to feel better and thankful for our society’s current state. The works that I used to investigate this genre were The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and 1984 by George Orwell. All of these books are categorized in the dystopian genre but have very different symbols, styles, and implications. Each of these novels have different styles because some include a society with overbearing rules, such as Fahrenheit 451 and 1984, whereas The Road has virtually no society. Despite their differences, the purpose of these novels is to demonstrate that the only thing strong enough to conquer a corrupt and inhumane society is through true love and passion.
Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is a dystopian novel about the adventures of Katniss Everdeen, who is forced to battle against other children in a fight-to-the-death tournament. Throughout the novel, Katniss appears to be saved by luck in many near death situations. She is fortunate when her backpack protects her from a knife and when she chooses a tree with a tracker jacker nest. Many believe Katniss survives because she has never-ending luck in the arena. This assumption may be true; however, the other tributes aid Katniss throughout the games. She becomes dependent on other people to make decisions easier for her. Luck does not play a role in Katniss’ survival because the other tributes actions save her in life-threatening situations.
Dystopias are advanced futuristic worlds that dehumanize, and make people’s lives almost unbearable. Many authors have written novels about them, or movies and most of them all have the same message in them, extreme control. Characteristics such as being technologically advanced, dehumanized, loss of individualism, undesired rules/feelings, sadness, and many more contribute to the negative feeling among nearly all dystopian stories. Without these harsh characteristics, the main point would not be met that in order to have a dystopian story, there has to be some type of control present. These stories are great to read, and great for gaining perspective on different societies.
In the year 1944, famous author, George Orwell, composed a novel about a dystopian society called 1984. Telescreens that observe everything someone does, children who turn in their parents for ideas about overthrowing the government, and a clueless society surviving on only what the government tells them were the main problems in Orwell's novel. Consequently, Orwell's purpose for writing this novel was not to predict what the future of society would be like, but more as a warning. He warns of the problems with advanced technology and a growing need for power among the government. This futuristic novel, about advanced technology consuming the lives of the people, brought forth numerous concerning thoughts about the future of society.
It is quite difficult to detail a dystopian future without thinking about the variables. What time period shall it be? What new laws will be enacted to cause the dystopia? How will the characters be portrayed, and what shall be their challenges? These variables would be enough to repel authors from this topic, but one author managed to perfectly describe a dystopian future with his short piece, “Harrison Bergeron.” This short story, written by Kurt Vonnegut, has been renowned for showing an almost perfect dystopia. Through the use of stylistic elements such as diction, imagery, and details, Vonnegut reveals a grim tone, where even if good tries to prevail, it will be stopped and forgotten.
In the Dystopian Novel, “1984” by George Orwell, there are multiple assets that changes the lives of many people, in their personality and the ways of how they live. Their way of life is being destroyed due to the iron fist of a godly figure named, “Big Brother”. The methods that are being used, were odd, but at the same time, undignified. In this dystopian “society [,] itself is typically the antagonist; it is society actively working against the protagonist’s aims and desires.” (“Dystopian Fiction: An Introduction” 1). There were many methods that are being messed with, three out of the many important themes would be the public’s, Language , Love, and Technology. Destroying what little of the
Have you ever read Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins? The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau? Have you ever think about the similarities and differences of their book? What will happen if you combined them together? Hunger Games book is about a game of death, which every capitol is reaping to select the two tributes, girl and boy.
The societies created in dystopian literature reflect the qualities admired in many societies today. By creating these societies, dystopian authors warn people about the many dangers of an equal society where no one is better than anyone in any way. Throughout these books, readers start to unravel the mystery behind these stories and the unusual societies alongside the characters as the story progresses and the problem intensifies.
Popular literature often reflects society’s beliefs and struggles, and dystopian fiction is once again gaining popularity. From Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro to Hulu’s reimagining of The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, and all the young adult dystopias in between, one does not have to search far to find a unique dystopian read. While every dystopia is different, these novels have similar characteristics that define their genre.
“May the odds be ever in your favor”- Effie Trinket. The hunger games is a book written by Suzanne Collins, this book has a world of its own, the book shows two types of people the people that are in poverty and the wealthy people, there are districts 1-12 and there is the capitol the place where all the people live, the lower class citizens live in the districts.