Comparison Of Dystopias In1984, And The Hunger Games

1984, written by George Orwell, illustrates a perfect example of a dystopian government. The setting is in Oceania, Britain. The government is full of spies and secret police that carefully watch the common people for any mistake they might make that can harm the government in any way. As shown with Winston Smith, the protagonist of the novel and many other citizens in Oceania, the government manipulates these characters into their pawns. The government asserts their power over the people in many ways. They have large telescreens in the people’s houses. The telescreens show the government what people are doing at all times. It can be dimmed down, but can never be turned off. Although Oceania is well off in money, the government rations food. The government’s philosophy is that

Dystopian films and books have become popular over the past few years. These tend to reflect the way in which society could possibly soon turn if expecting extremes. Dystopian literature and media also tend to have utopian elements as well. While the societies in these works are strict and controlling, they do offer something that our society could possibly benefit from. Divergent has this element. The population is broken up into five factions that represent the different types of people in society and separate those who would fight easily due to their personal morals. The Hunger Games on the other hand (when modern society crumbled) they punished their citizens for fighting the government. While yes there was a chance for riches in the Hunger Games, it took risking your life to get it. In addition, if one did win the Hunger Games they would have an extremely easy life due to riches and a free luxury house. Divergent does not have this part, as its utopian aspect is the fact different ideals are separated from each other. Utopian literature is a reflection that is a perceived direction society may go. In these stories, mirrors are a device used to symbolically state the universe of the film is a reflection not a reality.

The novel The Hunger Games is written by author Suzannne Collins. Collins created a dystopian novel that has similarities to the current society we live in and could be interpreted to be what the future holds. Throughout the book characteristics of a dystopia society are revealed. From districts starving, living in poverty, being killed for trying to escape to somewhere better and being forced to do things they do not want to do. The beginning of the book on page three, starts with the main character Katniss Everdeen assuming her sister left their bed for their mothers’ because of nightmares caused by the reaping. The reaping is when each district chooses a boy and girl to take place in the Hunger Games. The Hunger games is a sadistic way the capital reminds their citizens they are in control. At the age of twelve children names are entered into calling up until they are

In the article “Why Young Adults 'Hunger' For the Hunger Games and Other Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Fiction” Debra Donston-Miller states that dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction is very popular among young adults as it is so cleverly expressed by the title. Miller suggests that this popularity is due to “a deep-seated social need or anxiety”. Young adults feel they relate to some extent, in the sense that there is pressure on them to define themselves. Personally I agree with Miller because I have read divergent and there is a sort of gnawing at the back of my head that the protagonist and I were not that different. Granted, I’m not fighting for my life like said protagonist, but the reminder to define one’s self to fit into society is there.

I have chosen to explore the theme of “Government control.” This theme is evident in the novels The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Giver by Lois lowry and in the film Minority Report directed by Steven Spielberg.

“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”

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

In contemporary literature , one of the most popular genres of books is dystopian novels. Young adult books like Divergent, Hunger Games, and many more have been read by millions, adolescents and adults alike. In her article, “Hungry for the Hunger Games”, Monica Selby asserts her belief in the necessity for subjection to dystopian novels. We do indeed require dystopian literature so that, instead of sheltering, readers are exposed to the destruction present in our world and can heed the warning presented by the authors if we continue to turn a blind eye to that destruction. A major reason we need to read dystopian novels is because the authors warn against the dangers of conforming to a corrupted society.

The novels 1984 and The Hunger Games both have huge similarities between them that both help them set up their stories perfectly. Both novels consist of a society that has had a terrible fallout from war and are now set up in a dystopian society where the ruler is hated among most and the people live in terrible conditions. Similarities between the two novels include social status, the role children play in both societies, living conditions, authority, hatred towards life, and dictator-like rulers.

A Dystopian society is an undesirable, degraded society in which the citizens have few freedoms and are forced to act in ways the government wishes. The government in North Korea and the novel 1984, written by George Orwell, are the epitome of Dystopian societies. Almost every aspect of the civilian’s lives are controlled in one way or another. Both governments attempt to aggrandize their own power, while diminishing the rights and privileges of their own citizens. The events in North Korea correspond to the events in George Orwell’s 1984 in various ways.

Living in a world that continues to make advancements technologically and politically, a book written more than 50 years ago still warns the world of what could happen if government becomes too forceful. Because of George Orwell's strong hatred for totalitarianism and its life dictating qualities, readers can get a taste of the perfect "dystopia". Though the people of today have been warned and are afraid of an all controlling government, they continue to allow the concept of 1984 to become more and more real. If people continue to just watch their governments make decisions and not ask questions, they will fall victim to its power. If a man not of this time understands the terror of totalitarianism, everyone should

In light of current events, society is more concerned than ever about just how much power the government has over people. Individuals are concerned that those in charge might implement policies that could deteriorate certain groups’ quality of living. To some, this may be foolish, but as is shown in some novels, this could happen, and when it does, it is hard to combat. In both George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World authors depict societies under strict government control. These instances display to readers the issues that arise when governments lead through excessive limitation and by demanding conformity.

With dystopia being a present theme in both George Orwell’s, 1984 and Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, both titles share similarities and contrasts to one another. Even though these books were written decades apart, they share similarities in the government control and the presence of poverty in the settings. But, both books contradict one another as futuristic settings are viewed differently depending on when the books are written, as well as the remembrance of past struggles in the societies. The seeds of a dystopian theme are found in 1984 and The Hunger Games, presenting similarities and differences from in both books, even though the books were written decades a part.

The definition of a dystopian society is “an imaginary society that is as dehumanizing and as unpleasant as possible.” What makes them this way is that the vast majority of people living in them have zero control or power over themselves, even if they think they do. The select people in the society (i.e. the government, the rich) are the one who pull the strings behind the scenes for the majority that are ‘below’ them. The ones with the power are in the minority and are vastly outnumbered by those without power, yet the systems are so efficient at control those without power do not have the will to rebel. Control is enforced through surveillance and monitoring of the actions of the citizens. There is also the fear of discipline if you are caught acting out of line. In each society there is an atmosphere of bleak helplessness and a lack of individuality. A dystopian society fits the definition of Foucault’s Panopticism, the society has an efficient, systematic control in which power is exerted by the few to control the many, although the system is not always a negative.

A dystopia in the 21st Century consists of an unpleasant society that's made to seem as if it were a utopian world, but in reality is quite the opposite because of its unjust laws and rules, oppressive society, and harsh rulers. According to John Adams the word "dystopia" comes from Greek origin meaning literally a "bad place. [2] Dystopian fiction is a literary genre that "explores" political and social structures, usually of a futuristic setting. This genre has grown to be immensely popular, especially in the "Teen" category. The dystopia genre is relatively new as it's less than a century old. The dystopias usually consist of a protagonist going against a system made to seem like a utopia and fighting its oppressive government in hopes of defeating it and freeing themselves along with everyone else.