Imagine knowing your days are numbered. Rowan and Citra live in a world with no natural death. Instead, scythes are commanded to keep the population down through “gleaning” also known as killing. Rowan and Citra are good friends who are recruited to become scythes, a role that nobody wants. The novel explores the life of Rowan and Citra's journey to becoming a Scythe, including the good and the bad. Neal Shusterman is a skilled dystopian author who effectively explores the elements of the fictional world of Midamerica. Shusterman helps the reader experience an “out of this world” feeling when reading the novel, which allows the reader to escape. Dystopian features are explored in Scythe by Shusterman through the use of dehumanization and fear. Dehumanization is explored in the novel Scythe through the use of …show more content…
The idea represents a clear societal change where death is normalized and justified, which has a dehumanizing effect. Death is then taken away from its personal and emotional experience. Next, the quote removes the idea of old age being natural but as something that's taken away, suggesting that old age is almost impossible to achieve due to violence inflicted by Scythes. Teenagers are made to seem like they are the only ones susceptible to the dangers of driving under the influence, avoiding the topic of gleaning most citizens. The author effectively displays the query of citizens in the novel through the use of surveillance, unnatural death, and finally, murder to add to the bigger idea of dehumanization which has a lasting effect on all. Dystopian features are explored through the fear of losing family, days being limited, and the fear of the unknown. Firstly, the probability of losing a loved one creates fear in the