Government Control And Resistance In The Dystopian Novel

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.

The trend in dystopian societies is very intriguing and so vivid. Dystopian societies dictate many characteristics as leaders and followers usually one coming out from the shade to lead their small groups to rebel against order. Through, James Dashner literature the maze runner series he greatly displays challenges of the protagonist in a fallen society. He also takes his text to the next level by being able to display hopelessness in a series of challenges, with struggles with fear in courage as the protagonist in the book go through their trenches, long and dangerous journey. Basically the control the dystopian society creates. Since their beginning they all went through the same thing. On pg. 1. “he began his new life standing up, surrounded

Dystopian societies, as described in novels and movies, fascinates all audiences from young to old because they can relate in someway to the portrayed unfortunate circumstances. For instance, the novel 1984 and the movie Divergent, intrigue the imagination for most readers because they can actually sense an overpowering government in their own life. Both of the stories are an extreme of what most people would say is taking place in reality today; however, their story still resonates in the minds of many as it expresses a common theme. Both 1984 and Divergent have a similar theme of a controlling government system that oppresses their citizens.

The idea of being ruled by a totalitarian power has never ceased to scare an audience that fears of being controlled. It is in this case that we can establish from the reality we see today in certain countries, that we create our own story of how dystopian societies can many ways be seen. Dystopian societies in movies and novels have played a huge role in our lives, from: Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games, Alduous Huxley’s Brave New World and Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Cementing humanities faults by exploiting them through harsh ideals of suppressing power. But among those movies and novels and many more, two have resonated in our minds; not only mimicking what is seen today in Syria and North Korea, but also presenting foreshadow of what is possibly going to be. The film 1984 and the novel Fahrenheit 451 use fear and illusion to capture the horror of dystopian societies that use totalitarian power to control the masses.

In the beginning of the dystopian novel, the society appears to be stable, organized and with no problems. As the events progress, the ugly face of the society is revealed by a protagonist that begins to question the social and political norms of his/her society. This protagonist begins to understand how the system seeks only power and does not care about the people. Moving towards the climax, he/she starts to think how to get out of the system or change the course of events. Moreover, Devin Ryan suggests “protagonists begin to search for their identities, they realize that the world in which they live is neither perfect nor free’’ (Ryan4). As for the end, Casey Aaron Holliday explains “ Dystopian novels generally end in one of two ways. The

Dystopian societies starkly resemble our own. They emphasize the idea that if preventive measures are not taken now, there will be turmoil later. They serve as a reminder that if the weakness and passions of man are pursued, disorder will be fostered.

After reading this novel, one will have a better idea of what a dystopian society is like. Almost all charterers except for a few,

Dystopian society is a way that this author shows what the future will be like when one person takes charge of a small large group. The elements of dystopian society in Divergent by Veronica Roth are limitations, corporate control, and the factions. The limitations presented in this story include the walls in which the city of Chicago is surrounded by; no one is allowed outside the fence. Another limitation is the factions, which are groups that you are put into based on your personality. You are given a test and one chance to choose a new faction that best fits your wants and needs and if you fail to choose or succeed in a faction, you become factionless. Factionless means that you don’t belong anywhere are are viewed publicly as a disgrace. The last element addressed in this story is corporate control.

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.

Desire is a powerful and dangerous emotion which has the ability to overtake and disregards any rational state of mind, creating disorder and life-threatening consequences, thus making it feared as a form of disorder or misdirected imagination. However, desire cannot exist without a lack of satisfaction, allowing the once forbidden to become desirable. These illicit desires which are in conflict with social laws and norms are often repressed into the unconscious. Emerging in forms which are disguised so that they may be unrecognisable to the conscious mind due to the dangerous, forces and consequences they present. Such desires can be identified in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) which mirrors post-war social and political issues, portraying the devastation, destruction and control on the outer limits of humanity in a dystopian world. In a world where thought, history and relationships are manipulated and governed, romantic and autonomies desire become a means of rebellion in order to maintain sanity, truth, and an objective reality as a means of resistance against the governing party. Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) is a speculative fiction which explores the need for a sustained political, feminist consciousness and activity among woman by exploring the political and social consequence of their absence. In The Handmaid’s Tale, we see illicit desire through the use of language and literature in a dystopian world which governs class

Dystopian novels have become more common over the last century; each ranging from one extreme society to the next. A dystopia, “A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control,”[1] through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, criticizes about current trends, societal norms, or political systems. The society in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is divided in a caste system, in which humans are not individuals, do not have the opportunity to be individuals, and never experience true happiness. These characteristics of the reading point towards a well-structured

In the novel 1984 there are different types of Dystopias going on. Winston Smith is the main character in this novel. Winston lives in a world where he is constantly watched by surveillance and is basically told how to live and what to do. In a dystopian society , propaganda is used to control the people living within the society. Winston on the other hand is protagonist and feels like the world he lives in is weird or isn't right. The types of dystopian controls in this novel is Technological Control , Totalitarian Control , and Bureaucratic Control.

A dystopian society, usually illusory, is the reverse of an idyllic utopia: it is generally tyrannical and inhibited. Dystopian societies mirror our future- they are usually a hyperbolic familiar society with satirical exaggeration. This kind of literature is written to amend other people 's idea of the kind of society they should thrive for. As well as that, they are written to express their concerns about the future and humanity. Societies of this nature appear in many works of fiction, predominantly in novels set in a speculative future. Dystopian culture is often mused by societal collapse, dehumanization, poverty, and deprivation.

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.

Dystopian literature and film has been quite a popular genre for readers. In most texts, they are set in a post-apocalyptic or dystopian world where the protagonist struggles to fit into these corrupted worlds and these protagonists rebel because they feel like the government has turned their backs on them, leaving them treated unfairly. The protagonist fight back in the hopes of restoring society to its sensible state. All the main protagonists in the plots are put into inhumane situations as they are controlled by the government in order to fit their ideas and beliefs or just the plain simple reason, for their own entertainment. Through the actions and perspective of these protagonists, it shows a reflection of how we deal with certain issues