How Does The Giver Create A Dystopian Society

Utopia, according to Google, is defined as an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. The biggest concept to understand as a person analyzing literature is that a utopia cannot ever exist, there is always going to be flaws and they will often be destructive. In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley uses the utopian society archetype to show that the citizens give up their identity and give into conformity. Through this, Huxley reveals that in any society we assimilate to the social norm of society to be happy, thus compromising our identity for happiness.

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.

Jonas’ community appears to be a utopia, but, in reality, it is a dystopia. The people seem perfectly content to live in an isolated wreck—in a government run by a select few—in which a group of Elders enforces the rules. In Jonas’ community, there is no poverty, starvation, unemployment, lack of housing, or discrimination; everything is perfectly planned to eliminate any problems. However, as the book progresses and Jonas gains insight into what the people have willingly given up—their freedoms and individualities—for the so-called common good of the community, it becomes more and more obvious that the community is a horrible place in which to live. You as a reader can relate to the disbelief and horror that Jonas feels when he realizes

Dystopian fiction is one such genre. In fact, it reflects the present perhaps more than other genres, as it evaluates current times by creating a possible future. The first documented use of the word dystopian was said in a speech by English politician John Stuart Mills in opposition of the Utopians in 1868. He said that they would be better called dys-topians as “what is commonly called Utopian is something too good to be practicable; but what they appear to favor is too bad to be practicable.” This set a precedent for all dystopian fiction, in which a fictional society is created that is in fact “too bad to be practicable.”1 Dystopian fiction originally functioned to critique problems found in the present by looking at an exaggerated picture of what the world could be like if we continue of the road we are. However, this genre has not been immune to change. In earlier dystopian fiction we see a protagonist who becomes aware of the societal faults through the plot of the book, as well as a seemingly functioning society all while being geared towards teens. Today that has changed. Within the past few decades, we have seen a shift in the protagonist, and a shift in the society portrayed. Though these two shifts have certainly changed the genre, they seem to stem from the shift in the targeted audience. Teens tend to lack a focus on deeper themes while reading, and books geared towards them often recognize this. With this is mind can this new, young adult dystopian fiction really measure up to the older dystopian fiction? To answer this question we must ask whether dystopian fiction still serves the function set in place by the original period. Without this purpose, the dystopian novels of today becomes simply science fiction novels, perhaps with a purpose and relevance to the audience, but no longer dystopian fiction. However, if they do fulfill this purpose, these books give us

Brave New World, a dystopian novel written by Aldous Huxley, depicts a dystopian world of the future in which sex, social class, and orthodoxy are focused upon. WALL-E, a Disney Pixar film, also dystopian, epitomizes a prospective world of obesity, emphasizes the consequences of mistreating the Earth’s resources, and displays technological advancements. The two are not to be confused with a utopian society - one in which the future is depicted as quintessential. Dystopian societies similarly focus on the future, but rather one that depicts a deteriorated planet. Though Brave New World and WALL-E highlight different morals and lessons to be learned for prevention in our current day society, the two share qualities of hedonism and unlikely futures.

Different societies have risen and fallen in the continual search for the “perfect” society. The definition of this utopia is in constant flux due to changing times and cultural values. Many works of literature have been written describing a utopian society and the steps needed to achieve it. However, there are those with a more cynical or more realistic view of society that comment on current and future trends. These individuals look at the problems in society and show how to solve them with the use of control and power. Such a society is considered undesirable and has become known as dystopian society.

Popular fictions texts expressing views of the future educate audiences about current issues and the dystopias that develop from them. Texts such as the film ‘Gattaca’, directed by Andrew Niccol and novel ‘Fahrenheit 451’ by Ray Bradbury explore futuristic societies and the implications that become of their innovation. Although entertaining, texts such as these are didactic and must be taken seriously, as they communicate messages to audiences regarding prevalent concerns and possible futures based on society’s choices.

In this “Utopia” the feelings and opinions of people are programed into them and in order to maintain a control of the people’s and keep them from gaining their own thoughts and opinions they keep them away from books and the beauty of nature.

Despite the patriotism and nationalism constantly encouraged in the United States, our society is far from perfect, and science fiction is just one genre that comments on these frailties. Science fiction comments on our world by creating a dystopian society in attempt to emphasize our civilization’s dangerous flaws. Two examples can be examined in the selections, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury and "Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut. Fahrenheit 451 is about a society consumed with every possible form of technology. The people neglect one another and find a family within their fascinating trinkets. This is not very similar to our society, yet our society could eventually go down this path. Most characters from the book ignore knowledge and it is also against the law to educate oneself from books. Overall, there is limited meaningful conversation amongst the majority of people and instead, a lot of propaganda provided by the government. All of these precautions are taken so that ‘every minority is happy,’ similar to the theme of "Harrison Bergeron.” Furthermore, this selection focuses on equality and the lengths that a government will go to in attempt to destroy

As man has progressed through the ages, there has been, essentially, one purpose. That purpose is to arrive at a utopian society, where everyone is happy, disease is nonexistent, and strife, anger, or sadness is unheard of. Only happiness exists. But when confronted with Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, we come to realize that this is not, in fact, what the human soul really craves. In fact, Utopian societies are much worse than those of today. In a utopian society, the individual, who among others composes the society, is lost in the melting pot of semblance and world of uninterest. The theme of Huxley's Brave New World is community, identity, and stability. Each of these three themes represents what a Brave New World society needs

Several conflicting frames of mind have played defining roles in shaping humanity throughout the twentieth century. Philosophical optimism of a bright future held by humanity in general was taken advantage of by the promise of a better life through sacrifice of individuality to the state. In the books Brave New World, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 clear opposition to these subtle entrapments was voiced in similarly convincing ways. They first all established, to varying degrees of balance, the atmosphere and seductiveness of the “utopia” and the fear of the consequences of acting in the non-prescribed way through character development. A single character is alienated because of their inability to conform – often in protest to the forced

In many cases when you read a novel you may find comparisons between the "fictional" society and your realistic one. The author may consciously or unconsciously create similarities between these two worlds. The novelist can foresee the future and write according to this vision. In Brave New World, Adlous Huxley envisions the future of our society and the dangerous direction it is headed in.

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

‘One man’s utopia is another man’s dystopia.’ This is a famous quote we must often bear in mind when writing about such topics and it is often fairly accurate. A utopian society, in this essay, will be defined as a “non-existent society that is described in considerable detail…” (Fitting, 1993, 1) and an ideal and visionary society that enjoys perfection in various fields such as politics, law and more as seen in Thomas More’s famous novel, Utopia. A positive utopian society is often impossible due to a variety of reasons, primarily human nature and the inevitable inequality found in these idealized societies. A prime example of how a utopian society is often impossible can be found in Andrew Niccol’s film, Gattaca (1997). The film Gattaca explores a new version of an idealized society, a utopia that revolves heavily around genetic engineering. In Gattaca, an individual’s future is delineated by his or

Though set in the future, dystopian novels are concerned with the present, indeed. At their heart, they represent the writers’ attempt to use literature as a vehicle to survey contemporary social and political affairs that, if left unattended, could generate unwanted penalties for people. Dystopian and utopian literature are not to be assumed as diametrical opposites. On the contrary, and as Booker argues, the two are part of the same project, being dystopia the mirror which reflects the darkness of utopian ideals (Booker, 1994: p. 15). Therefore, dystopian fictions, ironically enough, challenge readers to ask how “the future human hells they depict have been created in the name of a quest for stability, perfection, and a man-made utopia” (Sambell,