Reboot Themes

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 the dystopian worlds created by the film director Andrew Niccol and renowned author George Orwell, notions of control and freedom are explored. Both worlds contain an overarching power that governs the rest of the population and restricts freedom of individuals, these powers also aid in the progression of technology, which further act to control individuals. The characterisations of the protagonists of each text portray the lack of freedom from the perspective of those that are affected. Both authors use a variety of techniques to portray themes of control and freedom in their texts.

Bernard, Lenina, and Linda all have unique characteristics that set them apart from the regular citizens of the World State Society. However, all three of them have unknowingly fallen into the conformities of the state’s maladaptive rules, preferably choosing to emanate the state’s values that do not fit their own characteristics. The World State’s guidelines and regulations pull all the citizens of the World State, including Bernard, Lenina, and Linda, into one lifestyle of living through a domino effect of conformity: the more people that conform, the more harder it is to resist the urge to conform with them. Aldous Huxley’s Brave New

Totalitarianism diminishes the idea of individuality and destroys all chances of self-improvement, and human’s natural hunger for knowledge. In George Orwell’s famous novel, “1984”, totalitarianism is clearly seen in the exaggerated control of the state over every single citizen, everyday, everywhere. Totalitarianism can also be seen in the book “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, in which humans are synthetically made and conditioned for their predestinated purpose on earth. The lack of individualism will lead a community towards a dystopia in which freedom is vanished by the uncontrolled power of the state.

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Harrison Bergeron” are both stories of a dystopian society where laws are in place that restrict everything a citizen can do and their basic human rights. Characters in Fahrenheit 451 are restricted by the threat of being removed from society, where the characters in “Harrison Bergeron” actually have physical restrictions placed on their bodies. Bradbury and Vonnegut show that the dangers of these kind of restrictions lead to conformity, and ultimately a loss of human individuality. Conformity in these two societies means that the citizens are part of the community, but are being brainwashed by a government that controls their lives.

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.

One of the main focuses of society that advocates totalitarianism is uniformity. A society such as this works towards uniformity by oppressing its population’s individuality and promotes a standardized environment. In this environment citizens are restricted in every way of life to ensure that no one has more

There is nothing truly more terrifying than conformity in its purest form and George Orwell, the author of 1984, illustrates that point perfectly in his novel which showcases all of his ideas.  But what really causes the erasement of the individual and the subsequent rise of the ostensible status quo?  Orwell takes the time in his novel to demarcate the many causes that have an acute effect on individuality and how potently a general ‘norm’ can influence a mass of people.  Manipulation of the individual and of the masses runs rampant in this dystopian world as mandated activities like Two Minutes Hate serve to distract and confuse the people, as well as organizations like the Anti-sex league and Spies being used as indoctrination centers

Thus these situations serve as government examples. In 1984, O’Brien, the antagonist. and Winston Smith, the protagonist, compete in a power struggle game. Even though Winston accepts the rules of this game, the Party and Big Brother have already won (Fortunati 144). There is no point of rebellion as even the Party controls rebellion. The game itself is simulated and controlled. In A Clockwork Orange, the government publishes a newspaper article detailing the conditioning technique it uses when curing Alex of his destructive habits and changing him into a peaceful law abiding citizen for the State. “Here was the first graduate from the new State Institute for Reclamation of Criminal Types, cured of his criminal instincts in a fortnight only, now a good law-fearing citizen and all that cal. Then I viddied there was a very boastful article about this Ludovico’s Technique and how clever the Government was” (Burgess 149). The government uses Alex’s experience of an example of how its ability to reverse bad behavior. In Brave New World, Bernard and Helmholtz Watson realize their incompatibility with the system and how this appears as a threat to the government. “A mental excess . . . the result of a physical defect . . . what the two man shared was the knowledge that they were the individuals” (Huxley 67). Once these two men realize their individuality, they become exiled to an

In a world where citizens are equal, if an individual is seen as different, an almighty power will come either to convert or to exterminate them. All governments are aiming for a society that is balanced, but certain rulers take this too literal. In order to reach this sense of utopia, there are a select few who are willing to do anything. In most cases, these attempts cause chaos and distrust in the government. What these governments fail to realize is that they are creating a dystopian society.

In a post-apocalyptic setting a group of people strive to create a new utopia out of the ashes of the old. Dystopian societies sprout from the attempt at sustaining control over society and highly restrictive laws are set in place. Multiple fear tactics such as intense surveillance, mental reconditioning, an irrational fear of the outside world, these cruel punishments are used to strip the people of their ability to possess their own individual thought and personality. In place of their individuality the citizens are conditioned to follow specific moral and personal standards, enforcing the aspect of uniformity associated with dystopian societies. The citizens accept their way of life due to the fact that they don’t know how to live in any other way because the controlling party manipulates history to erase past events of rebellion or examples of a better way of life.

Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”, and George Orwell’s “1984” both portray totalitarian regimes who strive for complete control over their population. The methods that they use to achieve this are almost polar opposites. While one uses war/bombing, thought/relationships, and through the dreaded room 101 as a means of control, the other uses sex/orgies, relationships, and soma to establish order throughout the population.

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.

Many people have sought to evaluate the vulnerabilities associated with states and markets that are under totalitarianism, which is a political system in which the state holds total authority over the society. First developed in 1920 by the Italian fascists, and in particular Benito Mussolini, who ruled Italy for over twenty years, totalitarianism embossed the minds of those who lived under it. This system was conceptualized mainly to highlight the similarities between Nazi Germany and other fascist states. There’s one underlying difference that one must understand for one to assess the restrictions that totalitarianism puts on one’s liberty. One should realize that totalitarianism states are states where there is a single party rule, where a dictatorship is type of government in which a single person rules. Aldous Huxley and George Orwell are famous authors who opposed totalitarianism, and through their philosophical ideals, attempted to inform people of the dangers faced by society under this restricting system, where people are inhibited from holding any sort of authority. George Orwell, in 1984, discusses concerns relating to big government and big brother and Aldous Huxley, in Brave New World, discusses predatory markets impinging on our personal freedoms. Through their works, they attempt to question societal beliefs on brute force and physical coercion verses the manipulation of preferences and tastes leading to willing submission. George Orwell and Aldous Huxley each