Dystopian Literature Essay

1125 Words3 Pages

Dystopian Literature is the complete opposite of Utopian literature, which is an ideal society where everything is perfect, in which the world is ruled by a Totalitarian leader, or a post-apocalyptic world. Dystopian literature unlike other genres adapt to changing times and norms in society; although, we might not find Russians as scary as our parents or grandparents, our children or grandchildren may not find ISIS as scary as we do. The first work considered to be a part of dystopian literature is Utopia published by Thomas More in 1516, it’s written as a dialogue between the narrator and a fictionalized version of More. Also Gulliver’s travels is considered dystopian, due to him finding that he and the people of London are no better than Franz Kafka’s The Trial the story’s protagonists Josef K was arrested for unclassified reasons and then was sent to court over a very nonspecific crime; this story leads to George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s A Brave New World (Willians, “Dark Days: The Fascinating History of the Dystopian Novel). In 1985, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale was published; its story was of a military Christian theocracy where women weren’t allowed to read, control bank accounts, or freely reproduce. It helped out the feminist’s movement and also became a more modern example of how Dystopian Literature could actually sustain the test of time and remain current and up to date with society (Willians, “Dark Days: The Fascinating History of the Dystopian Novel). The first book that deserves a closer look is definitely 1984 by George Big Brother uses telescreens to spy on the people of Oceania, and he also uses the thought police to patrol them. The thought police also monitored them by looking into their windows; thus, they try to ensure that no one will rise up against Big Brother, which in turn is Oceania. Ensuring that the people of Oceania believed as told on the telescreens, The Ministry of Truth would show propaganda showing what had been said was true. All four of the ministries did the opposite of their names; Since, there was The Ministry of Truth: lies, Ministry of Peace: war, Ministry of Plenty: starvation, and the Ministry of Love: torture (Orwell 4). To emphasize the irony behind it all the Ministry of Truth 's moto was: War Is Peace Freedom Is Slavery Ignorance Is Strength. As a part of teaching to hate freedom and many other things that wouldn 't be allowed in their "perfect" society they would have Hate Week; which is where they group all Ocianians together and have a rally against the enemies of "justice". The Dystopian element is very obvious in 1984 as you have a Totalitarian leader and a mind washed population, because it shows that the government wasn 't concerned with the psychological effects that this kind of a society can have on people. It shows how a government may go great lengths to try to ensure that someone will follow a new

Show More
Related

  • Essay On Dystopian Society In Fahrenheit 451

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    At what point can a society be described as dystopian? Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, tells the story of a man named Guy Montag who lives in a dystopian society where life isn’t as great as the government makes it out to be. Our society is slowly becoming more and more similar to the dystopian society found in Fahrenheit 451 in the fact that many families aren’t as stable as most might desire them to be, the government mostly ignores the country’s ideals and only focuses on its own for the sake of its own benefit, and many of society’s ideas are being disrespected or noted as activities that people shouldn’t be allowed to indulge in while in this country through censorship.

    Read More

  • 1984 By George Orwell

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    Things to know: 1984 was a book written about life under a totalitarian regime from an average citizen’s point of view. This book envisions the theme of an all knowing government with strong control over its citizens. This book tells the story of Winston Smith, a worker of the Ministry of Truth, who is in charge of editing the truth to fit the government’s policies and claims. It shows the future of a government bleeding with brute force and propaganda. This story begins and ends in the continent of Oceania one of the three supercontinents of the world. Oceania has three classes the Inner Party, the Outer Party and the lowest of all, the Proles (proletarian). Oceania’s government is the Party or Ingsoc (English Socialism

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 Comparison Essay

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dystopia is a society where something is flipped from our normal society, making everything else different and worse than we can imagine. Harrison Bergeron is a good example of a dystopia because it changes one thing that makes that society worse than ours. In the society of Fahrenheit 451, reading books is illegal. This changes how people retain knowledge and see the past that their society was once in. In our society, books are not illegal to read.

    Read More

  • Compare The Hunger Games And Fahrenheit 451

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Hunger Games and Fahrenheit 451 are both great examples of dystopian fiction. A dystopia is a fictional world that takes place in the future that is supposed to be perceived as a perfect society, but it’s actually the opposite. Other things that a dystopian society might display are citizens both living in a dehumanized state and feeling like they’re constantly watched by a higher power. Dystopias are places where society is backwards or unfair, and they are usually are controlled by the government, technology, or a particular religion. The Hunger Games and Fahrenheit 451 are both in the dystopian fiction genre because the societies within them show the traits of a dystopia. Both of them also have characters that go against the flow of the normal world.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Dystopia In Fahrenheit 451

    1258 Words  | 3 Pages

    The dream of a utopian society is a common one, but unfortunately, all utopias are destined to contain dystopian elements. Although, some dystopias are more sustainable than others, as within the society citizens may believe it to be a utopia. Ray Bradbury 's Fahrenheit 451, focuses on a dystopia in which all literature and outside communication is completely banned from apocalyptic America. The society’s focus to keep all their citizens “happy” through fulfilling careers and a lot of time for leisure. In an attempt to prevent pain and doubt, no time is left for thought or reflection. Without pain, the citizens can never truly be happy. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, revolves around the apocalyptic world in which humans are genetically

    Read More

  • 1984

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Conclusion, 1984 is a novel that represents a called government. The government is taken over by “The Party”. The Party seeks to gain complete obedience from the people of Oceania. The main goal of the Party is to eliminate independent thought. The book is surrounded by psychological manipulation. Everything that happens throughout the book is government related and tends to manipulate some people of Oceania. Since their government is totalitarian they seek absolute power towards their people. This shows warning of what might happen id our government becomes too powerful, the party is trying to avoid any sort of rebellion from the people.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Dystopian Literature

    561 Words  | 2 Pages

    "The truth is, dystopian fiction presents a fun house mirror of our collective selves." However, authors tend to take dystopian literature to an extreme. For example when you look at yourself in a fun house mirror, you may look extremely tall, rather short, or your face may expand. Well, that's similar to how authors write about dystopians. A dystopian is a perfect society that has pretty much "fallen apart".

    Read More

  • Analysis of George Orwell's 1984

    4217 Words  | 9 Pages

    The fictional world of 1984 is best described as bleak. In the aftermath of the fall of capitalism and nuclear war, the world has been divided among three practically identical totalitarian nation-states. The novel takes place in London, which has become a part of Oceania, the nation state comprising the Americas and western Europe. A state of perpetual war and poverty is the rule in Oceania. However, this is merely a backdrop, far from the most terrifying aspect of life in 1984. Oceania is governed by a totalitarian bureaucracy, personified in the image of Big Brother, the all-knowing/ all-seeing godlike figure that represents the government. Big Brother is best described as a "totalitarian socialist dictator, a political demagogue and religious cult leader all rolled into one." So great is the power of Big Brother that the reader is unsure whether he actually exists or is simply a propaganda tool of the government. The party of Big Brother, Ingsoc (English Social...

    Read More

  • Comparing 1984 And Divergent

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    A utopian society represents a perfect, idealistic civilization, while a dystopian society describes an unpleasant environment for the individuals living within it. George Orwell’s 1984 portrays many characteristics of a dystopian society. Very similarly, Veronica Roth’s Divergent tells the story of a government that forcefully separates and controls its citizens. 1984 and Divergent both share the presence of harsh regulation and control from their respective governments. Orwell and Roth’s novels compare Ministries and Factions, conformity and obedience, Proles and the Factionless, and government regulation, in a similar, yet negative way.

    Read More

  • Dystopias Displayed in The Lottery by Jackson and The Pedestrian by Bradbury and Never Let Me Go

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    Conclusively, dystopian texts are written to provide a warning about future times. Authors and directors use a variety of techniques to put their idea forward and have an impact of the audience. Rules that the chosen texts exhibit include that citizens have a fear of the outside world and all citizens adhere to a strict set of rules, but there is a main protagonist who scrutinises the governments or society’s nature. The rules that authors and directors use to put forward their messages of the moral issues human cloning and relying too much on technology and instinctively perusing traditions are evident throughout all three texts.

    Read More

  • 1984 Argument

    914 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many people argue whether George Orwell’s 1984 was written purely to criticize, or if it portrays society today. I believe that George Orwell wrote 1984 in order to express his feelings about how society is governed. There are many examples of irony that support my position. 1984 is a political satire, the Orwell used to criticize man’s use of power. The slogan of Oceania is War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. These three phrases reflect some of the disturbing factors of our society today, which is why I believe that 1984 resembles Orwell’s dystopian creation.

    Read More

  • A Dystopian Society in George Orwell´s 1984

    1485 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dystopian novels are written to reflect the fears a population has about its government, and they are successful because they capture that fright and display what can happen if it is ignored. George Orwell wrote 1984 with this fear of government in mind and used it to portray his opinion of the current government discretely. Along with fear, dystopian novels have many other elements that make them characteristic of their genre. The dystopian society in Orwell’s novel became an achievement because he utilized a large devastated city, a shattered family system, life in fear, a theme of oppression, and a lone hero. Orwell’s novel begins with a horrid description of the living conditions of his main character, Winston.

    Read More

  • 1984 And Fahrenheit 451 Comparison Essay

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    A dystopian society can be defined as “a society characterized by human misery”. 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury both demonstrate dystopian societies. However, that does not mean they do not their differences. In each society the government has different ways of controlling and limiting its citizens for doing only what they want them to do. In 1984, violators are brainwashed into loving and following Big Brother as if they never knew the truth and return back to their everyday lives. Fahrenheit 451 also punishes violators in a way that makes them regret and scared to ever do it again instead of making them forget.

    Read More

  • Dystopia In Legend By Marie Lu

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history there have been many dystopian societies, societies with major flaws. In these societies actions occurred which caused harm to the citizens such as murder, destruction of property and other unfortunate consequences. These events are often portrayed in novels to point out the consequences of these societies. The novel Legend by Marie Lu contains events and situations based on historical occurrences such as World War II, North Korea and Tiananmen Square in order to point out societal flaws in real dystopian societies.

    Read More

  • Government Control In 1984 By George Orwell's 1984

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    The novel 1984 by George Orwell presents the readers an image of a totalitarian society that explores a world of control, power, and corruption. The main idea of government control presents itself in the novel by protecting and listening to the people of Oceania. However, Orwell suggests giving too much power to the government is a mistake because eventually the decisions they make will not be about the people anymore but rather themselves. In 1984, the power and corruption the party has is overwhelming for the people. There are no ways around the beliefs of the Party, the party attempts to control and eventually destroy any mental or physical resistance against their beliefs. The agenda for the party is to obtain mind control over its people and force them to adore their leader. The methods the Party uses to achieve its goal are: the use of constant propaganda and surveillance, the rewriting of history, and Room 101.

    Read More

More about Dystopian Literature Essay

Open Document