The Function of Families

Dystopic novels are well known to be eye opening for the readers. Especially in the fact that many dystopic novels are chilling because they have many parallels to modern societies. Family ties are considered the most important relationships in modern society. In both Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and in Orwell’s 1984 there are shown to be destruction of basic human values. One of the main values being obliterated in both novels is the function of family units. The idea that family trumps all other issues is an ideal held very common in many modern and past societies. However, in Atwood’s and Orwell’s portrayal of dystopic societies, family structure is very warped. In these societies, families have very little familiar structure and they are created purely for the purpose of population and further control. There is little to no sincerity that exists within the families of these two novels. It is all about sacrifice made for the greater good. The children of the newer generations are brainwashed since the beginning, thus not at all likely to rebel against the government, only because they know no other life. They are more likely to report their parents to the police and would be rewarded for such behavior. Memories are a major dividing factor between parents of the past and the children of the present. In Atwood’s novel, Offred clearly remembers how life used to be. She was stolen away when she was well into adulthood, in contrast to Winston, who was indoctrinated when he was still a little boy. Family life is distorted in both novels in ways such as the difference between generations, the purpose of reproduction, and the warped reverse structure.

There is a visible difference between each generation as each novel progresses alon...

... middle of paper ...

...in both novels. It is reduced as something purely for the sake of the greater good than it is for personal comfort. Emotions are greatly controlled in both societies by their metaphysical leaders. Families are the core of most societies today. As both books show, when societies begin to suffer destruction in their family ties, they begin to become further isolated from each other. Families become purely mechanical in both societies, only existing to help the regiment become stronger and more lasting. Memories are erased, and newer generations are number than their past generations because they do not know of a better life. Power in this society is gained by annihilating everything that makes up humans. Meaning, memories, families, and emotions are all severely limited in their world. So, if family ties are annihilated, the structure of society is greatly hindered.