Characteristics Of Dystopian Society

Carrie Vaughn’s Amaryllis and Joe Mastroianni’s Jordon’s Waterhammer reflect the stereotypical characteristics associated with Dystopian Literature through their setting, characterisation and plot development.

Imagine living in a world where you are disliked, not because you are a criminal, but because you are merely different. Imagine a life where everything you think or do is controlled by the government and going against the group norms is punished by isolation, torture or death. There is no freedom, no independence and no individuality. Now envision that the society you are part of does everything in its power to make you believe that these are the ideal living conditions for you.
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Dystopian Societies follow a repeated trend in which Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted. Citizens live in a dehumanized state and are perceived to be under constant surveillance. Severe punishments are enforced when the boundaries of group norms are tested. Throughout Amaryllis, the authorities enforce strict restrictions against the out of control population growth affecting the society. “Thirty- five years ago, my mother ripped out her own implants…She got pregnant… and broke up her household…they were scattered over the region…”.The consequence faced by Marie’s mother highlight the harsh penalties faced by citizens for pushing the boundaries for something that is considered a human right in the current society. Authorities also impose regulations on the amount of produce each family can utilise as it is “the only way to keep the population under control”. The citizens of the underground mining society created by Mastroianni in Jordon’s Waterhammer follow similar disciplinary rules. This is evident in the following eyewitness account by Jordon. “…heard the controller say, Loader Solomon is in violation of quota as required by ordinance 62.1.3. They pressed a particle gun to Solomon’s temple. Solomon dropped dead to the floor.” Just like Marie’s mother, Jordon’s friend Solomon faces deadly consequences for exceeding quota showing the reader the level of strictness of the society. As well as this, the citizen that do abide by the rules, are forced to live in harsh conditions which include “ hearing controls from within the brain” and “sleeping in a closely monitored sarcophagus”. Although strict restrictions are enforced to “keep the society in order”, the citizens face inhuman conditions regardless of whether they break the law or abide by it. This is a major characteristic which has been focused upon in