A Comparison of Dystopian Fiction: Love and Sex as Rebellion. This topic doesn't really cover all dystopias, there are some such as After the Fear, Never Let Me Go, Masque of the Red Death, Prison Nation and Divergent (and sequels) where sex and love between people aren't seen as a problem at all, there is still completely free choice, well apart from the obvious divisions between people due to physical barriers. It is also worth noting that the book Reform didn't really go into anything related at all, and so it is unknown what the position is on sex and love in that dystopia. The prime example of sex and relationships as rebellion is Orwell's 1984, where Winston and Julia have sex in various places because of the rebellion it signifies, this is particularly backed up with Winston's thoughts the first time they have sex about defying the Party. Winston and Julia's relationship then does progress, to the point that before they go into the Ministry of Justice they promise that they won't betray each other (the fact that ultimately they do is besides the point, that is more about making the point that the Party can break anyone, making it one of the bleakest endings to a dystopian …show more content…
Again this comes down to the human need for companionship and sex, though on Offred's part at least, we have no real idea about Nick's thoughts, actually having sex for rebellion's sake doesn't seem to be the case. Again, as with Winston and Julia, and perhaps more so, Offred and Nick's relationship grows, she herself tells us that she told Nick her real name, something that the readers themselves don't even know for sure (personally I agree with the logic that her real name is June, as that is the only name listed from the Red Centre that isn't accounted for later in the
It is commonplace for individuals to envision a perfect world; a utopian reality in which the world is a paradise, with equality, happiness and ideal perfection. Unfortunately, we live in a dystopian society and our world today is far from perfection. John Savage, from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, V, from V for Vendetta by James McTeigue and Offred, from The Handmaid’s Tale by Margret Attwood, are all characters in a dystopian society. A dystopia is the vision of a society in which conditions of life are miserable and are characterized by oppression, corruption of government, and abridgement of human rights.
Winston felt like sex was a rebellion. He is drawn to his lover Julia because
Rubin, Gayle. “Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality.” in Pleasure and Danger: Exploring Female Sexuality. ed. Vance, Carole. Pandora: London, 1992.
To start off, Orwell's sole inclusion of women who base their relationships with men exclusively on sex demonstrates Orwell's negative beliefs about women. Despite Julia's claims to love Winston, their relationship is not about “the love of one person, but the animal instinct”(132). Julia has been in similar relationships to her and Winston's “hundreds of times”(131), relationships that look only at the sexual side and never at the emotional. She refuses all of Winston's attempts to expand their relationship, having “a disconcerting habit of falling asleep”(163) whenever he persists in talking. And although Winston cares for Julia more than he cares for Katharine, Katharine also bases her relationship with Winston completely on sex. When Winston reflects on their time together, he thinks, “he could have borne living with her if it had been agreed that they remain celibate... It ...
Prior to meeting Nick, Offred abhorred her life as a handmaid. She was depressed and she even mentions thoughts of killing herself. Even though the Commander spends time with her, Offred still did not grew to love him or find comfort in him, as seen during the night the Commander slept with Offred; Even the commander was disappointed by Offred’s lack of enthusiasm. However, ever since Offred slept with Nick, she became enamoured with him. Nick became her source of content and joy; she idolized him. Even though she hated her role as a handmaid, she became used to it if it means she can stay with
Unlike sex, the history of sexuality is dependant upon society and limited by its language in order to be defined and understood.
“Having everyone” is a conditioned moral given to the people of the great society. “’Yes, every one belongs to every one else,’ Lenina repeated slowly” (43). Through this statement Lenina arrays the every day idea about having sex and the people who should partake in it. Our society is becoming increasingly similar in our ideas pertaining to sex. Part of our society does not frown upon people whom have multiple partners before actually getting married, and they actually see it as abnormal to not have at least experienced “having someone” before marriage. Displayed in the conversation between John and Lenina, marriage is not even a word the people in the novel can comprehend due to how unorthodox the idea of marriage is in the great society. “‘Not until…Listen, Lenina; in Malpais people get married.’ ‘Get what?’’ (Huxley 191). In the literary article written by Ricky Gehlhaus he explains the emotional engineering the government uses to make the loss of love a favorable point for the society. Huxley develops the idea of sex without marriage as a normal act among the people in order to demonstrate the increasing commonness of sex in our society today. A majority of our generation do not identify sex as a sacred activity that should only be partaken in if married under oath. An example of this is prostitution problems
She gives her the password of Gilead’s. She hasn’t used it for days. Also, Serena wants her to visit Nick because she know that the Commander, Fred is infertile. It doesn’t means that Serena is on her side, she’s doing this for herself. After the first night, Nick and Offred meet in his room, Offred continues sneak in his room every night. She stops visiting at the Commander’s place. Ofglen try to help again and give her the key to check the Commander’s office to see what they’re hiding. Offred silently declines her, she feel satisfied with Nick. (Atwood 270) This shows that she’s doing what she likes now. She refuses to break in Commander’s office. She was running out of the time and she decided to decline the opportunity of escaping the Gilead with Ofglen. That’s the symbol of non heroine where she only think about herself, not others.
Poison flowing around us, slowly eating away at relationships, tearing apart marriages. Promiscuity is rising in today’s society. It is hurting many marriages and relationships as the rise of cheating on partner’s increases. Huxley’s dystopia shows how the rise of promiscuity may affect society in the future. As we are coming closer to this dystopia, promiscuity is hurting families, relationships and partners already in today’s society.
One major issue that helps maintain social stability in Brave New World is sex. It is thought of as normal for people to be completely open with their sexual nature. It is typical for children to run around naked during recess playing games that are sexual and sometimes homosexual in nature. Every adult is encouraged to sleep with as many different partners as possible. This outlook on sexual nature is quite different from actual accepted views. Today, sex is most widely accepted as a private, romantic event that should take place between monogamous couples. Because sex is a natural need of the human body, people of Huxley’s society feel pleased by being open with their sexuality. Indulging in their sexual pleasures eases their minds and keeps them from questioning the level of freedom they have.
Milstein, Susan A. Taking Sides Clashing Views in Human Sexuality. Ed. William J. Taverner and Ryan W. McKee. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print.
Offred from The Handmaid's Tale uses different tactics to cope with her situation. She is trapped within a distopian society comprised of a community riddled by despair. Though she is not physically tortured, the overwhelming and ridiculously powerful government mentally enslaves her. Offred lives in a horrific society, which prevents her from being freed. Essentially, the government enslaves her because she is a female and she is fertile. Offred memories about the way life used to be with her husband, Luke, her daughter, and her best friend Moira provides her with temporary relief from her binding situation. Also, Offred befriends the Commander's aide, Nick. Offred longs to be with her husband and she feels that she can find his love by being with Nick. She risks her life several times just to be with Nick. Feeling loved by Nick gives her a window of hope in her otherwise miserable life.
“…sex attains meaning in social relations, which implies that we can only make appropriate choices around sexuality by understanding its social, cultueral and political context.” (Quote: 9293 jeffrey weeks)
...entioned forms of Offred’s power were not physical power. She also has the most physical power as she is the person who carries the baby and gets pregnant. Then later in the novel after Serena suggests about seeing Nick. Offred is given a cigarette and then a match and with that match Offred could burn the house down killing the Commander and Serena and then trying to escape. She could burn herself so that she no longer has to live or suffer the indignity of being continually raped by this society.
Offred had been though many mixed feelings throughout this entire book. She has been able to feel, experience and thinks thoughts that she had not ever imagined that she would have. Offred can not escape the fact that in spite of the treatment from Serena Joy and the commander, that they both will have if not already have an impact on her life. Not to mention Nick also. Nick gave her the comfort and the security that she wanted, and at the end nothing done to her by the commander or his wife mattered to her. Living in the Republic of Gilead will always be a memory that she will probably try to forget.