What are Dystopian Novels - 966 Words

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. Dystopian work is often an overt commentary on â€Å"social and political structures† (â€Å"Utopian†) present at the time of their†¦show more content†¦Despite Roth’s commentary on social stratification, Divergent feels less like a dystopian allegory and more like teenage angst with a bit of romance and lots of violence thrown in. There is li ttle reference to social or political strife (Erudite seems to want control simply for the sake of being in power, not because of misgovernment by Abnegation), and no real exposition to show how greatly the dystopian society of the future is different than the society of today. The novel neglects to explore the causes of the Great War (an important factor to the birth of a factionalized society) and fails to plausibly convey how such a political and social system could exist 100 years without confrontation and uprising. Why would each faction cede power to one other faction (effectively silencing their own voices) rather than opt for a government run by a council of equal number ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of George Orwell s Nineteen Eighty Four 1359 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Fear is created not by the world around us, but in the mind, by what we think is going to happen†(Elizabeth Gawain). In Nineteen Eighty Four, George Orwell locates his novel in a politically dystopian society. A dystopia is a â€Å"bad place†, being translated from the Greek words dis topos. This term was created to be seen as the opposite of a Utopia after the novel Utopia was written by Thomas More. Dystopian novels are written to daunt the reader of how future societies will turn out. The term hasRead MoreAnalysis Of Dystopian Literature1066 Words   |  5 Pagesmay peek interest. The dystopian genre is unique and offers readers both suspense and action with a balance between reality and fantasy. â€Å"Dystopian literature is a genre of fictional writing used to explore social and political structures in ‘a dark, nightmare world† (Questia par 1). In order to form this nightmare world, the author must send a message of warning to readers regarding the reality of their characters, often manipulating literary devices to do so. The dystopian atmosphere is composedRead MoreThe Dystopian Novel, Brave New World By Aldous Huxley And Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1 405 Words   |  6 PagesThe dystopian fiction genre has been created through fear of the future and delivered through horrifying stories with strong sexual undertones. The realization of important truths is not an easy task for most people, so dystopian novelists must resort to various fairly extreme methods to make sure that there is no mistaking the message. Authors such as George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, and Aldous Huxley extend characteristics of their societies to the breaking point in order to warn the public toRead MoreCorruption of Technology in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury739 Words   |  3 PagesFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 is a book by Ray Bradbury, written after World War II and it examines the corruption of technology in a dystopian society. This book explains how a dystopian society works and how people are so attached to television and cars and do not enjoy the natural world. People in a dystopian society are full of fear and sadness. They do not have equality or freedom, they are all so soaked up in technology that it is illegal for them to do simple stuff, suchRead MoreGeorge Orwell s 1984 And The Giver902 Words   |  4 Pagesbasic rights, a world without love. This describes the world depicted in George Orwell’s 1984. This dystopian world may have felt a million miles away when Orwell wrote 1984 in 1949. But, in today’s society, the interest in dystopian novels and films continues to grow. Many comparisons can be drawn between various dystopian novels. 1984 is especially similar to the novel and film The Giver. The novels share similarities in characters, memory, time, emotion, relationships, government, and jobs. WinstonRead MoreOne Of The First Dystopian Novels To Become Famous Was1396 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the first dystopian novels to become famous was 1984. The concept of dystopian novels is not only to entertain readers, but to let them understand the characteristics and ideas of a dystopian society. Some of these characteristics are shown through our society but at a more drastic level. Basic fears are exaggerated such as the following: distrust of others, disease, contaminated water, nuclear holocaust, etc. The reader can gain more knowledge by finding ways in which the topics the authorRead More`` Gulliver s Travels `` By Jonathan Swift1724 Words   |  7 PagesBy definition, dystopian texts are texts which take place in a futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Throughout the last two to three hundred years, dystopian themes have been present in major, widely-circulated texts, with the earliest listed dystopian text, Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"Gulliver’s Travels†, dating back to 1726. And, while the 1800’sRead MoreDystopian Fiction : Dystopian Novel1559 Words   |  7 PagesWhy is dystopian fiction important? Some may say that it is because of the high-tension environments, the action, or the gripping storylines. While those aspects certainly play a significant role in the continued success of dystopian fiction, being well-written stories is not the only goal. This paper will detail various reasons why dystopian fiction continues to be popular and successful with all audiences, using The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Giver, and Ready Player One as examples. In orderRead MoreCharacteristics Of Dystopian Literature957 Words   |  4 PagesDystopian literature in strong contrast to works of utopia are works that presents a negative view of society and humankind. Dystopias work around a few key characteristics such as, technological advances that enslave humans, division of people into groups with unique functions; and a loss of history making the people easier to manipulate psychologically. We can see the technological advances and the result of those advances profoundly in Do Androids Dreams of Electric Sheep. This is seen with twoRead MoreEssay on The Dystopia in Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale1098 Words   |  5 PagesThe Dystopia in Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale Offred is a Handmaid in what used to be the United States, now the theocratic Republic of Gilead. In order to create Gileads idea of a more perfect society, they have reverted to taking the Book of Genesis at its word. Women no longer have any privileges; they cannot work, have their own bank accounts, or own anything. The also are not allowed to read or even chose who they want to marry. Women are taught that they should be subservient