Abstract Examines Margaret Atwood's novel in terms of a totalitarian utopia (Dystopia). Characterizes the imaginary regime of Gilead as rigid, fascist & reminescent of real totalitarian leaders who try to totally control people. Ideology of Gilead which exempts the ruling Commanders from official rules making Gilead a utopia for those in power & a dystopia for everyone else. Suppression of social conflicts. Hierarchial order that divides women into 3 categories: honored wives of Commanders, Hanmaids who bear the babies & female dissidents who are sent to the colonies. Impact of fragmentation of a woman's composite identity.
From the Paper "Gilead, the imaginary dystopia depicted in Margaret Atwood's (1986) The Handmaid's Tale, is run by a totalitarian regime through a rigid hierarchy. All weapons of oppression used by fascist regimes in the real world are employed in Gilead: death, arrests, torture and brainwashing (Atwood, 1986, p. 32). Spies in secret roles are scattered among the population to report crimes and arrest people for their religion, beliefs and past activity. In addition, Gilead's destruction of clothes, books and institutions of learning, are reminiscent of the Communist takeovers of China and Vietnam. Totalitarian leaders destroy these things in order to take over not only the physical beings of people, but also their minds. Thus, they wipe out all other sources of information or reminders of a different lifestyle."
Abstract This paper discusses how Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" both depict the characteristics typical of dystopian societies, which fail at achieving a Utopian world. The paper outlines the plot of both novels, explains the leitmotifs in dystopias and the purpose of dystopian depictions, and points out why Huxley and Atwood are successful at depicting dystopic worlds. The paper concludes that, apart from providing two magnificent illustrations of dystopic worlds, Huxley and Atwood highly achieve at fostering critical thinking in their followers.
From the Paper "The Gilead structure, as all dystopic systems, diminishes its inhabitants to the point of depriving them of their identity. In the "Red Center" people are stratified depending on their function within the Gilead totalitarian world. The redness of Offred's clothes suggests her role as a Handmaid; she will be one in charge of procreation. Thus, her identity is defined by her body, for she is just a "container", nothing more than a "two-legged womb, that's all: sacred vessels, ambulatory chalices" (136) . Then, her very concept of humanity has been distorted since she is defined by her bodily functions - and dysfunctions. The stratification of women into their different roles helps keep them in their respective controlled places. Rita, one of the Marthas who live at the Commanders house, shows no sympathy for Offred's situation but identifies herself with another Martha who has been accidentally shot. "
Abstract This paper describes and compares the concepts of Utopia (perfection on earth) and dystopia (the opposite). The paper also provides examples of how these two societies have been portrayed in literature, namely Sir Thomas Moore's "Utopia" and George Orwell's 1984.
From the Paper "Utopia is the dream of man to have perfection on earth and was the title of Sir Thomas Moore's epic tome "Utopia". Man has always dreamed of the perfect society. The idea of it has gone under many names, but it was Moore who coined the word Utopia from the ancient Greek for nowhere place. He wrote it in Latin circa 1516; it was not translated into English until 1551. With the discovery of the Americas and the new races of people, Europe was swept by visions of innocents and strange new lands where peace and happiness reigned. Literature began to explore the possibility of there actually being a pure Utopia.
Dystopia is the opposite and the finest example of it was given in Orwell's classic 1984. Dytstopia has the same etymology as dysfunction and there is much similar. A dystopic society is dysfunctional. It is the mirror image of the Utopian, reversed and backward. When it is described in literature it is almost always set at some point in the not so distant future and depicts a society gone insane through technological glitches or man's inhumanities. The dytopic society will be characterized by abuse of the citizens (Orwell, Fromm 4). Orwell's book was written in the 1940s and his title of 1984 was far in the future to the first readers of what is now a classic of literature."
A discussion of utopia and dystopia in George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four", Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" and Salman Rushdie's "Haroun and the Sea of Stories".
Abstract The paper explains that in utopias the world is absolutely good, while in dystopias the universe becomes an absolutely evil place. The paper first compares Orwell's famous utopia "Nineteen Eighty-Four" to Huxley's famous dystopia "Brave New World". The paper then examines the utopian and dystopian elements in Rushdie's "Haroun and the Sea of Stories". The paper shows how all three works hint at the possibility of the future existence of a dystopian world and that our present world may be a dystopia where we are controlled without being aware of it.
From the Paper "It can be said therefore that these two notions are more or less correspondent to the two Christian concepts of heaven and hell, respectively. Also, it should be noted that utopias and dystopias are both totalitarian: the purpose is to imagine a world in which the balance provided by the existence of opposites, such as good and evil or beauty and ugliness, has been completely erased. Instead of nature there is only a totalitarian state which is 'perfect', either in its goodness or in its evilness. In a way, although utopias and dystopias are virtually opposites, it should be noted that they both design a world in which possibility and change are impossible, and where there is no respite from either the absolutely positive or the absolutely negative state of things."
Tags: good, evil, positive, negative, harmony, fear
Abstract Compares two visions of society. Based on Thomas More's "Utopia" and George Orwell's novel "1984." More's Utopia as example of what society ought to be. Orwell's dystopia as an example of what society might become. Contrasts the governments depicted in each work. Nature of European society of More's time. Orwell's depiction of a society rules by government thought control.
From the Paper "The distinction between a utopia and a dystopia is often in the eye of the beholder, for what some see as working, others see as failing. Thomas More in his Utopia suggests what society ought to be, while George Orwell in 1984 warns about what society might become. Some aspects of the forms of government depicted by the two are similar, but the emphasis given these issues by their authors are different.
Sir Thomas More, is probably best known for his confrontation with King Henry VIII, for which he lost his life. He was a statesman as well as a political and social philosopher. His most famous work is his Utopia, a book in which he created his version of a perfect society and gave his name to such conceptions ever after as "utopias." The word is of Greek origin, a play on the Greek word eutopos, meaning good ..."
Abstract The writer explores this created city, giving examples from the text as to the ways in which it was created and how it is governed. The paper compares this nightmarish world with a communist society, one in which there was perhaps a positive beginning but which has blossomed into something dangerous and stifling. The writer brings in feminist commentary to discuss the role of women within this society.
From the Paper "Gilead's rigid hierarchy with its clear delineation of rules, roles and functions allows the leaders to exert complete control over the lives of their subjects. Most human societies are organized with hierarchies, usually by age and sex. Older people dominate over younger people while men dominate over women (Van den Berghe, 1974, p. 782). Therefore, in most societies, there is a constant struggle within the communities, in the forms of class conflicts, generational and sex tensions, along with military coups (Van den Berghe, 1974, p. 785)."
Abstract The distinction between a utopia and a dystopia is often in the eye of the beholder, for what some see as working, others see as failing. The paper shows how Thomas More, in his "Utopia", suggests what society ought to be, while George Orwell in "1984" warns about what society might become. Some aspects of the forms of government depicted by the two are similar, but the emphasis given these issues by their authors are different. The paper shows that the governments depicted by both More and Orwell are communist in nature, but More emphasizes the beneficial aspects of such a system while Orwell finds the harmful core and pushes it to the fore.
From the Paper "One of the means taken to control the population is the careful use of language, which in Orwell's term is called Doublespeak, or seeming to say one thing while meaning another. This is a familiar concept used by government to sugarcoat terminology so as to make it seem more benign than it is or to counter criticism before it develops. In 1984, the Ministry of Truth is dedicated to altering history and creating lies, but the shift in language need not be so blatant as that. We hear terms all the time which in some degree sanitize the behavior being described. Instead of talking about genocide or outright murder, we talk of "ethnic cleansing."
Tags: King, Henry, VIII, Animal, Farm, Soviet, Union
Abstract This paper examines the portrayal of robots in contemporary literature and fiction. According to the author, the image of the robot is presented in all its best and worst aspects. The paper discusses technological dystopia, focusing on the more negative issues surrounding robots and highlighting their significance. The paper addresses the questions of why robots are portrayed so often in modern culture, why their qualities cause both admiration and resentment from audiences, and what the underlying human issues are that the artists want audiences to realize.
From the Paper "In stories pertaining to robots, they are almost always endowed with a humanlike appearance. In Isaac Asimov's Robot Series ("Caves of Steel", "The Naked Sun", "Robots of Dawn", "Robots and Empire"), there's one robot character that is the most human of all robots. His name is R. Daneel Olivaw (in the books, the "R" stands for "Robot"). He is virtually indistinguishable from an ordinary human, apart from the seeming perfection of his physical appearance. He can think, talk, and move like a human. He also seems to displays emotion. The character has used this quality to disguise himself as a human, thereby deceiving the real humans and other robots. In the movie "The Terminator", the robot from the future named as "T800" was so advanced in its physical qualities that it can only be recognized as a robot by its superior strength and total lack of human emotion. In "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", a more advanced robot, the "T-X" (Terminatrix), has a female appearance but much more powerful than its "male" predecessors. Other movies, such as the "I, Robot", do not have "human" robots but the basic body structure used is still humanlike. In the movie "Stepford Wives", the woman robots look disturbingly real and perfect."
Tags: robotics, technological, dystopia, artificial, intelligence, terminator, naked, sun
This well-researched paper examines various works of literature and analyzes the authors' writing styles and motivations when depicting either utopian or dystopian societies.
Abstract The writer of this in-depth paper focuses on assorted dystopian themed novels and the impact these works of writing have on the reader. This paper analyzes novels such as "Brave New World," "Fahrenheit 451" and "1984" all written about dystopian societies while comparing them to more upbeat novels depicting perfect utopian societies. Ray Bradbury's novel "Brave New World" describes the individuality that is stripped from its people who are forced to live brainwashed and segregated without them even knowing of it; the people of this futuristic world see it as utopia whereas the reader can clearly see it's in fact dystopia. George Orwell's "1984" presents a world to the reader where there is no chance for a utopia whereas the citizens see this world as a utopia due to telescreens, propaganda and brainwashing that leads to a society of no desires or thoughts. The writer also details the plots and characters of both dystopian and utopian themed novels as well as the motivating factors which inspired the authors' creativity.
From the Paper "George Orwell presents a world to the reader where there is no chance for a utopia whereas the citizens see this world as a utopia due to telescreens, propaganda's and brainwashing that leads to a society of no desires or thoughts. Citizens are not allowed to have personal thoughts or feelings due to the telescreens that destroys the individual mind. Telescreens is a designs that is a two way interacting television set that the Party uses to keep people from thinking. The telescreens are monitored by a force called the Thought Police. "Thought police plugged in on any individual wire, in the assumption that every sound you made was over heard." We see how this is forced greatly on the people when Winston has to hide himself from telescreens just to write down some of his thoughts. Huge posters with big eyes reminds the people that Big Brother is watching them."
Abstract The writer of this paper examines the issue of technological dystopia by highlighting the negative aspects surrounding the inclusion of fictional robots in both film and written works of fiction. The writer discusses why the characters or images portrayed by robots cause either admiration or resentment to the audience. This paper also explores the underlying issues that authors and filmmaker are trying to convey in using robots as central characters in their stories. This paper looks at the human-like robots in author Isaac Asimov's science fiction novels. This paper analyzes the impact of robots and advanced technology in films such as "Terminator" and "I, Robot." This paper discusses the common theme prevalent in numerous films and novels pertaining to the perfection of robots and the imperfection of human beings. This paper also analyzes the relationship between the fictional robot and man.
From the Paper "Like any other machine invented by man, robots are shown to have the capacity to malfunction. Unlike a malfunctioning watch, car, or any other machine, robots are portrayed to have superior intelligence and consciousness. This makes the "malfunction" even more dangerous, since they can manifest harm with superior intent and capability. A robot defect is magnified because it can create an "intelligent" danger that humans may not be able to handle. There's also the factor of consciousness. Robots can become self-aware and realize that they are superior to humans. The implications of this are vast and debatable. Perhaps they will cooperate with humans and regard us as their creator, or realize that they are the superior beings and enslave humanity. Regardless of the result, authors always highlight this possibility. Something that has the superior capability to do good also has the same capability to do harm, so fail-safe devices should be put in place."
Abstract This paper discusses Aldous Huxley's future society in his dystopia novel "Brave New World". The writer looks at whether or not it applies to contemporary society. The writer concludes that the novel is a warning.
From the Paper "In Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World', we are presented with a future dystopia or dysfunctional society. While the novel appears to present a utopia in which pain, depression and the struggles of living are removed from daily existence, in actuality the society is rather frightening and closely resembles modern society and its ills. In the society of 'Brave New World', people worship capitalism and its icons as idols. Any negative moods, pain or depression is alleviated through the drug ... "
Abstract The paper compares the protagonists in Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," and Kurt Vonnegut's "Player Piano." The paper discusses the plot, protagonists and themes and views the novels as cautionary tales.
From the Paper "The notion of Utopia as an ideal society set apart from that which we live was coined by the sixteenth century scholar Michel de Montaigne in his novel "Utopia" that essentially described for Europeans the societies of the New World that was America at the time. Since then the world has seen an influx of philosophical utopian societies portrayed in literature. Many of these works, however, do not describe ideal societies at all. Rather, they portray dystopian mutations of political zeal gone awry."
Tags: utopia, dystopia, kurt vonnegut, player piano, ray bradbury, fahrenheit 451
A review of two films, "Punishment Park" directed by Peter Watkins and "Demolition Man" directed by Marco Brambilla and a comparison of their themes with Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World."
Abstract This essay considers two science fiction films that have referred back to Aldous Huxley's chilling novel, "Brave New World", written in 1932. The two films discussed are "Punishment Park", directed by Peter Watkins and released in 1971, and "Demolition Man", directed by Marco Brambilla and released in 1993. This essay compares and contrasts the themes, narratives, characterization, setting and plot of these three works and, in the process, reaches some conclusions about what elements are necessary to create a believable and useful dystopia.
From the Paper "Thus, we see that Huxley's Brave New World most definitely belongs in the genre of science fiction, and indeed is the subtlest form of science fiction, in that Huxley plainly used it as a medium for social comment. The novel deals with a range of key social and political themes, including the possibility that we will be dehumanized by scientific progress (by for example automating natural human processes like reproduction); the implicit dangers of mass production (for example that it will generate a overwhelming need for a consumerist society); and the possibility that we could end up in a totalitarian dictatorship (which would be propped up by extreme methods of socialization, such as Pavlovian conditioning). As will be dealt with further below, Huxley was on the money with several of these key themes (Huxley)."
Abstract This paper analyzes Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" as the author's manifesto to the truth of human character. Specifically, the paper explains that the fantastical isles, to which Gulliver travels in Jonathan Swifts' "Gulliver's Travels", serve as the framework for satirizing civilized society. The paper points out that, thematically, the four voyages Gulliver experiences are consistent in their structure as mirrors for the English idea of enlightened civilization. Swift uses each society to highlight Gulliver's pride in his character and the flaws found in his own society. The paper relates that, whereas the Lilliputians and Brobdingnags may have been too simple for Gulliver's taste, the Laputians are too convoluted and steeped in muddled, music-based theologies and scientific reasoning. The true dystopia of Gulliver's Travels is the ridiculousness and pettiness of the Laputian government.
From the Paper "Through the Laputians' fumbling of practical practices such as geometry, in exchange for loftier, more obscure notions of problem-solving, Swift is proposing that this floating isle, a would-be utopia, is more in the tradition of Sir Thomas More's "Utopia", less so in replication of Plato's "Republic". Swift, by using excessive scientific jargon involving such devices as "lodestones", has presented a society that's excessive rationalism and reliance upon incomprehensible theories critiques England's own fervor over the Enlightenment."
Tags: lilliputians brobdingnags dystopia stagnate, enlightenment movement
Abstract The paper provides a linguistic analysis of the opening chapter of Aldous Huxley's novel "Brave New World" to demonstrate how it conveys to us scientific dystopia. The paper highlights the principle theme of the novel that secular philosophy leads to the destruction of thought and describes how this leads to a society that is manufactured as a clockwork, and breeds humans artificially according to a plan. The paper points out the linguistic devices used to convey these scenarios.
From the Paper "The novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley tries to show us the extreme consequences of social planning. As Huxley makes it, it is a project begun in philosophy, and ending in a few philosophers exercising control over larger society in order to suppress philosophy among the generality. The remnant of philosophers has earned the wisdom that thinking is deleterious to human happiness and social stability. Therefore the overriding goal of the 27th century world community is to suppress the natural human inclinations. In effect the community is only of the small coterie of philosophers at the helm, for the rest of humanity is maintained at a bestial level of existence by their machinations. They are bred artificially, and then raised through constant conditioning, all designed to make them function on their animal instincts alone, and so that they abhor the least tendency to reflection."
