Abstract The paper explains the dystopian nature of Margaret Atwood's novel, "The Handmaid's Tale." The paper discusses the protagonist and title character from her perspective. The paper also compares the resistance movement of the novel to Orwell.
From the Paper "The protagonist and title character of Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" says that what she wants most is to know and to know whatever there is to know what's going on. Offred, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead where there is often no balm, is immersed in a dystopian universe that Lois Feuer sees as very similar from and yet unique with respect to George Orwell's world."
Tags: Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale, dystopian
This paper discusses three works of dystopian literature: George Orwell's "1984", Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" and Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse 5".
Abstract This paper explains that dystopian literature, which depicts an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful repressive lives, seem to have powerful lessons for humanity that are strikingly apropos for today's world climate. The author points out that, in "1984", one of Orwell's main themes and commentaries on humanity is centered on language and how power rests with those people who control the language. The paper relates that the main theme of Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" is evil and greed; whereas, real stupidity is the core of Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse 5".
From the Paper "One also has to note the massive inflation that has caused much of the trouble in "Snow Crash". The use of other currencies less affected by the massive inflation of the dollar in the novel certainly brings to mind the recent conversion of many European countries' currency to the Euro. These examples of greed as well as other major themes of violence, drug use, drug pushing, and conspiracy seems to be evidence of the inherent evil in humanity even these accusations are softened somewhat by Stephenson's tongue-in-cheek style."
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 A clear reflection of the mindset of individuals suffering from alienation would be the dystopian novels of the mid-twentieth century. This paper examines how Aldous Huxley and George Orwell are concrete examples of dystopian novel writers and how the books "Brave New World" and "1984" present fictional totalitarian societies in which modern technology and the techniques of human engineering operate to destroy human freedom. It also discusses how the visual arts of the mid-twentieth century echoed the age's preoccupation with isolation, loneliness and anxiety using as an example the abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock.
From the Paper "In the mid-twentieth century, humankind was confronted with the destructive applications of modern technology. The realities of trench warfare, the concentration camps, and Hiroshima made it difficult to maintain that human beings were rational by nature, that technology would work to advance human happiness, and that the universe was governed by a benevolent God. (Fiero 70) As the modern individual became estranged from "God and reason" (Fiero 70), he became the victim of a condition of "anxious withdrawal" (Fiero 70) which is termed alienation. This alienation or state of perpetual anxiety and loneliness in the face of the dehumanizing aspects of technology resonates in the literature and art of the aforementioned period."
Abstract This paper examines George Orwell's "1984" in an attempt to discover the author's basic insight that leads to the worldview presented in the work. The first section reviews Orwell's own reasons for writing and his comments on the political nature of his work. It briefly considers Orwell's social and personal context in which "1984" was written. The next section identifies the satire against socialism. The third section explores the specific dangers he warns society against and the views he is promoting, not only as they related to the world in late 1940s when the work was written, but also as they relate to the contemporary world. This section also discusses the heightened fear caused by the closeness of his dystopian vision to reality. The fourth section pursues the ideal world that Orwell wanted to proscribe for us as his creative vision for the book.
From the Paper "His personal health during the writing of the book was falling. Some critics believe that this lead him to write a pessimistic work, with no avenue open for hope. Fredric Warburg [3] said, ?I cannot but think that this book could have been written by a man who himself, however temporarily, had lost hope, and for physical reasons which are sufficiently apparent.? I do not consider this to be a significant factor in his writing of the book, and do not consider pessimism to be the main thrust of his creative impulse, which is discussed from a different perspective in this paper. The hopelessness may be viewed as a device used to make the effects of totalitarianism more vivid. Some critics have also linked some description in 1984 to Orwell's experiences at his childhood school and other times. "
Abstract This paper studies Ayn Rand's dystopian novel "Anthem". The book is written as the journal of Equality 7 2521, a man struggling with his individuality, his will and his concepts of good and evil. The paper details the book's plot line, which is based on Equality's long and arduous -- though ultimately triumphant -- journey of self discovery. The paper shows how Equality overcame guilt, deprivation, punishment, banishment and betrayal and in the process formulated his own definitions of truth, freedom and love.
From the Paper "Ayn Rand's Anthem is a dystopian story written in the form of a journal kept by Equality 7 2521, a man born to an oppressive, backwards collective state set in a bleak unnamed place and time. This society, whose most recent technological advance is candlelight encourages conformity and drudgery and suppresses individuality and progress. Here, friendship and love, curiosity and creativity, and any display of self will or preference is punishable in the Palace of Corrective Detention. The punishment for swiping candles, alone, is ten years detention. In this world, there is no encouragement or even concept of self. "There is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone." Individuals refer to themselves as "we" and to other individuals as "they." In fact, the word "I," is not known to most, and to speak this word is the worst possible transgression. "There is no crime punished by death in this world, save this one crime of speaking the Unspeakable Word.'"
An analysis of the common themes present in Robert Louis Stevenson's Victorian-era novel "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and Aldous Huxley's 20th century dystopian novel "Brave New World."
Abstract The paper examines how both Robert Louis Stevenson in "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and Aldous Huxley in "Brave New World" develop and explore the themes of desire, pleasure, self-restraint, gratification and "humanness." The paper discusses their respective stories about human misuses, either individually or within a dystopian totalitarian society of scientific technology. The paper demonstrates how both authors imply within their novels how human existence, by its very nature, involves frustrated desire, pleasure and displeasure and the necessity, however uncomfortable and frustrating, for self-restraint in order not to hurt oneself and others.
From the Paper "Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) features, at the beginning of the story, a well-respected doctor, Dr. Jekyll, who scientifically concocts a potion that allows him to change himself, since he would like to experience feeling less human restraint than he does as the responsible and respectable Dr. Jekyll, into a hideous monster of a man, the destructive, unpredictable, and murderous Mr. Hyde. Stevenson's novel, set in Victorian England, during a time of then-unprecedented technological and scientific progress (a fact that may well have helped Stevenson to create the idea for this novel), underscores human anxieties of the sort that still exist today about the possibilities of new scientific progress (e.g., cloning; genetic engineering), in his creation of the fictional Mr. Hyde."
Abstract The paper addresses the effects of the Internet on the elements of community, identity and social contact. The paper uses a variety of studies and empirical data and applies utopian, dystopian and supplementary views to this examination. The paper concludes that the Internet can be perceived as positively influencing the dramatically changing nature of social interaction in contemporary society.
From the Paper "The Internet refers to a diverse collection of technologies that consists of programs such as the World Wide Web, E-mail, and Instant Messaging (Livingston 2005, p. 10). Unlike traditional media, such as television and newspapers, the Internet allows for synchronous communication, in which users are engaged in a two-way flow. In examining the effect of the Internet on social interaction the utopian, dystopian and supplementary views all offer different interpretations. Whilst the utopian view sees the Internet as positively transforming the method of interaction in society, the dystopian view argues that the Internet has in fact had negative effects on social interaction. Whilst the utopian and dystopian views both privilege the Internet by seeing it as drastically changing how people interact offline, the supplementary argument gives the Internet less of a central role in its effects on social interaction in contemporary society."
Abstract This paper examines the importance of dreams and memories in two dystopian fictions - "Nineteen Eighty Four" by George Orwell and "The Handmaids Tale" by Margaret Atwood. It explains how the use of memories and dreams is a very useful tool which both authors have used in order to reflect the society and the characters within it. The writer discusses how throughout both novels the memories appear to be more vivid and detailed than the dreams, and how this helps the reader to understand events which have occurred to the protagonist. The writer further suggests how the memories represent the past and how it can affect the future, as well as how active the character is in the present. The writer points out that dreams also help Winston and Offred to face memories which are repressed during the day; they are as significant as memories if fewer in quantity. The writer concludes that both dreams and memories allow the reader a greater insight into the minds of the protagonists.
From the Paper "Throughout '1984' and the 'Handmaids Tale' the need to escape from everyday life is and overwhelming urge, due to the harshly restricted and regimental lives which both protagonists live. Both societies are examples of totalitarian regimes in which the present situation is very different to the one in which they grew up in. In the 'Handmaid's Tale' it appears that the period is that of present day, her memories and dreams therefore range over the period of about thirty years. Starting from the 1970's when she was a child with her mother up to the 21st century in the Red centre. In '1984' Winston's memories cover the same periods of time however the period in which the society is set is not as clear as in the 'Handmaids Tale'."
Tags:dystopian, fiction, totalitarian, regimes, regimental, lives, society
Abstract This paper reviews Margaret Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale" and discusses the dystopian and utopian themes in the book. The author summarizes the book and discusses how the dystopic elements of the novel are shown by the religious zealots who took control of the United States and prevented women from working, owning money, and eliminated freedom of choice. The author also includes excerpts of irony present in the book, especially in the utopian elements of the novel when the Handmaids come together in an idealized unity of female bonding.
From the Paper "That women are supposed to exist only as reproductive vessels is reinforced by the fact that the Handmaids are not even allowed to read, when they go marketing. The women go from shop to shop, purchasing meat and vegetables in a kind of idealized setting of a common village, talking with one another and bonding with one another in a way that is often sadly lacking in modern life. Offred cherishes her conversations with Ofglen, a fellow handmaid, and the two establish a bond of closeness because of their common acknowledgement of female oppression. Offred, uncomfortable with Moira's lesbianism and her mother's radical feminist politics during the previous regime, now begins to understand the need for women to bond with women, not necessarily as lovers, but at least as human beings."
Tags: reproductive vessels, religious movement, feminists
Abstract In this article, the writer examines two key dystopian novels, 'Brave New World' and '1984'. The writer points out that both novels describe how mechanization drains society of its essential humanity and explores the consequences. The writer maintains that the key difference is that '1984' offers a very proximate future, while in 'Brave New World' it is distant. From this point of view Orwell's world can be seen as a stepping stone towards Huxley's. The writer discusses that in Orwell's world there are still political divisions, and three world super states are engaged in perpetual war, which is also the definition of peace. In Huxley's world, on the other hand, politics has been resolved and a philosophical world state has superceded. Here the rulers are philosophers, and have resolved that the masses find happiness only when reduced to animalistic and mechanical existence. The essay also touches on the themes of art, literature and religion, and looks at how they are wrought in the future of mechanization.
From the Paper "George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World are commonly classed together as dystopian novels. The tenor of them are however markedly different, leading many commentators to find differences in their themes too. Some are even bold enough to suggest that Huxley's vision of the future is not distopian at all, and could in fact be describing Utopia. Orwell's future, on the other, is never mistaken as such, and universally evokes horror. The contention of this essay is, however, that it is a mistake to look for either positive nor negative slants to these visions of the future, for the central message from both authors is that the future is inevitable, and is not the fault of any political party (in the case of Orwell) or social class (as in the case of Huxley). In fact, as the argument continues, the futures that they evoke are the same."
Tags: utopia, vision, future, double-think, thought
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. "
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 This paper is a character examination of the protagonist Alex, from the novel "A Clockwork Orange". It specifically deals with the role that music plays in this character's life. It shows how Alex develops a need for control over himself and over his friends as well and how he finds it through music.
From the paper:
"In the dystopian future that Anthony Burgess creates in the novel "A Clockwork Orange", our protagonist, Alex, shares with us his passion for violence. Alex finds an aesthetic quality in the physical torture and rape of faceless victims. Alex has other passions as well. As a child of the new ultra-violent generation, chaos is ever present in this young droog's life. Because of this, Alex develops a need for control over himself and over his friends as well. It is through music that Alex finds this control and it is through music that we learn the most about his character."
Abstract This paper discusses how both George Orwell in "1984" and Aldous Huxley in "Brave New World" depict visions of Utopian societies which might actually be labeled dystopian because they do not work to create a better world at all. It shows how these two novels show the dangers of carrying ideas that might be questionable in our own time into full fruition in the future. Orwell knew that Stalinism was a threat and shaping a whole society around it was not going to improve it. Similarly, allowing science full rein in Brave New World would make social engineering a threat as well. It examines how both novels show concerns with the same essential issues of freedom versus totalitarianism and bring into question the very idea of government, which in both cases is shown to tend toward easy solutions and simplified controls over the people.
From the Paper "Orwell been talking for more than a decade about making political writing into an art. For Orwell, the first step toward changing the world was to understand it. The novel supports the vitality of the past and of tradition, while the structure of the novel is shaped by the historical background of the time in which Orwell lived. Orwell was directly involved in the such events of his time as the battles of socialism against capitalism and of both against Stalinism. He lived for a time among the working class in the north of England, including those who were long-term unemployed. He volunteered to fight for Republican Spain. After he returned to England from Burma, he became passionate about changing the conditions facing those at the lower end of the economic and social scale, and he set out to join them to tell their story."
