The Dystopian

Novel

Dystopia:

(n) an imaginary place or condition in which everything is bad

Dystopian literature is specifically a hyperbolic view of a familiar society

one that exaggerates social ills in order to make a point about societys flaws

The opposite of utopian literature, creating a world in which the supposed

ideal society is actually the worst idea possible, ultimately leading
humankind to ruin

Dystopian stories normally take place in a society that has pulled themselves
back together after a disaster, epidemic, war, etc., and now has a
controlling government where the citizens are repressed

Often the citizens have come to terms with the society that they have lived in,
but looking in we can see the oppression which is being handed to them.

Most likely the protagonist of these novels are going to realize the injustice
and try to fight the government in some way

Dystopian Novels

In a dystopian story, society itself is typically the antagonist; it is

society that is actively working against the protagonist's aims and
desires.

Dystopias explore the behavior of people when the thin veneer of

civilization is stripped away, and all hope is lost. What remains is a
true glimpse of humanity at its worst and best, and the question
"what makes us human" leaps to the forefront of existence.

A dystopia is a society where societal perfection is obtained at

the expense of something else. That "something else" could be a
devalued class of people, the loss of a fundamental freedom, or the
surrender of some aspect of human nature.

Dystopian depiction is imaginary. Dystopian fiction borrows features

from reality and discusses them but it doesn't depict contemporary
society in general. Dystopian stories take place in the future but they
are about today and sometimes about yesterday.

Why Read Them?

You can finish a dystopian novel and breathe a sigh of relief,

safe in the knowledge that you dont live in that society

The dystopian novel is comforter to the human psyche; we

love to read about death and corruption as long as we know
they cant happen to us..or could they?

Could we all awaken one morning to find our bank accounts

mysteriously cancelled? The world a changed, oppressive
place? Maybe. and perhaps it is this that compels us to
read dystopias; they provide a spark of danger in our
otherwise mundane lives.

Dystopias are useful; they warn us about what might happen

Barnard Richards

Two Main Plotlines

Nasty things happen but everything turns out alright

Nasty things happen and despite everyones best efforts

the establishment wins

The protagonist(s) beat the establishment at its own game and

everyone lives happily ever after

The protagonist cant beat the establishment and the ending is

suitably depressing

Common thread:

Rebellion/Resistance to oppression

Struggle for personal expression/individuality

Defining humanity: what do we live for? What makes us human?

Common Concepts

The status of the individual

One word: Low

The individual is of little, if any, consequence. Desire is for uniformity in society.

Uniformity = control

The nature of power

Power in the hands of a corrupt individual or entity

Individuality is crushed and freedom curtailed

No freedom/access to power = control

Communication

Poor, artificial, stilted

Not able to communicate = control

Freedom is limited

Totalitarianism is a political system in which the state holds total authority over the society
and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever possible.

The leaders of the society make all decisions pertaining to a persons: career, living situation,
life partner, how many children they have, etc. Usually pitched in a we know what best for
you because we know everything sort of way

With limited freedom, the people have no access to power; the government is in total
control. This results in a state of oppression for the people.

The Island:
Dr. Merrick controls the compound
Have to stay in their sector
Their job is chosen for them
cant fraternize with the opposite sex

Animal Farm
Given rations of food
Have to obey the rules set out by the pigs
Have to work a prescribed amount
Cant choose what they eat

The animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally, one day,
however, the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room
for the use of the pigs (22).
Every Sunday morning at ten oclock the animals assembled in the big barn to receive their orders for the
week (38).

Citizens live in a dehumanized

state
Oppression: prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control

Citizens lived in an oppressed state with no control over their own lives

There is often a large disparity between the rich and poor/powerful and powerless

The overall effect of control is that citizens are not really human anymore

The Island:

no
no
no
no
no

love
independence
free will
dreams
wishes

Animal Farm:

working for the pigs

the pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others (17)
Every Sunday morning at ten oclock the animals assembled in the big barn to receive their orders for the
week (38).
After hoisting the flag the animals were required to file past the skull in a reverent manner before
entering the barn (38).

Individuality and Dissent are bad

Citizens are encouraged to conform to the group

Citizens are heavily policed and punished if they go against the government

Individuals who do not follow the rules are publicly punished to set an example
to the rest of society (creating fear) or used as a scapegoat

A society run this way requires a large group of people to come together to
revolt which requires planning and bravery putting the group before the
individual

The Island:

they are killed when they have independent thoughts

monitored to keep them doing what they are supposed to do

Animal Farm:
The commandments of Animalism
Snowball as a scapegoat
loyalty and obedience are more important [] Discipline, comrades, iron discipline!
(37)
the dogs monitor the rest of the animals

Citizens are perceived to be under

constant surveillance

One way to limit personal freedoms is to monitor your people

policing creates a culture of fear in society

Perception is key

The Island:
Cameras everywhere
regulation)
Monitored by guards
No private space
Regular brain/physical tests
Napoleon

Animal Farm:
Work is completed by everyone (self
Living is communal
The dogs police the animals
But suddenly the dogs sitting round
let out deep, menacing growls, and the pigs
fell silent and sat down again (37)

Censorship & Manipulation of History

Anything from the past is strictly controlled or destroyed entirely. Theres something about the
past that the government/leaders want to stay hidden because they feel it could be dangerous
to them. Alternatively, they think their people are too delicate to handle the information
overload and theyre trying to protect them.

Control of education often information about the past is changed to make the party and their
laws seem superior to any other option

Citizens often have limited education (outside party controlled education) and limited access to
information from the outside world

The Island: Animal Farm:

false memories
Squealer changes the perception of Snowball
contamination story
No access to outside the farm
the lottery
Pigs are the only educated ones
no access to real world
The animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be
built after all. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind (38).

And as for the Battle of the Cowshed, I believe the time will
Snowballs part in it was much exaggerated (37).

come when we shall find that

Propaganda/mind control

Citizens are kept compliant via hypnosis, drugs, brainwashing, or some other method that
renders them docile or makes them forget what theyve seen

The control of education is another method of mind control

Propaganda is used to keep the citizens under control -- they believe what the government
is telling them

The Island:

Animal Farm:
the lottery was public Squealer
fake memories
Only pigs are educated
only educated to an 8 year old

When it was put to them in this light, they had no

more to say (23).

[Napoleon] said the education of the young as more important (22).

Several of them would have protested if they
the right arguments (36).

could have

Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to

new arrangement to the others (37).

explain

found
the

The natural world is banished or

distrusted - family/love abolished

Nature and/or natural processes are distrusted many dystopias have a

heavy focus on technology/biotechnology

The family unit is abolished babies are created or taken from their
parents at birth, love is disallowed, etc

Personal connections are often discouraged loyalty should be to the state

Characters are often searching for meaning and/or love. In many dystopian
novels, the protagonist is motivated to rebel due to a love interest

The Island:

Animal Farm:

no natural birth or family

No romantic relationships

Napoleon took them away from their

mothers, saying he would make himself

responsible for their education (22)

A figurehead/concept is
worshipped

A unifying idea or principle guides the society

This idea glues the society together and creates the norm

Religion is often abolished because true loyalty should be to the state

and/or figurehead of the state

The Island:

the lottery

belief in the contamination

Animal Farm:

Animalism and the 7 commandments

Napoleon

If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right (37)

Citizens have a fear of the outside

world

Usually a threat of a natural disaster, war, disease, chaos, etc

There is usually something in place (real or imagined) that makes

the citizens believe they cant or shouldnt leave

The Island: contamination

Animal Farm: humans

None of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again (31).

Battle of the Cowshed

Society is an illusion of a perfect

utopian world

There is a unifying belief that their lives, even if there are limitations, is better than what life
would be like in the outside world

A general belief that their government/ruler has their best interests in mind and does know
best

The Island:

strong belief in contamination and trust that their system works to keep them all safe

Animal Farm:

If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right (37)

Now if there was one thing that the animals were completely certain of, it was that they did not want
Jones back (23)

Once again this argument was unanswerable. Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the
holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back, then the debates must stop
(37)

1984

Assignment for final culminating:

Go back through the presentation and find examples from your

reading of 1984.

Be sure to keep a list of quotations to support your examples.