1984

Big Brother is Watching: A

Dystopic Novel

Dystopia

This is a classical example of a dystopian

novel – everything is not perfect; instead,

everything is awful.

As you read, consider how the power

structure constructs a dystopian society.

Dystopian style is found throughout literature.

Consider Fahrenheit 451 and Harrison

Bergeron.

A key to this style is the use of language that

shows that, at least officially, conditions in

society are not only good but they are wonderful,

great, better then ever in recorded history.

This is the contradicted by the actual conditions

in which society exists.

Characteristics of a Dystopian

Society

Propaganda is used to control the citizens

Information, independent thought, and

freedom are restricted

A figurehead or concept is worshipped by

the citizens

Citizens are perceived to be under

constant surveillance

Characteristics of a Dystopian

Society

Citizens live in fear of the outside world

Citizens lives in a dehumanized state

Citizens conform to uniform expectations.

Individuality and dissent are punished.

The society is an illusion of a perfect

utopian world.

Types of Control

Most dystopian works present a world in

which oppressive societal control and the

illusion of a perfect society are maintained

through one or more of these controls:

Corporate control: A large corporation

controls society through products,

advertising, and the media. Examples:

Minority Report and Running Man.

Types of Control

Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled

by a mindless bureaucracy through a

tangle of red tape, relentless regulations,

and incompetent government officials.

Technological control: Society is controlled

by technology – through computers,

robots, and/or scientific means. Consider

The Matrix; The Terminator; I, Robot

Types of Control

Philosophical or religious control: Society

is controlled by religious/philosophical

ideology enforced through a dictatorship or

theocratic government. Consider V for

Vendetta.

The Dystopian Protagonist

Feels trapped and struggles to escape

Questions the existing system

Believes/feels that something is wrong

with society

Helps the audience recognize the negative

aspects of the dystopian world through his

perspective

Types of Dystopian Control

The question becomes why does Orwell present such a grim picture of a totalitarian state?

Consider context – he has witnessed Stalin and his crushing regime; he witnessed his own gov’t, Britain, ruthlessly treat its subject in India; and he watched Hitler torment an entire race.

For Orwell, whether totalitarianism is

dressed up in the cruel methods of Hitler

or Stalin or the benevolent promises of

socialism, it is still absolute control over

the individual.

The Dystopian Novel

In a dystopian novel, plot lines follow one

of two directions, things happen to the

characters, but the characters either

– Escape their fate

– The “establishment” wins

Structurally, dystopian novels are usually

divided into three acts.

Act 1

Largely exposition, establishes the

parameters of the society and introduces

the characters. Usually, some precipitous

event occurs toward the end of Act 1 that

introduces the conflict and begins the

rising action.

Act 2

Act 2 contains most of the rising action as

it follows the attempts of the main

character to either escape or change the

society. The climax – the point at which

the character’s attempts to fulfill his desire

and society's attempts to thwart him reach

the point at which one or the other must

win – usually occurs either at the end of

Act 2 or the beginning of Act 3.

Act 3

Act 3 contains the falling action, the

aftermath of the action in Act 2. The

theme is derived from the resolution of the

plot: if the attempt to escape is successful,

or the dystopian society is changed, the

novel has a positive theme. If, however,

the attempts at escape or change fail, the

novel has a negative theme.

Common Characters in the

Dystopian Novel

Representatives of the powerful, those in control

Representatives of the “typical” citizen, perfectly happy with the society or blissfully unaware of society’s flaws

Sometimes these characters are staunchly patriotic and can’t comprehend anyone’s dissatisfaction with the society

Sometimes these characters naively take for granted that the way things are is simply the way things are.

Sometimes these characters are passive/philosophical: they are aware of the flaws in the society (though maybe not troubled by them), but they accept the flaws. They believe either there is no need or no point to change.

At least one character is disenfranchised by the society, who desires either to escape or to change

Sometimes these characters begin the

novel loving society, but events in the

novel cause a change in belief

Sometimes these characters being the

novel already disliking society. Often at

the beginning of the novel, they desire

change but feel powerless to effect any

change.

Common Philosophical or Thematic

Traits in the Dystopian Novel

The individual is worth nothing more than

her value as part of the governmental

machine.

Power can reside either in a single dictator

or in a larger governmental organization.

Major forms of control include education,

communications, pop culture

Military control can be a factor

The controlling body often uses pop

culture to distract its members and thus

control them (encourages drug/alcohol

use, sexual promiscuity, rampant

consumerism)

The controlling body finds and uses a

scapegoat to deflect the blame for the

suffering of the people