What is Dystopian Literature?

Utopian v. Dystopian Literature What does the word utopia mean? In as a literary genre, utopian literature refers to a detailed description of a nation or commonwealth ordered according to a system which the author proposes as a better way of life than any known to exist, a system that could be instituted if the present one could be cancelled and people could start over. Sometimes utopias are created to satirize existing societies, or simply to speculate about what life might be like under different conditions. Utopian works typically sketch a future in which technology improves the everyday life of human beings and advances civilization Sir Thomas More Coined the phrase ‘utopia’ in 1516

An Example of Utopian Literature The Republic by Plato Why? Plato’s ideal republic is ruled by a group of intelligent, unselfish men called the guardians or philosopher-kings . Property belongs to the community not to individuals, money is unnecessary and displays of luxury are strongly discouraged. A high moral code of conduct underlies everything and education of the ruling classes is paramount. There is no marriage, and women and children are held in common for the benefit of the nation as a whole.

Dystopian Literature Dystopian literature has been characterized as fiction that presents a negative view of the future of society and humankind. Utopian works typically sketch a future in which technology improves the everyday life of human beings and advances civilization, while dystopian works offer an opposite view. Critics have argued that several of the extreme historical circumstances that took place during the twentieth century have been conducive to the flourishing of dystopian fiction.

Dystopian Literature Some common themes found in dystopian fiction include mastery of nature—to the point that it becomes barren, or turns against humankind; technological advances that enslave humans or regiment their lives; the mandatory division of people in society into castes or groups with specialized functions; and a collective loss of memory and history making mankind easier to manipulate psychologically and ultimately leading to dehumanization.

Dystopian Literature Discussions regarding personal freedom, the role of free will, the value of individual resistance to dictatorships, and the power of technology to transform people's lives are also typical characteristics of dystopian fiction.

Dystopian Works 1930s Brave New World, Huxley Anthem, Rand 1940s 1984, Orwell Bend Sinister, Nabakov 1950s Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury Atlas Shrugged, Rand 1960s A Clockwork Orange, Burgess “Harrison Bergeron,” Vonnegut

Dystopian Works 1970s This Perfect Day, Ira Levin Ypsilon Minus, Franke 1980s The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood Ender’s Game, Card 1990s The Giver, Lowry The Children of Men, James 2000s Cloud Atlas, Mitchell The Hunger Games, Collins