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‘Much dystopian fiction attacks social and political institutions’. In 1984 and The Handmaids Tale.

Both Margaret Attwood’s The Handmaids Tale and George Orwell’s 1984 are dystopian novels, the genre dystopia has been described as speculative fiction due to its basis on realistic events and institutions. As 1984 was published in 1949 it is largely based on Stalinist Russia and Hitler’s Germany, Orwell has described the texts purpose as a warning against such tyrannical governments. Whereas The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1986 and although the novel has totalitarian government as the crux of the novel, it is main critique is of the conservative rights that was posing a threat during the 1980s.

In The Handmaid’s Tale Attwood attacks the social institution of patriarchal society, which greatly contrasts to the critique of gender equality created in 1984. THT’s Gilead is a male dominated society, in which men control all the power. Women are reduced to mere possessions in with the protagonist being given the name “Offred”, this creates a literal representation of her nature as someone owned by her male counterpart. Though there is a female hierarchy even the highest women “commander’s wives” are defined by their marriage. The names reaffirm women’s positions with in the society as lesser citizens, this social structure is critical of the rise of conservativism in America, as in the 1980s they were large increase in the call for women to return to their homes, which is what has occurred in Gilead. This is contrasted with the social structure which Orwell critiques, 1984 is a society that claims to create gender equality. This is evident from the fact that women work, Julia “had some mechanical job”, a job is thought of as male in nature. Although the equality of genders, in their ability to hold jobs, is utopian in nature the equality in 1984 is used as a method of removing the sexual drive of citizens as women are stripped of feminine nature. This critique of equality can be viewed as critical of the Stalinist Russia, in which the society was supposed to be equal for the benefit of all but instead created large oppression similar to the sexual repression in 1984.

Both 1984 and THT attack the political regimes of totalitarian governments. In 1984, there is a hierarchy of “proles”, “outer party” then “inner party” and at the top “Big Brother”. The way in which power is concentrated in the hands of the few is reflective of regular governance, but the concentration of power in the hands of one person is reflective of a dictatorship. This form of government is criticised when Winston inquiries about Big Brothers existence to O’Brian, who replies “Big Brother is the embodiment of the party”, which indicates that he is not a real person but in fact a representation of the government. Though it has been interpreted that Big Brother was a real leader but has died and has been used posthumous as an identifiable figure, this interpretation better displays the critique of totalitarian government as in 1953 the Soviet government delayed announcing Stalin’s death until they had an effective replacement, hence critiquing the dictatorial control of government regimes in 1948. Like the illusive Big Brother Gilead’s leaders are unknown, due to the first-person narrative of Offred there is limited knowledge of anything other than the structures of her household as Offred is unaware of who possess the power above the “commanders”, though this still portrays an alarming picture of the effects of power concentration in the hands of the few. Although THT was written in the 1980’s the military coup and militarised nature of society draws parallels to communist Cuba, which was created via a military coup led by Castro and Guevara, as Cuba is merely 90miles away from Florida and the novel was written during the height of the Cold War it is possible that the disapproval for communist regimes were reflected by Attwood.

In fitting with the speculative nature of dystopian literature there are elements of THT and 1984 that critique our current society. The use of surveillance is largely reflective of modern society, in 1984 the

government have “telescreens”, which are like CCTV used in present society, used by the government to root out criminals. There is also the use of human to spy on others which creates the suspicion that Winston is “surrounded everyday by informers” like Offred says “it occurs to me that she may be an informer”, this method of turning people on each other is used in both texts to break down relationship and prevent people uniting against the government. This can be linked to the Germany with the Hitler Youth, who were taught to spy on their community, as well as the USA where during the height of the Red Scare people were told to report anyone suspected of being a communist. There are also similarities in the fact that both novels attack the culture of their respective countries.

In 1984, there is the ironically named “ministry of truth” which produces government propaganda, the building is in fact supposed to be the BBC, it can be argued that in portraying the famous building as the “Ministry of truth” Orwell is attacking its nature as a news and information outlet, suggesting that it is rather largely compliant with the governments media agenda. Although it can also be interpreted that the representation of the building is a way of generating concern for Western citizens who currently live in democracy, as it suggests that a dystopian government could gain control in the future. Likewise, Attwood critiques the western laisse faire attitude and tries to warn them. It can be considered that Attwoods featuring of “Japanese tourists” in THT is an attack on the western nations failure to assist countries facing oppression. As the tourist ask Offred and Ofwarren if they can “take your picture”, this shows both that the Japanese society is free and rich as well as the fact that they are unwilling to help the Handmaids, merely contempt to watch their oppression. Which is reflective of the way America failed to assist Eastern Bloc countries who rose up against communism, this seems to warn against the oppressive regime as it highlights the fact that the international community would be unlikely to take any action.

In conclusion, THT and 1984 attack the society both of their past and of the time in which they’re writing, which indirectly critiques the modern era in many respects. Which warns against social controls such as the 1980s-feminist back lash and political restraints like the regimes of Hitler and Stalin.

Elements of Dystopian Literature in “Ten with a Flag”

Plotting to supplant the Protestant monarchy with a Catholic one, Robert Catesby planned

to destroy the Parliament building. However, the government discovered his “Gunpowder Plot,” after they captured his conspirator, Guy Fawkes. Since then governments have been on the lookout for future insurgents. No government does this more than Joseph Paul Naines’ Central, from his “Ten with a Flag.” The acting government, called Central, will analyze a fetus’ DNA. They then give the child a rating based on their future utility and likelihood to rebel. The higher the number, the higher of a social status he or she will have. Haines argues that a government, which values lives of the lives of some citizens over others, is dystopian. There is open oppression of the person, in order to satisfy the needs of Central. Secondly, the cult of personality, which has replaced all forms of religion, supports his claim. Finally, there is an outsider who desires change but is ultimately defeated by manipulators.

After receiving their child’s results, Johnnie and an unnamed mother go speak with Mr. White, the head of Human Services which is a branch of Central. Their future son had been rated a 10, but there was a flag, indicating the child would be problematic. Furthermore, the flag gives the mother the option to abort the child, should she feel it necessary. Johnnie is afraid that his wife may die during childbirth, as previously recorded data shows. But he is reassured by Mr. White the child will have no problems, “The important thing to remember is that your baby rated a ten. Your child will be an asset to the Nation … The state has raised both your rating to eight, effective immediately” (25). Mr. White wants to parents to forego the risk of bearing a child with a flag in order to help Central. In his eyes, the mother’s life is worthless compared to the possibilities offered by a 10. The fact that individuality is given up in exchange for the advancement of power is indicative of a dystopian world.

During their meeting, the mother shows utter reverence to Mr. White, who is a ten

himself. However, Johnnie openly questions Mr. White. In response his wife thinks, “Eight didn’t mean could just randomly disrespect government officials” (25). In this world, citizens have been conditioned to never question the judgement of higher ranking citizen. There is also never a mention of religion: implying that man’s innate desire to worship is satiated with higher numbers. The worshipping of other citizens is highly reminiscent of a cult of personality. Except here, many citizens are worshipped instead of just one. This supports Haines’ claim because a cult of personality is a key trope in dystopian worlds.

As the life of the mother is in apparent danger, Johnnie must make a critical choice. Having been given the choice over his son’s life, he decides to abort the child. As the doctor makes preparations for the operation, Mr. White and Human Services greet the future parents. Enraged and confused, Johnnie yells, “You said you wouldn’t interfere.’ Mr. White smiled. “We didn’t, We allowed you to make your decision of your own free will… No one ever said we’d let you go through with it, though. The flag is an option, not a right” (30). The twisting of language by Mr. White is indicative of his sly and cunning behavior. Here the classic outsider, who understands the government is evil, is outwitted by Central. Their euphemistic language seeks to expose those, who would betray the government. In this instance, Johnnie would put the life of a 6 before that of a 10. His failure is indicative of the helplessness a single person faces against the entire collective. The failure of an outsider to make a change due to scheming by government officials is very indicative of a dystopian society.

Using dystopian motifs, Haines demonstrates that a world in which citizens worship others, for simply winning the genetic lottery, is dystopian. Haines, the author of “Ten with a Flag,” writes of a world where the government fully controls the lives of its citizens. While

different, Central and the Handicapper General from “Harrison Bergeron” are extremely similar. They both react to the birth of citizens, but in different ways. One seeks to make them equal,

while the other stratifies them. While both vastly different, they are both dystopian worlds; meaning that one must let his or her citizens to be free to make their own path.

“You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It won’t happen automatically.

You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” – Joel Osteen. Most people think that life is easy. They don’t have to make very big decisions that often, causing them to struggle when the day comes where they have to. However, when one has to decide whether to move on or to stay where they are, people usually have to work to forget about their past and move forward. In Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451, protagonist Guy Montag begins as an arrogant man who proceeds to forget about his past as well as become a more analytical person with the help of a strongly influential relationship with a girl named Clarisse.

Before the epiphanies that would change his life forever, Montag begins as an arrogant man, who is captivated by everything about him. For example, when returning to the firehouse: [Montag] knew that when he returned, he might wink at himself, a minstrel man,

burnt-corked, in the mirror. Later, going to sleep, he would feel the fiery smile

still gripped by his face muscles in the dark. It never went away, that smile. (4) This shows that truly is obsessed with everything he does, and he shows it. This also shows that

he will always be hooked on his life in a bad way. As a result, Montag stays in an arrogant stage for most of his life.

Montag is like every other person in his society, until a highly influential relationship forms with the one person that isn’t: a girl named Clarisse. For example, when Montag is walking in the rain:

[Montag saw Clarisse] walking in the center of the sidewalk with her head up and

the few drops falling on her face. She smiled when she saw Montag.

“Hello!”

He said hello and then said, “What are you up to now?” “I’m still crazy. The rain feels good. I love to walk in it.”

“I don’t think I’d like that,” he said.

“You might if you tried.”

“I never have.”

[…] And she ran off and left him standing there in the rain. Only after a

long time did he move.

And then, very slowly, as he walked, he tilted his head back in the rain, for

just a few moments, and opened his mouth…. (19, 21)

This shows that, before Montag had met Clarisse, he would’ve never thought of doing something like tasting rain, but after he is wanting to experience new things, wanting to change into a better man. This also shows that Montag’s trust in Clarisse is starting to grow as their relationship

develops into a stronger, more powerful relationship. As a result, Clarisse is a major part in transforming Montag’s life into a new one.

After his encounters with Clarisse, Montag changes into a more analytical human being.

For example, when playing a game of poker with Captain Beatty, Montag says:

“I-I’ve been thinking. About the fire last week. About the man whose library we fixed. What happened to him?”

“They took him off screaming to the asylum.”

“He wasn’t insane.”

This shows that Montag has developed a new sense of thinking; one that thinks carefully about everything and doesn’t just skim over details. This also shows that he is starting to realize what he has done to the people around him. As a result, Montag understands that in order to actually think about things, he needs to really focus on whatever he is trying to think about.

Before meeting Clarisse, Guy Montag was an arrogant man who didn’t think much about life. He went through his daily routine until he got the motivation to change from the influential relationship he had with a girl named Clarisse. He then changed into a man who wanted to think more about what he was doing. Although it took work, Montag was determined to change his life from bad to good.

Work Cited

1. Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1951. Print.

A Brave New 1984

Both science fiction authors George Orwell and Aldous Huxley prophesize the imminent

destruction of society, warning the public of a nearing, dystopian future in their books 1984 and Brave New World respectively. However, social critic Neil Postman observes that the two’s reasons for said destruction offered contrasting analyses of society; Orwell predicted that society would be ruined by an opposing, oppressive force, namely Big Brother, while Huxley believed that society would be ruined internally, through our own deliberate ignorance and technologically induced captivity. Through the examination of modern culture in America, Postman’s assertion that Huxley’s Brave New World is the more relevant representation of today

is accurate.

With the rise of social media and easily accessible technology, the spread of valuable information could never be more efficient to disperse. Imagine all the potential the efficiency and power of technology could bring to benefit society: raising awareness for global tragedies, educating those who lack insight and introspection, empowering those facing injustice. Now imagine all of those benefits already made a reality, just blatantly ignored. This is the future that Huxley warned about, a future where “the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance”. Unlike the society described in Orwell’s 1984, people today still have the choice to be educated, and are even given a wide range of media to choose from; documentaries, documents, satire, and stories all ably pave the way to ignorance-free awareness. But what use is accessible knowledge if the audience would rather worry about whether Stacy says “yes” to the dress or if the Emoji Movie will ever have a much deserved sequel? The public is aware that Donald Trump, on multiple occasions, is guilty of sexual harassment and acts of idiocy, yet people continue to support his presidency. The public is aware that several school shootings have devastated

families and students alike, yet people still demand that the 2nd amendment be untouched. The

truth is, there are many who don’t care about the truth.

Breakfast Of Champions

The satirical novel Breakfast Of Champions by best-selling author Kurt Vonnegut, deals with trying to find one’s identity and what happens when someone does. Protagonist Dwayne Hoover was a Pontiac dealer on the brink of going insane. Antagonist Kilgore Troute was a science fiction writer who felt his life was over but he was mistaken. This tale revolves around the lives and meeting of these two men. Through the conflicts of person vs. person and person vs. self, Vonnegut cautions against anticipating a happy existence as a result of finding the answers in life, for it could make one a champion or give one “doodley-squat.”

In the person vs. person conflict, the main struggle was between Dwayne Hoover and just about everyone in Midland City. Some of Dwayne’s problems are with his son Bunny, competing automobile industries, and Francine, Dwayne’s secretary. Throughout this plot, Dwayne is described as an uncontrolled person who has trouble grasping the feelings of others, this is partly due to his “bad chemicals,” and because of the life he leads.

The person vs. self conflicts also deals mostly with Dwayne Hoover. The main conflict is between Dwayne and himself, and is caused by his “bad chemicals”

? “Listen: the bad chemicals in Dwayne’s head is a mental illness that many people suffer from. Dwayne’s body was manufacturing certain chemicals which unbalanced his mind” (p13).

The other conflict which Dwayne develops with himself happens after he reads Troute’s novel, this novel causes him to believe he is the only human with free will. With this belief and the “bad chemicals” Dwayne goes completely insane and starts a violent parade around Midland City. After this outrage Dwayne is degraded to “another withered balloon of an old man on Midland City’s Skid Row” (p280).

When people look for their identity they can either be let down or their feelings of a better life will be met. Vonnegut shows both aspects of these conclusions in Breakfast Of Champions. Dwayne Hoover shows the bad effects finding yourself in his negative reaction. While in contrast, Kilgore Troute show the good aspects of finding yourself. “He became one of the most beloved and respected human beings in history” (p7). Vonnegut uses a casual humorous way to present these ideas. He does this by putting in various pictures and small facts such as peoples measurements. He also puts himself in the novel as the “Creator Of The Universe” and watches as Dwayne looses his mind. This style keeps the reader interested while he/she still obtains the meaning of the book and the message that Vonnegut is trying to portray.

Lost and Found

Progressive Era

Cities grew in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As specialized industries like steel and meat- packing improved, jobs were also increased in the cities. These factories’ work lured former farmers, immigrants, and American workers moving into the cities. These people lived in tenements and ghettos. They were unable to earn an authentic living environment due to unreasonable wage cut. Progressivism is an umbrella label for a wide range of economic, political, social, and moral reforms. The early twentieth century acted as the Progressive Era, when Americans find solutions to resolve problems that were engendered by industrialization. Predicated on the documents, Progressive Era were effective because of child labor, working conditions, and women’s suffrage.

Factories were utilizing children to do the hard work. They employed children as young as five to work as many as twenty hours a day. According to Document C, children worked in factories to build up muscles and having good intellect in working rather than getting an education. They became a different person rather than conventional children. There were additionally health issues due to child labor: rapid skeletal growth, greater risk of hearing loss, higher chemical absorption rates, and developing ability to assess risks. Progressive Era reformers believed that child labor was detrimental to children and they should be protected from harmful environments, so they would become healthy and productive adults. In 1912, Congress created the Children’s Bureau to benefit children. The Keating-Owen Act was passed in 1916 to free children from child labor only in industries that engaged in interstate commerce. However, it was declared unconstitutional since Congress could not regulate local labor conditions. Woodrow Wilson won the election of 1912 and signed into law “Tax on Employment of Child Labor” in 1916. This law placed a ten percent tax on businesses that employed children under age fourteen

or made them work more than eight hours a day. Even though this law was declared

unconstitutional later, a number of working children between ages ten and fifteen declined by almost fifty percent. On the other hand, there was still some opposition against child labor. As it was stated in Document G, a father brought a suit to “enjoin the enforcement of the act of Congress intended to prevent interstate commerce in the products of child labor.” He wanted his sons (one under age of fourteen and the other at the age of fifteen) to continue working in a cotton mill at Charlotte to fortify the family. Nevertheless, Children’s Bureau and National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) worked to end child labor.

During the Progressive Era, large business owners demanded long hours for very little pay. These workers typically worked seven days a week, twelve hours each day, some enduring 24 straight hours of intense labor. After looking closely at Document B, Neill-Reynolds, a muckraker who investigated and gave nationwide publicity to accidents and unsafe condition, reported about the conditions in meat-packing industry. The report was basically about poor conditions in the meat-packing industry and violation of international agreements promising a safe workplace. The factory conditions were deprived: light source was natural light, few windows, dangerous machines, few break times and poor sanitation. These conditions could affect the workers’ health by giving them diseases, physical problems, deformities, and malnutrition. Since workers were viewed as interchangeable parts, owners would not care if there were any death. Many Progressives responded to industrial America’s deplorable working conditions by endeavoring to make life better for workers. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was established to help workers with their problems. The AFL made it possible for the workers to go on strike by paying them enough money to live on or give them year-round health benefits to work their job. The AFL helped the workers to go on strike to improve their working

conditions and get better hours.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, women organizations worked to gain the right to

vote and worked for broad-based economic and political equality and for social reforms. The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) was organized to fight for a constitutional amendment, while the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was organized to work on a state level to win voting rights. The NAWSA undertook campaigns to enfranchise women in individual states and lobbied President Wilson and Congress to pass a women’s suffrage amendment. Although they won many rights (such as married women could buy and sell property, etc.), they failed to win suffrage. The third group, Congressional Union (CU), under leadership of Alice Paul, was a more militant organization. She called for an aggressive, militant campaign for the constitutional amendment, by bypass existing stage suffrage organizations and set up new ones in each state. The leader of NAWSA opposed this idea because it would alienate moderate supporters.

After CU got expelled, they went on to state militant protests. Based on Document H, the militant protests happened in front of Washington D.C. and the women comparing the President Wilson to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany to demand that President reverse his opposition to 19th amendment. Besides the comparison, CU also set aflame a life-size dummy of Wilson, burned copies of Wilson’s speeches, and went on hunger strikes when got sent to prison. Newspapers printed stories about women’s treatment in jail to gain public sympathy to support women suffrage. By 1918, President Wilson has no choice but to announce his support for suffrage. Thus, victory for women suffrage happened in

1920.

After looking closely at all four documents, the Progressive Era ended child labor, improved working conditions, and brought victory to women suffrage. Many organizations, laws,

and amendments were created to end these issues. They also highlighted the last major reform of

the Progressive Era.

The qualities of people are distinguished mostly by the impact others have upon them when they are children. These role models shape everyone’s life into the person we are to become, whether positively or negatively. In Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck Finn’s role models all impact Huck’s life and the way he lives throughout the novel. Miss Watson, Widow Douglas, and Jim give Huck positive support, while pap Finn impacts Huck’s life negatively.

Miss Watson and Widow Douglas guide Huck throughout his early years when he is without family support by improving his way of life, his religious aspects, his educational outlook, and protecting him from dangers in his life. These two women help to improve his way of life by trying to sivilized him. (1) Although Huck does not like this, he goes along with what Miss Watson says because Huck believes that she’s smarter than [him]. Maybe she’s right.” (8) Although Huck believes Miss Watson is smarter than he is, he does have an education because of the Widow and her support. He learns how to read and write, and realizes how much he actually enjoys it when he confronts his Pap with his literacy, a gift his father is not blessed with. Huck’s guardians also protect him from his drunken father. They had taken him into their home and given him so many gifts as if he was their own child. Along with education, guidance, and protection given to Huck by the two spirited women, the Widow and Miss Watson also show Huck values through regular prayer. They teach him and important lesson in life, that Huck should pray for spiritual gifts [and] help other people, and do everything do everything [he] could for other people, and look out for them all the time, and never think about [himself]. (8) This is saying more than the two ladies had meant it to. Since to Huck people included blacks, Huck is able to bring himself to aid even a runaway slave through Miss Watson and Widow Douglas leadership. Through these two women’s leadership and positive influence on Huck leads him on his adventures and led him to be able to trust men that are least likely to be trusted. This is the case in the runaway slave, Jim.

Although the least likely person to be a role model in the life of a young white boy would be a slave, this is true about Jim who guides Huck throughout their adventures and protects him as a father would for his son. Huck and Jim’s mutual trust in each other is shown immediately upon discovering one another on Jackson’s Island. This is shown when Huck states, People would call me a low down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum but that don’t make no difference. I ain’t agoing to tell, and I ain’t agoing back there anyways. (32) With this, Huck tells him his secret about faking his own death and making it to the island, and the two runaways begin their adventures down the Mississippi River. Jim’s leadership through looking after Huck and protecting him from harm proves he is a true father-like figure to Huck. This is proved when Jim did not allow Huck to see the dead man in the floating house. Jim was protecting Huck from not only seeing a dead person, but his own Pap lying in the water with a gunshot wound to the back. Huck truly sees Jim as a friend, as well as a role model throughout their adventure. Without Jim’s guidance and protection, Huck would never have survived. One of Jim’s most influential lesson he taught Huck was not to play jokes on his friends. He showed Huck that a joke should not harm another person like Huck had hurt him in the Fog Trick because it hurt his feelings and played with his emotions. This also proves once again that Jim has feeling for Huck and cares deeply about his actions in life. Jim realized that Huck truly is his friend, and even close enough to be his son.

Miss Watson, Widow Douglas, and Jim all showed the right path to Huck, but the person who’s job this really belongs to, Pap Finn, was unable to accomplish this feat and lead Huck astray in life. When Pap Finn returns to claim Huck as his son again, he was only thinking about his money. Pap does not truly care about Huck, or about raising him into a sivilized young man. Pap sets a horrible example for Huck through drinking, swearing, smoking, and locking Huck up in the cabin while he goes to town to get drunk. One example of when Pap got too drunk for his own good was when he convinced the judge that he was a changed man and quit drinking. Early the next morning he was found with a broken arm and passed out drunk. His bad example for Huck was clearly shown when Huck began to swear and smoke once again after living with Pap only a few days. The lifestyle Huck had inherited from the Widow and Miss Watson had been ruined by the Town Drunk, Pap Finn. Huck’s Father is truly an unfit father who does not care about who Huck is or who he will become.

In conclusion, role models are everywhere because each person affects another in a certain way. As in the case of Huckleberry Finn in Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Miss Watson, Widow Douglas, Jim, and Pap Finn all had a tremendous impact on him, shaping his life and personality into that of a young man.