It’s this thought, this notion of absolute compliance felt by those submitted to authority which allows power and control to be established and maintained. Imagine believing something to be the complete truth, then realising it was all a lie. A falsehood by those in power forcing you to conform without question. All previously thought values you held dear falling apart from this sudden awakening. This understanding occurs to only a few in dystopian worlds. In all dystopian societies reflected in texts and novels, governments have total control and dominion over all people. Individual identities, actions and choices are strictly limited, shaped and controlled by powerful institutions or groups. This fierce, unrelenting suppression of individuality by the fist of the government allows them to control society, forcing all to obey mindlessly. If everyone is the same, why would anyone want to be different? New York Times best-selling author Kaleb Livingstone dives into the ways power and control are established and maintained in dystopian fiction and the reason for contemporary readers profound affection for this genre comparing the texts ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ by George Orwell and ‘The Giver’ directed by Phillip Noyce.
Introduction
We all know that dystopian societies generally contain similar themes, concepts and ideas. Usually, a powerful authority reigning over everyone. Society conforms without question, believing this bright façade to be a utopia. Yet it is only when one person thinks otherwise, a once thought-to-be peaceful world drastically crumbles. Perhaps one of the most well-known dystopian texts of all time is George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1948). Displaying relevant themes including; psychological manipulation, power, oppression and society’s humanity being stripped away. The novel showcases a weak man’s rebellion against power, and his ultimate downfall portraying the true power of totalitarian governments. These themes are most closely linked to a more contemporary dystopian text, Phillip Noyce’s, the Giver (2014). The story of Jonas, an individual who is different. Fighting back against the governments’ control in a world where all are stripped of their humanity. The emotion of love has been taken by authority demonstrating the power and control they have over society. Power and control are established and maintained by governments in dystopian texts by supressing individuality and by the stripping of humanity, a feeling often felt by contemporary readers attempting to battle against authority in their own lives.
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Nineteen Eighty-Four
The inexorable use of telescreens and newspeak by the government portrayed in Nineteen Eight-Four demonstrates the ways power and control are established and maintained in that dystopia. The citizens must not merely conform but display absolute love for Big Brother. “It is not enough to obey him: you must love him,” Obrien (Pg. 233). All their movements are forcibly controlled by the government due to the telescreens surrounding them at all times in the day. The power of the party relies on the telescreens. It captures all conversations, movements and even facial expressions of those governed by Big Brother. This demonstrates the party’s control of people physically, yet the mental control lies in newspeak. Newspeak prevents free thoughts and ideas removing any thoughts of unorthodoxy. “The whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought. In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it,” Syme (Pg. 53). With no existing way to deny Big Brother, total control of the citizens is guaranteed allowing the government’s power to be maintained. With complete physical and psychological control, society’s humanity is stripped away preventing individualism allowing Big Brother’s power and control to be maintained.
The giver
The way power and control is established in Noyce’s The Giver is a direct reflection of the methods used by the party in Nineteen Eighty-Four. The Giver presents a once thought to be utopia, where everyone is controlled, no one is permitted emotions and citizens are constantly monitored by cameras at all times of the day. The over-abundance of cameras used by the government in The Giver allow them to monitor all citizens actions and prevent any breaking of the rules. The thought of constantly being watched and forced to conform prevents anyone from standing out. Individuality is fiercely suppressed denying citizens any opportunity to be free, stripping them of any humanity they once had. Not only this, but the ability to express yourself has been forcibly removed, a direct parallel to Newspeak seen in Nineteen Eighty-Four. Precision of language in The Giver refers to only speaking directly, leaving words that describe emotion devoid of meaning. After Jonas learns of love he questions his father, asking him whether he is loved. His father is puzzled and cannot answer as this goes against the precision of language. His father states that he is proud of Jonas but cannot love him. Another time is when Jonas confesses his love for Fiona, and she responds saying she has feelings but no words with which to expression them. By not being able to express their feelings the government exerts almost complete psychological control over the citizens preventing individuality allowing governments control and power to be maintained.
Comparing them both with examples
Both governing bodies in Nineteen Eighty-Four and The Giver restrict individuality with dominant psychological control over society. By constantly being watched by Big Brother and the government in The Giver, society is forced to conform with total obedience. Humanity no longer exists as it is forcibly taken away. Nineteen Eighty Four’s Obrien states that “Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing,” Obrien (Pg. 266). Authority in dystopian texts capitalises on this way to obtain absolute control of the citizens through orthodoxy towards the government. Newspeak and precision of language prevents expression and emotions. Individuality cannot exist being suppressed by the fist of the government. This subtle psychological control thoroughly engrained in dystopian societies allow those in power to remain. Also, the use of surveillance and being watched constantly for any false moves of unorthodoxy demonstrates the vicious power and control authority has. This scrutiny ensures complete prevention of liberty, halting any acts of rebellion allowing assertive power and control to be maintained.
Relevance to contemporary readers
Dystopian texts serve as a warning to our society. A premonition against authority and those in power. The reminder to constantly question the extent of governing body’s power and control is imbedded in the heart of all dystopian texts. The rise of dystopian fiction in contemporary audiences is due to the insurgence of protagonists against authority. In a society where these modern audiences are pressured to conform, it’s the ability to express yourself which attracts their attention. The thought of individuality, however popular it may be becoming, is still restricted by authoritative figures including teachers and parents. There is an ideal vision of life offered by these bodies which is often difficult to abide by. The pressure to conform still remains in the 21st century. It is the ability to go against this power which speaks to contemporary audiences struggling to do so in their own lives. They are drawn to the protagonists courage and ability to make change, but what they truly desire is the ability to change themselves. The power of governments in dystopian texts have the ability to strip society of its humanity and individualism. Is this dominance, this control, seen in dystopian texts not a reflection of our own society where we are all forced to conform, free of individuality? When the time comes will we be able to rise against power or will we too be stripped of our humanity and brutally oppressed as those in dystopian texts are?
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