Both utopian and dystopian fiction are speculative fiction that explores the possible social and political situations in the future.
Dystopian Fiction portrays a dark and nightmarish setting that is often characterized by poverty and oppression. These novels are a reflection of what could happen in the future if we don’t control our worst impulses. Let's take a look at 5 Must-read sclassic dystopian novels:
(I)1984 by George Orwell :
Although the novel was published in 1949, it is set in 1984.
It is a dystopian social science fiction about a totalitarian state that controls every aspect of its citizen’s life—even their individual thoughts. The leader or dictator of the totalitarian state is referred to as Big Brother.
The protagonist of the novel is Winston Smith who is working under Big Brother but he hates the party. He writes downs his rebellious thoughts in a diary, thereby committing ‘thought crime’. He knows that one day he would be discovered and arrested by the Thought Police.
(II)Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
It was published in 1932.
In this novel, the author imagines a futuristic society characterized by genetically modified babies, drugs that numb people, and psychological manipulation. The dystopian novel is set in the year 2540 AD.
The happy citizens of this world grow with this sort of technology where babies are created in a laboratory in test tubes. After their birth, the children are conditioned according to their respective social classes. Lower class children are trained to be mindless workers and are given an electric shock when they try to read a book.
As the children grow up, they take a drug called ‘soma’ and indulge themselves in pleasure.
So, now when someone from the outside world comes to this society, they look savage and uncultured. The people of this society are unable to understand how a woman can give birth to a child normally. In the same manner, people from the outside world cannot fit into this so-called civilized society.
The best thing about this dystopian novel is that it reminds us of the dangers of self-indulgence and too much comfort.
(III)Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
It was published in 1953.
The novel is set in a distant world where books are banned and burned.
Books help us to think critically and make better, well-informed decisions in life. Therefore, the government wants to outlaw and destroy books to fully control the people.
The protagonist of the book is Guy Montag, a fireman whose job is to set fire to books. Instead of setting fire to books, Montag begins a quest to try and save these books, as well as the minds of people around him.
It is a beautiful novel that reads like a love story to books.
(IV)The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
It was published in 1985.
It is set in the near future. America is taken over by a religious sect. The laws and rules of the country are pushed back several centuries. The totalitarian state is called Gilead, which used to be a part of the United States. Democracy is now replaced by Christian fundamentalism that treats women as property of the state.
Women are domesticated and have to be submissive to men. Due to environmental degradation & disasters, very few women are fertile. So, in order to repopulate a devastated world, the remaining fertile women are forced to bear children.
The protagonist of the novel is a young woman called Offred who is forced to bear children for ruling-class men.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” is a feminist dystopian novel that focuses on women’s experiences. It tells the story of Offred who is determined to survive the terrifying world and find her daughter who was taken away from her.
(V)Lord of the Flies by William Golding
It was published in 1954.
It tells the story of a group of boys who land on an island after their plane crashed. This group of pre-adolescent boys has to organize themselves in order to survive.
Although the setting of Lord of the Flies initially appears to be utopian with freshwater, beautiful beaches, and abundant fruit, it quickly converts into a dystopian landscape where the boys are hungry, dirty, and terrified of the unnamed beast. They are living in a nightmarish, oppressive world that is ruled by a sadistic leader.
There is a good character called Ralph who encourages voting, free speech, and working together to gather food, provide shelter, and tend to the fire. Initially, he was the leader.
But later, an evil character called Jack becomes the leader. He persuades the boys to hunt animals, kill people and not bother about maintaining the fire. He becomes more savage as time passes.
It is also an allegorical fiction about how bad people triumph and rule over humanity. It shows the loss of innocence.
When you get a chance, do read these 5 classic dystopian novels.
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