Inequality In Dystopian Novels

Today’s teenagers appreciate the realistic way young people are represented in dystopian novels. The oppression the characters in the books experience is mirroring the oppression or inequality the readers face. Many dystopian novels display this sense of mirroring. The problems that the protagonists face are realistic for the readers, and while the books are set in the future, the stories are highly engaging. In an essay written by Chris Vails, he focuses on the MadAddam series, written by Margaret Atwood. He recalls that “in the future projected by the novels, an unregulated capitalism has destroyed the public sphere entirely” (238). In 2015, the threat of unregulated capitalism is fearfully familiar. In Atwood’s novel “class inequality is sharp and absolute: the privileged live in gated communities…while
Craig Keilburger has proven to be the antithesis of this stereotype. Keilburger founded Free the Children, a charity aimed to free children from child labor, at the young age of twelve (Rowe 72). Claudia Rowe points out that “Craig’s mission is twofold: liberating exploited children from back-breaking labor while freeing other kids from the belief that they are not old enough or smart enough to make a difference” (72). The purpose of dystopian novels is paralleled with Craig’s goals. These novels aim to educate its readers and inspire them into believing that they can make a difference. This generation has been labelled the “selfie” generation; a generation of young people obsessed with themselves and their appearances. While most of the world is fed up with the narcissistic tendencies of young people today, dystopian fictions take a refreshing approach. These novels are successful in depicting youth as people who are not only engaged, but interested in creating positive change in the