Dystopian Literature
“Dystopian Literature is not concerned with shaping the future but with teaching us about the problems of the present”. Discuss "Lord of the Flies" and "Animal Farm" in light of this comment.
Many critics have argued that several extreme historical circumstances of the 20th century have led to the flourishing of dystopian literature. Dystopias usually extrapolate elements of contemporary society and function as a warning against some modern trend, often the threat of oppressive regimes in one form or another. In Orwell's "Animal Farm" and Golding’s "Lord of the Flies", both authors create a dystopia; however the intention of the characters originally was to create a perfect society. But Golding and Orwell are trying to convey that society will always be corrupt and a utopia can never be achieved, as in both novels the "uncorrupted" leaders who begin with good intentions soon spiral out of control with their want of power and control. In "Animal Farm", this process happens gradually with the changing of the seven commandments by Napoleon to justify his own behaviour which at the beginning of the revolution he outlined as enemy traits. For example, the sixth commandment is "No animal shall kill any other animal" but Squealer changes this to 'No animal shall kill any other animal without cause’. After Napoleon executes animals that were allegedly plotting against him, also when Boxer is injured Napoleon sells him to a glue factory to be slaughtered. In response to the question both novels can seen as using allergory to criticise society in the time they were written. Though "Lord of the flies" is fictional its exploration of violence and brutality can be seen as partly based on Golding's experience of World War II. In relation to "Animal Farm" the novel reflects events leading up to and during the Stalin era before World War II.
There are several metaphors in “Animal Farm” which refer to the Russian Revolution and demonstrate how a dream of freedom can soon turn
Many critics have argued that several extreme historical circumstances of the 20th century have led to the flourishing of dystopian literature. Dystopias usually extrapolate elements of contemporary society and function as a warning against some modern trend, often the threat of oppressive regimes in one form or another. In Orwell's "Animal Farm" and Golding’s "Lord of the Flies", both authors create a dystopia; however the intention of the characters originally was to create a perfect society. But Golding and Orwell are trying to convey that society will always be corrupt and a utopia can never be achieved, as in both novels the "uncorrupted" leaders who begin with good intentions soon spiral out of control with their want of power and control. In "Animal Farm", this process happens gradually with the changing of the seven commandments by Napoleon to justify his own behaviour which at the beginning of the revolution he outlined as enemy traits. For example, the sixth commandment is "No animal shall kill any other animal" but Squealer changes this to 'No animal shall kill any other animal without cause’. After Napoleon executes animals that were allegedly plotting against him, also when Boxer is injured Napoleon sells him to a glue factory to be slaughtered. In response to the question both novels can seen as using allergory to criticise society in the time they were written. Though "Lord of the flies" is fictional its exploration of violence and brutality can be seen as partly based on Golding's experience of World War II. In relation to "Animal Farm" the novel reflects events leading up to and during the Stalin era before World War II.
There are several metaphors in “Animal Farm” which refer to the Russian Revolution and demonstrate how a dream of freedom can soon turn