In Octavia Butler's apocalyptic rendition of the American future, does include a problematic government that operates more obviously as a criminal organization, but because their is no facade of perfection being publicised by the government, and because most of the population does not subscribe to the view that their larger society and government operate at or near near perfection. In fact, many feel that the government is virtually powerless to improve their life. For this reason, the novel can’t be seen as a dystopian…
To begin with, the trademark of a dystopian society is that the people believe, or the government wants the people to believe, that they live in a utopian society. That is not the situation in the current western society, I think. I, for one, am very much aware of the problems and injustices within our society. Thanks to social media every single…
Ideas surrounding utopian and dystopian societies are popular because they show readers a worst case scenario for the future without having to live through it, an example of this worst case scenario in writing is the story “Harrison Bergeron” which is about a dystopian society where the majority of the population believes that they live in a utopian society. The government achieved this “utopia” by making the citizens equal and this means bringing those who are above average down, through handicaps; which limits those qualities that made them above average. In “Harrison Bergeron” the worst case scenario is the handicaps and everyone being average, or as they believe, everyone is equal, ”THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They…
Dystopia challenges utopia's fundamental assumption of human perfectibility. Imagine a world where everything was equal and there were no problems in life. Humans thrive to make a world like this one, but haven't succeeded because of greed. This is how dystopias are formed and humans have made multiple of them. In the article “Gaza: The Makings of a Modern Day Dystopia,” It shows that there are still people battling poverty, violence, prejudice, intimidation, hunger, etc. In the short story “Harrison Bergeron” It shows that the government had more power than the people. The societal conditions that perpetuate both dystopias is violence which was created by the ruling powers wanting more control than…
According to Gregory S. Kavka, “government is necessary to constrain people’s conduct toward one another, because people are not sufficiently virtuous to exercise the requisite degree of control on their own” (G. Kavka). In other words, government is created to control the faults of human nature for example, greediness and unfairness. “Framing a government which is to be administered by men over men” (R. Higgs). However, government is made of men with human faults and will act selfishly for their own gain if necessary. This is why constraints are put on government systems preventing absolute power to reign over citizens. If men were born without faults, if men were born perfect,…
“to what extent do the actions of utopian societies in their attempt to create a perfect world rather creates a dystopia”…
A utopian society is generalized as a world where everything is perfect to near-perfect with little room for flaws or errors. The polar opposite however, a dystopian society, is a society where everything from freedom and justice has completely become irrelevant, where everything is undesirable and frightening. One source that will be used is Kurt Vonnegut’s short story; Harrison Bergeron which has very contrasting themes depending on individual perspective. The thing with these societies is that more often than not,they are based around individual perspective. Much like journalism and overall modern media, perspectives will revolve around bias. It is that bias that settles the debate between the two societies commonly used in fictional novels,…
In dystopian novels, it’s very common that society is rather corrupted, restricted, and unfree. Citizens are expected to follow orders without a second thought and behave like everyone else. Nonetheless, these dystopias are treated as if they are perfect and ideal. Why do these troubled societies are appear to be perfect? Is it because they appear to be the best option as other countries are even more corrupted? Are citizens brainwashed into believing that their homeland is as idealistic? Or is it the denial telling these residents that there is nothing fundamentally wrong in paradise? Maybe the reasons are all of the questions previously asked. One thing is for sure – ideal utopias are never what they appear…
A Utopia turned wrong would cause suspicion, discomfort, curiosity, anger, malevolent behavior and all loss for true love. Riots would occur turning civilized people to become savages and barbarians. Half of this is true for the country of Oceania. A Utopia that is not so perfect is depicted in George Orwell's famous novel, 1984. Some citizens are turned against the government and its officials when they discover the falsehoods and corrupt ideas of their Utopian government. Oceania citizen Winston Smith discovers the many false aspect of his society and tries to rise against this tainted government. The citizens of Oceania are stuck in helpless situations full of insane laws, are punished cruelly by a controlling government, and are ripped of their privacy and individualism.…
He describes it as a reflection of our own human nature. If man is naturally dominant, greedy, and controlling, in turn government will be as well. If I had to answer his question, I would say government is what keeps order and justice. Though, this is not always a guarantee because every man, political view, and judgement varies. There is no guarantee in government. In general, I feel government is starting to overstep their line and boundaries. They are beginning to overstep their place too much, possibly due to the general voting public not participating at all. Allowing, government to step in even…
“Every daring attempt to make great change in existing conditions, every lofty vision of new possibilities for the human race, has been labeled Utopian,” In order to have a perfect society, change for the greater good need to be made.Unfortunately, instead of a Utopian society, it becomes a dystopian society. The reason that Utopian societies are bad is because everyone has to be equal for no one is better, and all autonomy is lost.…
The year is 2085, twenty prolonged years have gone by since the explosion of the A-14 EMP device went off in earths crust surrounding the United States of America. The United States of America that is now split into two parsimonious parts, one named the New California Public, while the other the Enclave. The A-14 EMP was set of as a terrorist attack against the United States by the combined forces of Russia and China. The reasoning behind their madness was the everlasting debt the United States owed to them as the years matured. Since 2025, the United States had been fighting with themselves in a money crisis that seemed interminable. The presidential system was terminated by the year 2039, when President George F. Peterson caused another 4.2 Trillion Dollars in debt towards the Soviets. And by 2055 hints of war began to strike between United States and China. What sooned followed after was China becoming complete allies with the Russian forces. 2065 was when the devastation occurred. Every since that day the remaining creatures in the United States have fought to survive. The world they once knew has become a waring fight for survival. With the new split in the United States the people are worrying when a feud will occur, and also which side to stand for.…
According to Thomas Paine, “society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil.”…
I do not accept the motto. –“That government is best which governs least.” Government is a completely necessary institution. Without it, nations would crumble, famine would flourish, and massacres would occur daily. Of course it would be nice if humans didn’t need government, if men’s moral compasses all pointed in the same (correct) general direction. But they do not. It is just a far-fetched fantasy of perfection, it is impractical. Which is why government is necessary, and if it is to function, its citizens must obey its laws.…
Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer.…