Dystopia : Meaning, Importance, Writing Tips & Examples

What Does ‘Dystopia’ Mean?

'Dystopia' refers to a fictional world in which people live under oppression or fear. Often considered the opposite of 'utopia' or a world where everything is perfect, and people are happy, a dystopian world is characterized by the abysmal conditions in which people live.

The word ‘dystopia’ is the combination of the Greek words "dys", meaning "abnormal", and "topos", meaning "place." That's why, in most dystopian fiction, authors depict people living under a totalitarian government or in a post-apocalyptic world where people are barely able to survive.

Importance of ‘Dystopia’ in Fiction

One of the most celebrated dystopian authors, Margaret Atwood, views dystopian literature as a means to tap into future possibilities. Such works are often used to warn people of the dangers that lie ahead.

The base of most dystopian literature lies in real-life fears. It is up to the authors to identify that fear and present a future possibility where that fear comes true.

For example, some dystopian stories deal with a strict totalitarian government. As government control over people’s lives keep increasing, the question that’s bound to arise is, “What happens when the government has complete control over citizens?”

The answer is presented in George Orwell’s 1984, where Big Brother keeps a watchful eye on every minute movement of the citizens. Or take Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron, where the government handicaps people with above-average intelligence, strength and beauty to create a "perfectly average" society where no one is above the other.

Some dystopian novels present a society where there is no governmental control. In such a world, confusion and anarchy rule all. With no laws to govern people’s actions, every day becomes a struggle to survive.

As global warming and abnormal climate become serious concerns in everyday life, several authors visualize a world in which human beings are completely cut off from nature. After draining all of the earth's natural resources, human beings have no option but to live in a society devoid of the earth's blessings.

Thus, dystopian literature act as a warning and a wake-up call for people to take action against the real-life issues highlighted in the stories. Through such literature, authors encourage discussion of uncomfortable yet crucial issues that people would have otherwise swept under the rug.

Writing Tips to Compose the Perfect Dystopian Story

Writing dystopian fiction is quite different to composing normal fiction. Here are some helpful tips that can make this journey easier.

1. Inject realism in your story

A close look at dystopian fiction, movies or video games makes it apparent that the stories aren’t set in a fairy tale world where dragons or unicorns exist. The world might be fictional, but there is realism that grounds it and makes it easier for the readers to relate to the story.

Dystopian literature is often an exaggeration of a real problem. If you’re able to identify the issues that might cause concern, you can create a believable world for the readers.

2. Incorporate literary devices

Dystopian literature often incorporates literary devices, such as symbolism, to convey its themes. For example, in The Hunger Games, the mockingjay becomes a symbol of resistance. In the story, the mockingjay is a result of a failed experiment by the Capitol. This bird eventually becomes a symbol of the Capitol’s failure to control the citizens as they rise in revolt against its atrocities.

Similarly, in Harrison Bergeron, the television is a recurring symbol of the government's control over the citizens. The television is a constant presence throughout the story. The government uses it to lull the citizens into a state of stupor so that they don't indulge in critical thinking. It is also a means to warn the citizens of the grave consequences of revolting against the government through Harrison's murder.

3. Put thought into your characters

Complex characters are vital to any dystopian literature. In order to make the readers relate to the character, you must hash out their fears, motivations and hopes. A multifaceted character isn’t one without flaws. After all, no human is perfect. Readers cannot relate to a character that is absolutely good. That's why you'll find many people relating to and even rooting for well-written villains. When a character is flawed, you can create multiple opportunities for them to overcome obstacles and grow as a person.

You can also make your characters overcome external and internal conflicts. Examples of external conflict would be protesting a totalitarian government or rising against anarchy. Meanwhile, internal conflicts occur in the minds of the character. Perhaps your protagonist might initially conform to the rules of the totalitarian government but later start questioning them.

4. Figure out the inherent message

There is always an inherent message hidden behind every dystopian novel. For example, George Orwell’s 1984 is a blatant political statement that warns people against the bleak consequences of a totalitarian government. In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins highlights how the Capitol keeps the districts distracted by the gladiator-like games to prevent them from thinking too about the atrocious conditions in which the lower districts live. It is a critical commentary on how governments across the world keep their citizens distracted to prevent them from questioning real issues like poverty and exploitation.

The success of dystopian literature depends primarily on your world-building ability. If you can create a memorable world of distorted reality and sprinkle in some round characters the readers can root for, you’ve got the makings of a perfect dystopian novel on your hands. View Examples

Examples of Dystopian Fiction

The rise of dystopian literature during the early twentieth century owes much to the utopian literature that came before it. With two world wars looming on the horizon in this time of political unrest, Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We, published in 1921, set the stage for the emergence of some exceptional dystopian literature.

1. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451

In Fahrenheit 451, published in 1953, Bradbury presents a futuristic dystopian world in which firefighters burn books. The burning of these books represents the death of creative and individual thinking and is inspired by governmental censorship of books. The totalitarian rule in this society is characterized by complete political control over citizens to prevent them from learning or gathering the means to question the government.

2. Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron

Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron, published in 1961, is a satirical commentary on a society where everyone is equal. In order to eliminate individualism and create a fair world where no one is better than the other, the government forces people to wear handicaps.

Those with above-average intelligence must wear transmitters through which the government sends shrill noises every twenty seconds to prevent the citizens from thinking too deeply. Those with above-average beauty are required to put on masks, fake noses, teeth coverings, etc., and those with above-average strength must carry heavy weight around their necks.

In this dystopian society, Harrison Bergeron, a young boy with exceptional looks, strength and intelligence, declares himself the emperor and publicly defies the government. However, the government makes a public example of him by broadcasting his death to warn others about the consequences of expressing their individualism.

3. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale by Canadian author Margaret Atwood published in 1985, presents a dystopian society called the Republic of Gilead where a totalitarian government rules the country following the ideals of Puritanism. In this society, women are constantly subjugated to patriarchal rule and are victims of objectification and physical and sexual violence.

Women are not allowed education, have restricted rights, and must follow strict color-coded dresses to help people identify their role in society. In the Republic of Gilead, women are divided into categories – chaste, housekeepers, childless wives, and handmaids (those who can bear children for the childless wives). In this dystopian society, women have no rights over their own bodies or reproduction.

In addition to this bleak picture of women’s position in society, Atwood presents a frightening image of what happens to those who do not conform to this total subjugation. Those who do not agree with the government and voice out their protests are either executed or exiled to The Colonies, a radioactive wasteland.

4. Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games takes place in Panem, which rose out of the ashes of North America after it was destroyed due to several catastrophes and disasters. In the world of The Hunger Games, the government has complete control over the ‘Capitol’ and the twelve districts. Originally, there were thirteen districts, but when the 13^th district revolted against the Capitol, it was completely destructed. As a punishment and reminder of the consequences of going against the government, the Hunger Games came into existence.

Each district must send one boy and one girl to compete in the gladiator-like fights. For the “tributes,” it is life and death because there can be only one winner. But for the people in the Capitol, it is nothing more than their yearly entertainment.

5. George Orwell’s 1984

Published in 1949, George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 is one of the most renowned works in this genre. In the story, Orwell presents a society in which people’s thoughts and actions are constantly monitored and controlled by Big Brother. The world has been reduced to only three totalitarian states – Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. The protagonist of the novel, Winston Smith, lives in Oceania, and his responsibilities include changing historical facts, censoring information, destroying evidence and deleting people who go against The Party and Big Brother.

In this world, “ignorance is strength,” and those who present a hint of anti-government sentiment are taken away by the Thought Police, who have planted microphones in all places to detect spies and criminals. The citizens do not have any right to free will or freedom of expression, private life or personal thoughts. In fact, in this horrific world, children spy on their parents and report them to the police if they go against Big Brother.

6. George Orwell’s Animal Farm

Animal Farm has all the characteristics of a textbook dystopian novel. The concept of Animalism in the story emerged from Old Major's ideals of 'for the animals, by the animals.' However, like most revolutions, pure ideals are corrupted due to the selfish desires of a few.

Napoleon, the Pig and his ally Snowball manipulate the ideals of Animalism to create better conditions for pigs instead of all the animals on the farm. The manipulation begins in the form of some mantras or commandments that the animals must follow, which progressively increase to benefit the pigs. Finally, the pigs lead all the animals to their slaughter.

The story ends with a modification to the commandments, with the last commandment stating that "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." The animals, who had once decided to create an equal society free of classes and leaders, now serve the pigs who live in the farmhouse, enacting the lives of the humans. Only those animals who remember their lives before the revolution know that their lives are worse than before.

7. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies

In Lord of the Flies, William Golding presents a dystopian society where a group of young school boys find themselves stranded on an island without adult supervision and slowly regress back to their primitive nature without the laws of society to hold them back.

The boys try to maintain the semblance of civilized society but soon descend into a nightmarish society because of the inherent flaws in their characters. Freedom of speech, democracy and free will take a back seat as the younger boys give in to mass hysteria and kill their friends who do not conform to the rules of the horrific society they have created.

In conclusion,

Dystopian literature grasps the harsh realities of modern life and presents a world where the problem is amplified to an extreme. Hunger, poverty, governmental control, censorship, environmental destruction and rapid technological advancements are some of the leading concerns in the modern world. Authors of dystopian literature use their works to warn people of the imminent danger that lies ahead by presenting a hypothetical futuristic reality.