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Understanding Dystopian Literature
Legend
Defining Utopia and Dystopia
Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and
conditions.
Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive (cruel, harsh, unfair) societal control
and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, or
moral/religious control.
Types of Dystopian Controls
Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect
society are maintained through one or more of the following types of controls:
• Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising,
and/or the media. Examples include Minority Report.
• Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape,
relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials. Examples include The Hunger Games.
• Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or
scientific means. Examples include The Matrix, The Terminator, and I, Robot.
Characteristics of a Dystopian Society
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The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
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Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.
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Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.
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A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.
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Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
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Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
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Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
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The natural world is banished and distrusted.
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Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.
Characteristics of a Dystopian Novel
Backstory:

Dystopias are often part of a fictional universe, therefore a back story of how this world came
to be or how it evolved (or de-volved) from our current world is necessary.

The back story explains how the shift in control came to occur, with the end result being
changed societal norms or a government now run by corporations, totalitarian dictatorships or
bureaucracies.
Hero: (There are a few different types of hero/protagonist that can occur in dystopian stories.)
“The Emerging Hero”

The protagonist intuitively feels something is wrong with society and sets out to change it,
believing that it is possible to overthrow the dictatorship, or merely escape from the misery.

They often feel trapped and are struggling to escape.

They question the existing social and political systems and believe or feel that something is
terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives.

They help the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or
her perspective.
“The Accepted Hero”

Another common form of protagonist is the high-standing, accepted hero, who is part of the
Utopian perception of the dystopia, but eventually discovers or comes to understand how
wrong society has become and either attempts to change it or destroy it.
Conflict:

Often, the hero meets a person who represents the dystopia, possibly the leader of the society.

In the conflict, the hero meets and is sometimes helped by a group of people who are also
trying to escape or destroy the dystopia.

Sometimes they are people who were once part of the dystopia, but were exiled or have
escaped, or they have created their own society within the dystopia.
Climax:

In dystopian literature, the story is often unresolved.

Often the dystopia is not brought down.

The hero may make their individual stand (or with the group discussed above) and often fails,
but gives hope to others in the dystopia.

Sometimes this climax is the hero's escape from the dystopia (Example: The Giver). Other
times the hero fails to achieve anything and the dystopia continues as before.