Dystopia AO5
Utopia vs Dystopia
Krishnan Kumar: ordinary life as utopia
“in anti-utopia, ordinary life can itself become utopia”
- Offred craves glimpses of normality as others crave the perfect utopian society.
- The ordinary past provides the utopian space within Atwood's critical dystopia
Northrop Frye:
The utopian writer uncovers the significant elements of their society
“the utopia itself shows what society would be like if those elements were fully
developed”
Fiona Nolan:
Much of Aunt Lydia's language ironically echoes the slogans of early utopian
feminism: “For the women that come after, Aunt Lydia said, it will be so much
better. The women will live in harmony together.”
o Atwood demonstrates how “the dystopia realizes utopian ends by
unexpected means.”
1984
James Schellenberg (author and professor):
“This Big Brother society is too well-constructed to break apart in the face of one
man's resistance.”
"When he asks O'Brien the question of “why?”, the answer is as blunt as could be
imagined: power for the sake of power. And we are confronted, not with some
abstract homily about absolute power, but the reality of complete and utter social
power perpetuating itself, confident of its own immortality."
Sian Norris:
“Julia will never love Big Brother as Winston does. She might betray her lover, but
she remains a force the Party can never control.”
Utopia vs Dystopia
Krishnan Kumar: ordinary life as utopia
“in anti-utopia, ordinary life can itself become utopia”
- Offred craves glimpses of normality as others crave the perfect utopian society.
- The ordinary past provides the utopian space within Atwood's critical dystopia
Northrop Frye:
The utopian writer uncovers the significant elements of their society
“the utopia itself shows what society would be like if those elements were fully
developed”
Fiona Nolan:
Much of Aunt Lydia's language ironically echoes the slogans of early utopian
feminism: “For the women that come after, Aunt Lydia said, it will be so much
better. The women will live in harmony together.”
o Atwood demonstrates how “the dystopia realizes utopian ends by
unexpected means.”
1984
James Schellenberg (author and professor):
“This Big Brother society is too well-constructed to break apart in the face of one
man's resistance.”
"When he asks O'Brien the question of “why?”, the answer is as blunt as could be
imagined: power for the sake of power. And we are confronted, not with some
abstract homily about absolute power, but the reality of complete and utter social
power perpetuating itself, confident of its own immortality."
Sian Norris:
“Julia will never love Big Brother as Winston does. She might betray her lover, but
she remains a force the Party can never control.”
