Stephanie Meyer is a dystopian science fiction story about non-demonic possession. In the novel, a young woman named Melanie is forcibly possessed by the alien soul of a being known as 'anderer.' The planet earth has been overtaken by the 'Souls,' and Melanie is one of the few real human beings who remain. The alien invaders have no bodies themselves, and must live as parasites within the bodies of other living beings. anderer is an old soul and has lived on many planets in many bodies. However, Melanie is determined to resist the attempt of anderer to assimilate her personality. Eventually, anderer becomes fascinated with Melanie's old life and goes to seek out Melanie's old love interest, Jared. anderer is resisted by members of the group of humans who see her as an interloper. However, eventually she develops a love interest which creates a conflict between anderer, Jared, and…...
mlaWork Cited
Meyer, Stephanie. The Host. New York: Little, Brown, & Company, 2010.
Ruth from the dystopian novel, Never Let Me Go, is a character that first appears dominant and extroverted. "I knew exactly what she'd meant by her answer and smile: she was claiming the pencil case was a gift from Miss Geraldine. There could no mistake about this because it has been building up for weeks." (Ishiguro 52) She lies about where she got her pencil case to Kathy and begins a romantic relationship with Tommy even though it is Kathy and Tommy who truly feel a connection. She seems rude and self-centered, wondering who her parents were or who she was cloned from, always wanting to impress the veterans and even getting rid of the art collection from the other students because she thought that would help her fit in. But how does this fit in with the reader's perception of her? She is supposed to represent the struggle and…...
mlaWorks Cited
Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Print.
Homeland Security / Constitutional Issues
Civil Liberties: These are fundamental freedoms interpreted by policymakers and courts over the years or assured by the Constitutional Bill of ights (Pearcy, 2003-2016).
Bill of ights: This is an official statement of American citizens' fundamental rights, integrated into the U.S. Constitution in the form of ten Amendments, as well as into the constitutions of all states (Bill of rights, n.d.).
Thought Police: This denotes a cluster of individuals holding totalitarian views regarding a particular subject, and who continuously keep an eye on others for noting any deviations from the way of thinking approved (Thought Police, n.d.).
Thought Crime: This refers to a case of controversial or unconventional thinking, which is regarded as socially unacceptable or as a crime (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016).
Big Brother: A 'big brother' is an ever-present, apparently benevolent personage who represents the tyrannical control over the lives of individuals as exerted by a government of an…...
mlaReferences
Bill of rights. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved May 21, 2016 from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bill-of-rights
IndiaAllouche. (2012). 1984 Dystopian Society. Writing About Literature. Retrieved May 21, 2016 from http://12fwritingaboutliterature.blogspot.in/2012/10/1984-dystopian-society.html
Nolo. (2016). Appeals and the Writ of Habeas Corpus FAQ. Retrieved May 21, 2016 from http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/appeals-writ-habeas-corpus-faq-29096-5.html
Oxford Dictionaries. (2016). Thought Crime. Retrieved May 21, 2016 from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/thoughtcrime
Essay Topic Examples
1. The Evolution of Katniss Everdeen: A Character Analysis:
This essay would explore the changes in Katniss Everdeen's character throughout 'The Hunger Games' trilogy. The focus would be on analyzing key events that contribute to her development, her relationships with other characters, and the factors that define her as a symbol of rebellion and resilience.
2. The Role of Government and ropaganda in 'The Hunger Games':
This topic examines the methods used by the government of anem to control and manipulate its citizens. The essay would analyze the influence of propaganda in maintaining power, as well as the media's role in shaping perceptions and the implications for personal freedom and civil liberties.
3. The Socioeconomic Divide of anem: Disparities and Injustice:
This essay would discuss the stark socioeconomic disparities between the districts and the Capitol in 'The Hunger Games.' It would delve into the injustices faced by…...
mlaPrimary Sources
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic Press, 2008.
Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Scholastic Press, 2009.Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. Scholastic Press, 2010.The Hunger Games. Directed by Gary Ross, performances by Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth, Lionsgate, 2012.The Hunger Games Official Illustrated Movie Companion. By Kate Egan, Scholastic, 2012.
Vogt, Ellison and Arendt
The idea of a utopian society, a perfect Eden, has been a recurring theme in human literature, philosophy, religion, and commentary almost from the beginning of civilization. This recurrent theme is no accident: most cultures have, as a basis for their creation mythos, a utopian view of either the pre-human world or the post-human world. Sociological, this is a functionalist approach that serves to "validate, support, and imprint the norms of a give, specific moral order" and to authorize its moral code "as a construct beyond criticism and human emendation" (Campbell and Fairchild 221).
In opposition, a dystopia, becomes part of the anti-heroic paradigm in that all the benefits of an overall utopian society are almost backwards. hat was good, now seems evil, what was light, dark. Political philosopher Hannah Arendt, in Ideology and Terror: A New Form of Government, sees one of the maxims of the 20th…...
mlaWorks Cited
Arendt, H. "Ideology and Terror: A Novel Form of Government." June 2004. Cooper.edu. May 2011 .
Campbell, J. And J. Fairchild. Myths to Live By. New York: Penguin, 1993.
Ellison, H. "Repent Harlequin! Said the Ticktock Man." Ellison, H. Troublemakers: Stories by Harlan Ellison. New York: IBooks, 2001.
Van Vogt, A. "The Weapon Shop." The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. 1. Ed. R. Silverberg. New York: Orb Books, 2005.
Science Fiction Stories -- Comparisons / Contrasts
all-E & Blade Runner -- Utopia vs. Dystopia
The two well-known science fiction films that are critiqued in this paper -- all-E and Blade Runner -- will be critiqued and contrasted as to the following dichotomies: utopia and dystopia; technophobia and technophilia; and futurity and nostalgia. Thesis: these films both delve into the potentially disastrous environmental future for the planet, and each in its own way provides an alternative future.
all-E and Utopia: This ravaged planet is no utopia in the traditional sense, for sure, but all-E has evolved over the past 700 years; some kind of mutation perhaps is what has allowed him to survive in a highly radioactive environment. To survive alone with the exception of a cockroach (which is one of the few species that can survive horrendous polluting events like radiation) is proof of his survivability. After all, utopia is always…...
mlaWorks Cited
Bennett, Jane. The Enchantment of Modern life: Attachments, Crossings, and Ethics.
Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 2001.
Brooker, Will. The Blade Runner Experience: The Legacy of a Science Fiction Classic. New York: Columbia University Press, 2013.
Jenkins, Mary. "The Dystopian World of Blade Runner: An Ecofeminist Perspective. The Trumpeter Journal of Ecosphy. Retrieved May 12, 2014, from http://trumpeter.athabascau.ca .
Essay Topic Examples
1. The Role of Dystopian Worlds in Science Fiction Narratives:
Explore how science fiction stories use dystopian settings to critique contemporary social, political, and technological trends. Examine the effectiveness of this narrative tool in both its warning and didactic capacities by analyzing specific examples from classic and modern sci-fi works.
2. The Evolution of Science Fiction Space Travel: From Early Speculations to Modern Depictions:
Delve into the progression of space travel in science fiction literature and film, highlighting how scientific advancements and cultural shifts have influenced the portrayal of interstellar exploration. Assess how earlier speculative works have paved the way for more scientifically rigorous portrayals of space travel in recent stories.
3. The Intersection of Science Fiction and hilosophy: Examining Existential Themes:
Investigate how science fiction stories engage with philosophical questions concerning existence, consciousness, and the nature of…...
mlaPrimary Sources
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones, 1818.
Wells, H.G. The War of the Worlds. William Heinemann, 1898.Asimov, Isaac. Foundation. Gnome Press, 1951.Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. Ballantine Books, 1953.Le Guin, Ursula K. The Left Hand of Darkness. Ace Books, 1969.
His most famous work is his Utopia, a book in which he created his version of a perfect society and gave his name to such conceptions ever after as "utopias." The word is of Greek origin, a play on the Greek word eutopos, meaning "good place." In the book, More describes a pagan and communist city-state in which the institutions and policies are governed entirely by reason. The order and dignity of the state in this book contrasted sharply with the reality of statecraft in Christian Europe at the time, a region divided by self-interest and greed for power and riches. The book was also an expression of More's form of Humanism (Maynard 41). The term can also have broader application as a reference to any plans of government or schemes for social improvement which present the possibilities of a good society.
The society depicted in Never Let Me Go…...
mlaWorks Cited
Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. New York: Vintage Books, 2005.
Maynard, Theodore. Humanist as Hero: The Life of Sir Thomas More. New York: Macmillan, 1947.
Alphaville
Analysis of Godard's Alphaville
French New ave cinema emerged during the 1950s and was inspired by the criticism of Andre Bazin and Jacques Donial-Valcroze who helped to found Cahiers du Cinema. The Cahiers du Cinema helped to establish two filmmaking philosophies that would help to guide New ave auteurs in the creation of their films. Additionally, New ave directors would also establish a set of guidelines that would help to classify their films as part of the New ave movement. Among the founders of the New ave movement was Jean-Luc Godard whose films not only adhere to the guidelines of the movement, but also push the boundaries and allow him to use his films to explore politics, genres, and cinematic styles. Alphaville, released in 1965, not only follows the guidelines that were established by the New ave movement, but also brings together the genres of film noir and science fiction…...
mlaWorks Cited
Alphaville. Dir. Jean-Luc Godard. France: Athos Films, 1965. Motion Picture.
Phillips, Craig. "French New Wave." Green Cine. 2005. Web. Accessed 8 April 2012.
"Retrofuturism." 25 March 2007. Web. Accessed 8 April 2012.
Spicer, Andrew. Film Noir. New York: Pearson Education, 2002. Print.
Science fiction and horror both offer narrative closure and "the restoration of the social order," as does Repo Men, only in this case the social order being preserved is completely amoral and evil (Grant 21). It does not end with the monster or alien menace defeated, like Independence Day, Star ars, Terminator or The ar of the orlds, but just a literal return to the
6
status quo and business as usual. Repo Men is definitely not an adolescent or 'infantilized' film, with heavy reliance on special effects and light and magic shows, nor do the good guys win in the end -- insofar as there are any good guys at all. It has no real hope or comport to offer, and n this absolutely dehumanized world of the future that lacks redeeming features of any kind, Remy's fantasy existence might actually be preferable to 'reality'. Thus the film is also…...
mlaWORKS CITED
Grant, Barry Keith. "Sensuous Elaboration': Reason and the Visible in Science Fiction Film" in Redmond, Sean (ed). Liquid Metal: The Science Fiction Film Reader. Wallflower Press, 2004: 17-23.
Landsberg, Alison. "Prosthetic Memory: Total Recall and Blade Runner" in Ballard, David and Barbara M. Kennedy (eds). The Cybercultures Reader, Second Edition. Routledge, 2007: 286-96.
Milner, Andrew. "Dark City: Urban Dystopia and Science Fiction Cinema." International Journal of Cultural Studies, 7(3) 2004: 259-79.
Sobchak, Victoria. "Images of Wonder: The Look of Science Fiction" in Liquid Metal: 4-10.
Octavia Butler's novel Parable of the Sower depicts an America that has crumbled into complete chaos and disarray. ithin the dystopia of 2024, Lauren Olamina reflects on her family background and her past in order to help create a more ideal future for humanity. The key to the future is liberation, both personal and political. Therefore, the message of Parable of the Sower is revolutionary. Lauren does not just need to be a true leader; she needs to change what it means to be human. Butler reportedly said about the potential for female heroines to create a utopian society out of the ashes of the patriarchal dystopia: "I don't believe that imperfect humans can form a perfect society," (Zaki 239). Butler does not expect Lauren and the Earthseed community to become a Utopia because no matter how revolutionary and idealistic she might be, Lauren remains constrained by her past and…...
mlaWorks Cited
Barr, Marleen. Lost in Space. UNC Press, 1993.
Butler, Octavia. Parable of the Sower. New York: Warner, 2000.
Miller, Gavin. "Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower." In Hoagland and Sarwal (Eds.) Science Fiction, Imperialism, and the Third World. McFarland, 2010, pp. 202-213.
Salvaggio, Ruth. "Octavia Butler and the Black Science Fiction Heroine." Black American Literature Forum, Vol. 18, No. 2, 1984, pp. 78-81.
hile the system is not exactly the same as that described in e, the result is much more dramatic, since a far greater number of Americans are disenfranchised.
As I mentioned above, e was not the first dystopian work that I encountered. However, it was the first dystopian work that I encountered, for the first time, in a post 9-11 world. hat shocked me was not how far OneState was from modern American society, but the startling similarities that the two share. hile modern life is not strictly limited in by tables and graphs, personal liberties have been restricted at an alarming rate. This is not mitigated by the fact that the trend in the last 75 years had been an increase in personal liberties. A free society is characterized by an expansion of civil liberties. For example, most democracies begin with powerful males having the right to vote, and…...
mlaWorks Cited
Zamyatin, Evgeny. We. Trans. Clarence Brown. New York: Penguin Books, 1993.
Whatever happened you vanished, and neither you nor your actions were ever heard of again" (Orwell, 1949, p.168).
Capitalism
Principles of mass production are very clear in the novels. Huxley for instance, applied the idea of mass production in human reproduction, since the people has abandoned the natural method of reproduction. Mass production as the conventional feature of capitalism and Huxley's novel reinforces such. He talked about the requirement of the World State about constant consumption, which is considered as foundation of its stability. Huxley apparently criticizes the commercial dependence of the world towards goods. Conditioning centers teaches people to consume. Orwell similarly provides criticism to capitalism as well: "The centuries of capitalism were held to have produced nothing of any value." The Proles are the symbols of the capitalist system as they constitute the working class who work in assembly lines.
Destruction of the concept of family
oth novels dispose the concept…...
mlaBibliography
Bessa, Maria de Fatima (2007). Individuation in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Island: Jungian and Post-Jungian Perspectives. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
Beniger, James K. (1986) the Control Revolution. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 61.
Greenberg, Martin H., Joseph D. Olander and Eric S. Robbon. No Place Else: Expectations in Utopian and Dystopian Fiction. Southern Illinois: University Press, 1983. 29-97.
Grieder, Peter. "In Defense of Totalitarianism Theory as a Tool of Historical Scholarship" Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions 8.314 (September 2007) Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Grace Van Dyke Bird Library, Bakersfield, CA. 15 November 2008 ( http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct-true&db=aph&an=27009808&site=ehost-live .
Power and the Use of Language, Orwell's 1984 And Beyond
George Orwell's 1949 dystopian novel 1984 has become almost iconoclastic in its meaning for contemporary society. Almost like the term Machiavellianism, 1984 evokes images in popular culture, along with the author's name as an adjective, and phrases that were used in the book. Even the term "Orwellian" denotes a certain type of society; phrases like "Big Brother," "Newspeak," "Thought-Police," etc. are now part of the vocabulary when describing totalitarian regimes. The novel's premise has become part of a modern archetype, imitated on television, popular music, movies, and even one of the most popular advertisements ever made, the 1984 launch of Apple's Macintosh.
Nineteen Eighty-Four focuses on a new type of society -- repressive, totalitarian, staunch, all-powerful, all knowing, oligarchical, and pervasive. The novel's main character, Winston Smith, is a simple civil servant assigned to the daily task of perpetuating the regime's history…...
mlaREFERENCES
Orwell, G. (1990). 1984. New York: Penguin Books.
Rai, A. (1990). Orwell and the Politics of Despair. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wain, J. (1978). Essays on Literature and Ideas. Santa Barbara: Greenwood Press.
In stark contrast to Hemmingway's Old Man and the Sea is Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron which is not only set in the future, but a bleak, tyrannical, almost farcical future. 2081 is not a year in which any sane person would hope to see if Vonnegut's future comes true; it is a dystopian future where everyone if forced to be equal, no matter how ridiculous the attempt to do so. The Bergeron's, George, Hazel, and their son Harrison live in a world where intelligent people have buzzers in their heads to keep them from being too smart, while beautiful people must wear masks to cover their faces so other, less attractive people don't feel bad. As Vonnegut himself stated "Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else." (Vonnegut) Every natural advantage is handicapped by the government to make everyone exactly equal. And everyone seems content…...
mlaWorks Cited
Hemmingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Germany: Max Hueber. 1960. Print.
Johnson, Samuel. "Preface to Shakespeare." Rutgers University.
Andromeda.Rutgers.edu. Web. 25 Mar. 2012.
1. The symbolism of the caged bird in Maya Angelou's autobiographical work, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
2. The theme of captivity and freedom in Harper Lee's novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird."
3. Analyzing the oppression and confinement of women in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper."
4. The symbolism of the birdcage in Henrik Ibsen's play, "A Doll's House," in relation to gender roles and societal expectations.
5. Comparing the experiences of the caged birds in Richard Wright's novel, "Native Son," and Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, "The Handmaid's Tale."
6. Exploring the theme of captivity and liberation in Jean Rhys's....
1. Analyze the role of gender in classic literature
2. Explore the theme of love and loss in Shakespeare’s works
3. Compare and contrast the portrayal of society in 19th century British novels
4. Discuss the use of symbolism in modern literature
5. Examine the impact of historical events on literature from different time periods
6. Interpret the significance of the hero’s journey in epic literature
7. Investigate the role of race and ethnicity in contemporary literature
8. Analyze the representation of mental illness in literature
9. Explore the theme of identity and self-discovery in coming-of-age novels
10. Discuss the evolution of the anti-hero in literary works.
11. Investigate the....
Thesis Statement:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury serves as a potent critique of societal trends prevalent in the mid-20th century, warning against the dangers of censorship, the erosion of critical thinking, and the unchecked influence of technology on our lives.
Introduction:
Amidst the ashes of a dystopian future, Fahrenheit 451 paints a grim tapestry of a society where knowledge and intellectual freedom are ruthlessly extinguished. Firefighters, once guardians of safety, have become agents of censorship, tasked with incinerating books and extinguishing any embers of independent thought. The novel's protagonist, Montag, initially embraces this duty but gradually awakens to the horrors it perpetuates. Through....
1. "The Great Gatsby"
This title is appropriate because it reflects the grandeur and extravagance of the Roaring Twenties setting in which the novel takes place. The character of Jay Gatsby is also seen as a larger-than-life figure, embodying both the glitz and glamour of the time period as well as the darker themes of wealth, power, and unattainable dreams.
2. "To Kill a Mockingbird"
This title is appropriate because it symbolizes the innocence and vulnerability of the characters in the story, particularly the unjustly accused Tom Robinson and the misunderstood Boo Radley. The metaphor of killing a mockingbird emphasizes the theme....
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now