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DYSTOPIA IN LITERATURE OF THE 20TH – 21ST CENTURIES
Chjen Yelena Vitalyevna
PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian Language and Literature in NamSU
Аbdullayeva Nigora Аdxamjon qizi
first-year graduate student at the NamSIFL
Annotation:
Dystopia as a literary genre of the 20th and 21st centuries reflects the anxieties and
fears of society about the possible consequences of social, political and technological changes.
At the center of dystopian literature is the image of a dark, often authoritarian or technocratic
future, where human rights and freedoms are under threat. These works are intended to warn
readers about the possible risks of losing moral and spiritual values, dehumanizing society,
destroying nature and strengthening control over the individual. In 20th century literature,
prominent representatives of the genre are George Orwell with his novel "1984", Aldous Huxley
with "Brave New World" and Ray Bradbury with "Fahrenheit 451". These works explore such
themes as totalitarianism, suppression of individuality and the dangers of excessive dependence
on technology. In the 21st century, dystopia continues to develop, reflecting new challenges of
the time. Authors such as Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" and Margaret Atwood's "The
Handmaid's Tale" raise issues of social injustice, gender inequality, environmental disaster and
manipulation of mass consciousness. The article analyzes the origins of the dystopian genre in
Russian literature of the 20th century, the influence of the socialist system on the formation of
this trend, as well as its final formation in R. Bradbury's novel "Fahrenheit 451". Particular
attention is paid to dystopian motifs such as the standardization of life, the strengthening of
consumer sentiments and the dominance of hedonistic values.
Key words
: dystopia, gender, freedom, happiness, consumerism, R. Bradbury.
Introduction
. Literary dystopia as a genre developed in both foreign and Russian literature of
the 20th century. This is linked to changes in social, public, and ideological foundations of
society, as well as historical cataclysms, which provide abundant material for constructing
dystopian world models.
The term "dystopia" is quite conditional. This genre is defined as a "negative utopia," "dystopia"
(from Greek Δυσ "negative" + Greek Τόπος "place," literally "bad place"), or "kakotopia"
(kakotopia or cacotopia from Greek κακός "bad").
Here’s the translation of the characteristics of dystopia as a genre:
1. Depiction of a society built on fear, the suppression of individuality, and complete lack of
personal identity.
2. The absence of personal space for the characters, with total control over all spheres of life
by the state.
3. Ritualization of life: the dystopian society operates within a specific system where
everyone has their designated place.
4. In this fictional universe, the highest virtue on Earth is the ruling power.
5. The collapse of core human values and achievements: destruction of culture, prohibition
of spiritual love, and absence of freedom.
6. The protagonist is eccentric, "different from everyone else": the individual is always
opposed to the society they live in.
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7. The conflict often revolves around the protagonist’s refusal to follow necessary rituals,
which they perceive as unnecessary.
8. Allegorical and symbolic elements.
9. Allusions to utopias or utopian ideas.
10. Chronotope: the action usually takes place in the future.
Genre Diversity of Dystopia.
Dystopia is also a genre that, while having established
fundamentals, possesses two remarkable features:
1. It generates new genres, such as post-apocalyptic or cyberpunk.
2. It
can
mix
genres
and
subgenres
in
limited
ways.
There are many variations, but I will try to highlight some foundations of genre diversity:
3.
"Pure" dystopia
, which appeared in England, is a genre opposite to utopia. It has a
negative beginning, core, and ending. Dystopia is often also called "distopia," and the
terms are considered synonyms.
4.
Distopia
is a realistic satire that has a positive core, a desire to change the world for the
better, and aims to make readers reflect on the issues being ridiculed.
Genres and Subgenres Based on Dominant Themes.
In this case, the dominant thematic or
problem-oriented foundation defines the genre. For example:
Social dystopia
(e.g., "Predatory Things of the Century" by A. and B. Strugatsky)
Social-science fiction dystopia
("Master and Margarita" by M. Bulgakov)
Historical-science fiction dystopia
("Island of Crimea" by Aksyonov)
Satirical dystopia
(e.g., F. Iskander's "Rabbits and Boas," K. Čapek's "War with the
Salamanders," V. Voinovich's "Moscow 2042")
Fantastic dystopia
(e.g., O. Huxley’s "Brave New World," R. Bradbury's "Fahrenheit
451")
"1984" by George Orwell.
One of the most famous dystopias created in the 20th century is the
novel
"1984"
by
English
writer
George
Orwell,
written
in
1948.
In this world, the global landscape is divided into three superpowers: Oceania, Eastasia, and
Eurasia. There are also disputed territories over which these states are in constant warfare.
Oceania is governed by four ministries: Ministry of Plenty, Ministry of Peace, Ministry of Truth,
and Ministry of Love. However, in reality, there is no plenty, peace, truth, or love. Instead, there
are paradoxical slogans: "War is Peace," "Love is Hate," "Truth is Lies."
In this state, everything is strange and terrifying: war is constant, people disappear overnight, and
every morning there is a "Two-Minute Hate" where huge screens project the faces of authors of
banned books and other criminals, while the citizens engage in public condemnation. Total
surveillance is conducted, with cameras everywhere. Not just every human action, but even a
rebellious thought is monitored—this is called "thoughtcrime." Posters everywhere remind
people: "Big Brother is watching you."
In his famous warning novel, Orwell depicted a totalitarian society based on physical and moral
enslavement, permeated by fear and hatred.
Here’s the translation of the new text you provided:
"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury.
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The title of Ray Bradbury's science fiction novel
Fahrenheit 451
, published in 1953, is explained
by the author in the epigraph: it is the temperature at which paper ignites and burns. In the
seemingly prosperous society of the future, created by the writer in the novel, books are banned.
Furthermore, there exists a special squad of firefighters whose task is to search for and destroy
hidden books. The protagonist of the novel, firefighter Guy Montag, as expected for the central
character in a dystopia, gradually becomes disillusioned with the ideals and values on which
society is based throughout the plot.
"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley.
In the novel
Brave New World
(1932) by English writer Aldous Huxley, society is depicted as
being based on a philosophy of consumption. Humanity has learned to produce in large
quantities and mass consume what is produced, only to produce and consume again. The writer
simply developed the economic model of a "mass consumption society," and it turned out that
"on that vast factory, which is the modern industrialized world, there is no place for a human
being as a biological entity, nor for a creative person, nor for human individuality."
Huxley shows readers a world where children do not come into the world naturally, but are
grown in factories in special containers. Even at the embryonic stage, each child is assigned to
one of five castes, differing in intellectual and physical abilities—from the "Alphas" to the
primitive "Epsilons." In this way, children are prepared for the specific roles they will fulfill as
adults from the moment of conception.
Analysis of literature.
Dystopian literature has become one of the most potent and enduring
genres in both the 20th and 21st centuries. The genre gained prominence as a reaction to the
socio-political upheavals, technological advancements, and cultural shifts that marked the
modern world. At its core, dystopian fiction presents a vision of a future society that has deviated
drastically from idealized notions of progress, often focusing on themes of totalitarian control,
loss of individual freedoms, and the consequences of unchecked power.
The early roots of dystopian literature can be traced back to works such as Yevgeny Zamyatin's
We
(1920) and Aldous Huxley's
Brave New World
(1932), which set the foundation for the genre.
Zamyatin’s
We
presents a society governed by rigid state control, where individualism is
suppressed, and personal freedom is restricted for the collective good. Huxley’s vision in
Brave
New World
similarly portrays a world where happiness is engineered through technology, and
personal autonomy is sacrificed for the sake of societal harmony. These early works were
reactions to the industrial revolution, the rise of totalitarian regimes, and the increasing
mechanization of human life. The 20th century’s political upheavals—particularly the rise of
fascism, communism, and the threat of nuclear war—provided fertile ground for exploring the
consequences of extreme social control and the loss of personal freedom.
A recurring theme throughout dystopian literature is the exploration of power dynamics and the
consequences of oppressive political systems. George Orwell’s
1984
(1949) serves as one of the
most iconic examples of totalitarianism gone awry, where a single-party state controls every
aspect of individual life, from thoughts to actions. Orwell’s depiction of the Party’s manipulation
of truth, history, and language reflects the ways in which authoritarian regimes can distort reality
to maintain control.
Similarly, Ray Bradbury’s
Fahrenheit 451
(1953) critiques censorship and the suppression of
intellectual freedom, portraying a society in which books are banned, and independent thought is
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discouraged. The use of firemen to burn books symbolically underscores the dangerous potential
of state-sanctioned censorship in the face of fear-driven conformity.
By the mid-20th century, dystopian fiction began to reflect increasing concerns over technology
and its potential to dehumanize individuals. In Huxley’s
Brave New World
, the manipulation of
genetics and the use of mass-produced happiness through drugs and mind-altering practices
become central to the state’s control over the populace. As the 21st century dawned, authors like
Margaret Atwood (
The Handmaid’s Tale
) and Kazuo Ishiguro (
Never Let Me Go
) adapted the
genre to explore more complex, nuanced concerns related to bioethics, reproductive rights, and
the intersection of technology with human life. These works question the role of emerging
technologies in shaping our futures and highlight the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific
advancements.
Dystopian literature often explores the relationship between the individual and the collective,
with protagonists who struggle to maintain personal autonomy within highly controlled or
oppressive systems. These characters usually serve as the narrative’s moral compass, questioning
societal norms and ultimately providing the reader with a lens through which to view their own
society. In Orwell’s
1984
, Winston Smith’s rebellion against the Party represents the human
desire for freedom and truth, while in
Fahrenheit 451
, Guy Montag’s awakening to the value of
books and knowledge mirrors the journey of self-discovery in the face of an oppressive system.
In the 21st century, this struggle for autonomy often takes on new dimensions, exploring issues
like identity, privacy, and freedom in the digital age. In books like
The Hunger Games
by
Suzanne Collins, the protagonist Katniss Everdeen becomes a symbol of resistance against the
commodification of human lives, as the state uses technology and media to manipulate and
control the population.
Dystopia as a Mirror to Contemporary Society.
The continued relevance of dystopian
literature in the 21st century speaks to its capacity to reflect contemporary fears and concerns.
While the genre emerged as a critique of totalitarianism and industrialization, it has adapted to
address the new challenges of the modern world: surveillance, environmental degradation,
economic inequality, and the loss of personal freedoms in the digital age. Today’s dystopian
novels grapple with issues such as privacy violations in the age of social media, the dangers of
consumerism, and the ethical implications of biotechnology.
Conclusion.
Dystopia has evolved into a defining genre in literature, reflecting societal fears,
political concerns, and the human condition across the 20th and 21st centuries. From its roots in
the early works of writers like Yevgeny Zamyatin and Aldous Huxley, dystopian literature has
explored themes of oppression, totalitarianism, and the loss of individual freedoms, offering
readers cautionary tales of possible futures. Through works such as George Orwell’s
1984
, Ray
Bradbury’s
Fahrenheit 451
, and Margaret Atwood’s
The Handmaid’s Tale
, the genre has
provided profound critiques of contemporary society, questioning the trajectory of political,
social, and technological developments.
The genre’s appeal remains strong due to its ability to resonate with modern anxieties, such as
surveillance, censorship, environmental collapse, and the erosion of personal freedoms. In the
21st century, dystopia continues to thrive, with authors adapting the genre to reflect new global
challenges. Whether through the lens of speculative fiction or as direct social commentary,
dystopian literature remains an essential tool for questioning the present and imagining
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alternative futures. It serves not only as a reflection of contemporary fears but as a powerful
catalyst for societal change and critical thought.
References
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