Isobelle Carmody's Obernewtyn: An Analysis
The most shocking aspect of a dystopian novel is the realisation that the future is contingent on the present and can be affected by something we do or don’t do now. This perspective is especially true in Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn, because in this novel, a dystopian society has arisen from circumstances very similar to the present. Although current technology and global relations have not yet reached the same level as the “Beforetime” in Obernewtyn, Carmody has made it clear to readers that we are approaching this point. In post-apocalyptic dystopias, a catastrophic event such as a nuclear holocaust causes the collapse of society and the attempt to create a safe, utopian society in the aftermath often results in the formation of a dystopia
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This portrayal of a future resulting from our rapid technological progress provokes readers to consider the effect of present actions on the future. The values of our society such as scientific and technological progress are criticised by the characters in Obernewtyn, which shocks readers and compels them to consider the long term consequences of their actions.
The characters of Obernewtyn use the term ‘Beforetime’ to refer to the time before the nuclear holocaust. Relative to the present, this time is a couple hundred years in the future. Although current technology and global relations have not yet reached the same level of sophistication or tension as in the Beforetime, Carmody makes it clear that our society could easily reach this point. The portrayal of a possible dystopian future resulting from rapid technological progress works to provoke readers. Many post-apocalyptic dystopian texts, for example The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1996), and The Hunger Games (Collins, 2009), only mention the origin of the dystopian society in enough detail to help readers to make sense of, and form a greater understanding of the dystopian society created. However, Obernewtyn does so in great detail, reflecting the author’s purpose: to make readers aware of the
This portrayal of a future resulting from our rapid technological progress provokes readers to consider the effect of present actions on the future. The values of our society such as scientific and technological progress are criticised by the characters in Obernewtyn, which shocks readers and compels them to consider the long term consequences of their actions.
The characters of Obernewtyn use the term ‘Beforetime’ to refer to the time before the nuclear holocaust. Relative to the present, this time is a couple hundred years in the future. Although current technology and global relations have not yet reached the same level of sophistication or tension as in the Beforetime, Carmody makes it clear that our society could easily reach this point. The portrayal of a possible dystopian future resulting from rapid technological progress works to provoke readers. Many post-apocalyptic dystopian texts, for example The Handmaid’s Tale (Atwood, 1996), and The Hunger Games (Collins, 2009), only mention the origin of the dystopian society in enough detail to help readers to make sense of, and form a greater understanding of the dystopian society created. However, Obernewtyn does so in great detail, reflecting the author’s purpose: to make readers aware of the