Preview

The Giver, The Hunger Games, And The Lottery

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
473 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Giver, The Hunger Games, And The Lottery
Dystopian Literature Literary Analysis

Dystopian literature has a lot of themes, including government control and citizen equality. Government control helps the people to appear to be equal in almost every way, but that isn’t always a good thing. The people of these societies are severely oppressed because of how the government is in control. Dystopian literature shows how the government is in control of the people, while the citizens appear to be equal. This paper will include examples from "The Giver”, “The Hunger Games”, and “The Lottery”. There are a lot of examples of severe oppression in literature. In “The Hunger Games” district 12, along with each of the other districts, is very oppressed by the controlling government. They are

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Zhen 1 1 Introduction 2 The Ethics of Power 2.1 How Power is Obtained and Maintained The Hunger Games is a dystopian fiction in which totalitarianism prevails. Set in the post-­‐apocalyptic nation of Panem, the imaginary society is constructed upon an inordinate…

    • 7153 Words
    • 29 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dystopian author uses the issue to demonstrate the control and power taking place in the…

    • 105 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The literature of dystopia draws on the human experience of the failure of states and ideologies to create the utopias, or even the more modest aims of good governance, often abridging human freedom in the name of some ideal that leads to authoritarian, even totalitarian…

    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    State control is central to both ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘1984’ for they present totalitarian societies, whose politics is to impose control on the individuals of which they are comprised. Both authors express their concerns for these societies, run by extreme dictators, and how they dehumanise individuals by depriving them of essential freedoms. They are both tales of warning which unfold as the novels progress. Orwell and Atwood introduce the reader to protagonists who have been stripped of their freedom and basic human rights and immediately bring the reader directly into a setting where there is clear evidence of control. The novels present explorations of what freedom means by showing what control does to the protagonists. There are many forms of control but in my opinion, the most significant in both novels are physical, linguistic and sexual.…

    • 2090 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This investigation outlines the fine line between utopias and dystopias. It assesses the topic of when and how the shift from a utopia to a dystopia can occur, analyzing the characteristics that make up a utopia and a dystopia. This investigation will examine two utopian/dystopian narratives. In both books, we will see characteristics of a dystopia, and be further exposed to two different lives under a “utopian” community. We will examine The Giver by Lois Lowry and Anthem by Ayn Rand. The books will be evaluated for their setting, protagonist, governing group, and how they expose the themes of erasing identity and individuality, therefore, answering the question of “to what extent do the actions of utopian societies in their attempt to create a perfect world rather create a dystopia?” Many characters in the narrative…

    • 4373 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although the modern dystopian novel and dystopian works of the early 20th century may share many of the same principles and components, the overall purposes behind them are poles apart. The popular novel, The Hunger Games and its sequels can be considered prototypical of our contemporary dystopian themes that emphasize; the act of rebellion against a state of oppression, the power that comes with being motivated by love, the presence of hope and the triumph of the protagonist over a totalitarian regime. George Orwell and Alex Huxley—authors of 1984 and Brave New World respectively—did not write stories that inspired resistance. They used allegory to pinpoint the faults in society and prophesy the end of human intelligence and freedom. Orwell…

    • 162 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Since the dawn of the human race, humanity has had to fight for survival against predators, nature and themselves. Dystopian regimes use fear as a tool to control and manipulate their people. They create false senses of security, and freedom for the people, so that there is no way they can lose their power. Finally, they keep the people oppressed and ignorant to the regimes sovereignty . 1984 by George Orwell and Lord of the Flies by William Golding both represent how corrupt leaders use the population's fears against them, for the continuation of their hierarchical dominance.…

    • 1643 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Citizens go through pain to have the rules carried out, the abilities and knowledge of all human beings is lowered to a state of absurdity, and one of humans’ main natural instincts (survival by competition) is completely, utterly, destroyed. In fact, the entire idea of trying to make all human beings equal in every single possible way, is very inaccurate because although people may not realize it, complete equality, is impossible to achieve. No matter how many beings suffer, no matter how many beings are handicapped, no matter how many times the government tries to get rid of the aspect of competition, full equality will never be attained. Thus, in Kurt Vonnegut’s dystopian short story, the laws depicted by the government are flawed. Although equality may grow like a flower, with water and nutrients being supplied by the government’s laws, the flower will never blossom, and there is no doubt to…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anthem vs. Hunger Games

    • 1133 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In today’s society, a lot of people tend to take for granted what they have. Every once and a while, something drastic will ensue them, and that’s when they finally grasp what’s been right in front of them the whole time. In many different societies, for example the societies in The Hunger Games, and Anthem, the individuals that are living there are forced to listen to the ruler, or rulers, do not have an opinion in some of the choices that are made for them, and are also forced to accept the rule of selflessness. Based on the themes of the Power of Knowledge, the Image of Self, and the Consequences of Free Will, the novella, Anthem, and the film, The Hunger Games express similarities and differences regarding the dangers of a Totalitarian government and its effect on its citizens in order to teach the reader to be blessed that they have a democracy and that the individuals of the United States have it really easy compared to other countries, and even societies in books or movies.…

    • 1133 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Teen Dystopia by Sophie Boyer is an opinionated piece that explains the reason we are so attracted to novels such as The Hunger Games. A reason such a novel is so appealing is because of the action packed plot and powerful symbolism weaved throughout. A story set in future North America, where climate change has destroyed society is where teenagers participate in a gruesome fight to the death called the Hunger Games. That heady combination results to complex yet relatable characters and most of all, a meaningful story. Hence, that is the reason why Boyer regards The Hunger Games as a “well-constructed allegory that also reflects a more realistic portrayal of our world .” Personally, I also admire authors who can create an abstract world so flawlessly that they still remain relatable. Even though The Hunger Games takes place in a different time period; where the world is overly violent, it leads to a new social awareness. As Boyer pointed out, “this awareness leads to a more tragic understanding of the world, but never without the hope of a better future.” When I read The Hunger Games it felt like it was situated in a world so seemingly different from ours, that I didn’t realise until the end, that it is based on a bit of reality. The Hunger Games highlights social issues of poverty, devaluing human life, and classism to make us aware that it still exists in the world, our world. Overall, The Hunger Games is a book that reveals the depressing reality of some places in the world, yet Boyer and I believe that The Hunger Games sends a good message to us readers: to live life to the fullest and never take life for granted.…

    • 291 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The idea of a dystopian society is that of complete control, either through the use of a police state that has ultimate control over humanity and or the idea of man abusing technology to further gain control of its subjects. These ideas are very present in both novels. In 1984, the totalitarian state is technically and urbanely engineered to spy on and see people's very thoughts. In Fahrenheit 451 a similar idea is used in the outlawing of literature and the use of denunciations to capture and punish those deemed to have broken the law. This essay is going to explore the idea of Man’s struggle against…

    • 1989 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Power is a fragile notion that can be easily used and abused. When societal power is absolute and dominant, it often leads to oppression and persecution of people. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale examines the dangerous impact of a governing body embracing complete power whilst substantiating as a warning to modern society, if people refuse to fight back dominant groups with strong ideologies, the outcome could be devastating. On the other hand Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery embodies societal power in the essence of tradition, urging readers to think critically of old customs that are illogical and cruel. Furthermore, social power often pushes individuals to the extremity of maintaining their own autonomy with the only solution being to…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Hunger Games is a book that highlights the predicaments of western democracies, though exaggerated. The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins is set in the post-apocalyptic country of Panem, North America. Each year the Capitol organizes an event known as the Hunger Games: a horrendously gory battle between 24 randomly-selected teenagers from the oppressed Districts of Panem. The government broadcasts this onslaught live on television as entertainment for the Capitol citizens and as a timely reminder of the totalitarian government’s control over all twelve Districts. The Hunger Games positions all readers to caution western democracies, like Australia, to not lose sight of the value of democracy and not become complacent in allowing dictatorship to become a reality. This essay will discuss the division and control between the Capitol and Districts, the social inequality and the role of the competitors. The problems highlighted in the book are very closely linked to inequalities found throughout the world today, for example the contrasting western democracy of USA with communist North Korea.…

    • 1161 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    hunger games

    • 512 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Over the long hot summer I read an interesting book written by Suzanne Collins called The Hunger Games. It is an inspirational book about a small district in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem in North America. The Hunger Games is an annual lottery in which one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts are selected to compete in a live televised battle to the death. This is an underdog story of Katniss Everdeen who is from district 12 a coal-mining district that is the poorest and least populated district. She is able to come out victorious and find her love Peeta Mellark who is also from district 12. This story shows people our age that even through adversity if you work hard enough you can do anything you want to.…

    • 512 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Today’s teenagers appreciate the realistic way young people are represented in dystopian novels. The oppression the characters in the books experience is mirroring the oppression or inequality the readers face. Many dystopian novels display this sense of mirroring. The problems that the protagonists face are realistic for the readers, and while the books are set in the future, the stories are highly engaging. In an essay written by Chris Vails, he focuses on the MadAddam series, written by Margaret Atwood. He recalls that “in the future projected by the novels, an unregulated capitalism has destroyed the public sphere entirely” (238). In 2015, the threat of unregulated capitalism is fearfully familiar. In Atwood’s novel “class inequality is sharp and absolute: the privileged live in gated communities…while…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays