Dystopian novel

Definition

The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides the following definition of dystopia: "an imagined world or society in which people lead wretched, dehumanized, fearful lives ("Dystopia Definition").

MasterClass defines dystopian literature as a: "a form of speculative fiction that offers a vision of the future. Dystopias are societies in cataclysmic decline, with characters who battle environmental ruin, technological control, and government oppression." ("What Is Dystopian Fiction? 20 Examples of Dystopian Fiction").

"A dystopia is an imagined community or society that is dehumanizing and frightening. A dystopia is an antonym of a utopia, which is a perfect society." ("What Is Dystopian Fiction? 20 Examples of Dystopian Fiction").

The central themes in these novels are government control, environmental destruction, technological control, survival, loss of individualism etc. ("Dystopia").

Examples

One of the most famous examples of dystopian novel is George Orwell's 1984, where the world is under absolute control of the government and the populace is constantly watched by the ominous dictator named Big Brother ("What Is Dystopian Fiction? 20 Examples of Dystopian Fiction").

Another example is Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, which tells the story about a society where a fireman's job is to burn books, because they are banned in this world and most characters prefer consuming information (controlled by the government) through technology ("Dystopia").

Sources

"Dystopia Definition." https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dystopia. Merriam-Webster, 2011. Accessed 15 October 2023.

"What Is Dystopian Fiction? 20 Examples of Dystopian Fiction". MasterClass, MasterClass Editors. 7 September 2022. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-dystopian-fiction-learn-about-the-5-characteristics-of-dystopian-fiction-with-examples. Accessed 8 October 2023.

“Dystopia”. LiteraryDevices.net, LiteraryDevices Editors. 2013. https://literarydevices.net/dystopia/. Accessed 8 October 2023.

Andrea Poláčková, 510559