How do Orwell and Attwood experiment with dystopian ingredients to reflect developing fears of modern societies?
Both George Orwells 1984 and Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale prove to be forewarnings of future societies run by totalitarian governments; where civilians are forced to live by their rules and for certain purposes to ensure the governments own goals and aspirations; however, both authors have differentiated dystopian features, or ingredients, to create governments for very different reasons. George Orwell, a middle-class scholar from England, lived in a society where class was almost everything, war had ripped apart the economy and social values were changing; he used the ideas of communism and other fascist regimes of the recent WW2 to implement a dystopia filled with control and suspicion, technological advances, censorship and war, much like the Nazi regime or Soviet Russia, thus reflecting his fear of totalitarianism and one party states who control their countries totally and absolutely. Atwood, of a later generation, grew up reading Orwells novels and inspired by them, wrote novels such as The Handmaids Tale in order to convey a feminist view of society through a dystopia, interweaving political ideas and sexuality, to forewarn of the effects of unjust governments and namely, the religious fundamentalists in America at the time. Even now these novels can be related to our own modern society, with political reforms in Libya for example. This comparison will explore the dystopian features in both novels in order to explain developing fears of the novelists, in their societies and our own modern society.
1984 tells the story of the protagonist of Winston, a frail and influential victim to The Party, the tyrannous government which runs Airstrip One. Many aspects of The Partys society are illogical, but even more so are the laws and how they are implemented. At the start of the novel, Winston explains that there are no laws in Airstrip One just unlawful acts such as writing, which is a thought crime; punishable by death- This was not illegal (nothing was illegal, since there are no longer any laws), but if detected it was reasonably certain that it would be punished by death This is illogical in itself as in our modern society, no laws would amount to chaos and upheaval, yet in 1984 it works. It is also a juxtaposition; because to have laws there must be unlawful acts, however without laws there are still crimes. This just goes to show how much pure power The Party have over its citizens; even without laws there are forbidden acts punishable by immoral and illogical methods; thus reflecting the fear of totalitarianism in Orwells modern society because after the war had finished, nations were unsure of the next political movements.
The Party also have 3 slogans which are not only an example of juxtaposition but also oxymoronic; WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH these are complete opposites, conveying the irony of the Party beliefs; although doublethink is a paradox that is supposedly enabling party members to work for the Party and not be bothered about the hypocrisy of their ruling. Also significant, is the idea that energy from sexual frustration is used towards the hate for opposition to The Party, namely 2 Minutes Hate; When you make love youre using up energy; and afterwards you feel happy and dont give a damn for anything. They cant bear you to feel like that If youre happy inside yourself, why should you get excited about Big Brother Control of even private lives of civilians clearly reflects the fear of totalitarianism; The Party has such control that even peoples private lives are being invaded. Another aspect of the novel which is illogical is the Telescreens and surveillance; The Party use devices to keep a constant watch on all its civilians and these devices cannot be switched off; there are even microphones in toilets and bushes in the countryside, something of an ambiguous implementation. In relation to our very own modern society, CCTV is becoming more and more widely used and is arguably something we should be worried about. In reality a government could not watch its citizens at all times, therefore this implementation would be impossible in our own society; however, in Orwells generation; people experienced similar such control in WW2 in such countries as Germany and Communist Russia. Critic Paul Chilton suggested the novel isnt necessarily a forewarning of societies such as the Nazi Germany or Stalins Russia, stating that the novels importance is mainly in its powerful engagement with the present, I.e. that 1984 is really just an acknowledgement of the recent war and problems with Nazi Germany and Communist Russia society.
Contrastingly, Atwoods The Handmaids Tale mainly focuses on women in a totalitarian theocracy. Situated in a smaller yet massively controlled society named Gilead, Offred; a handmaid, is narrating her current affairs within the autocratic government. Vastly oppressed and in desperation of freedom, Gileadian civilians focus on internal satisfaction; Offred often thinks of the past to gain knowledge and satisfaction and to help herself through surviving. The Handmaids Tale implores just the same amount of illogical laws and implementations; for example women are no longer allowed to wear makeup, shave, or use mirrors; this has aided the religious fundamentalists running Gilead to curb vanity within women; aiding the idea they have only one purpose of reproduction, as without vanity they cannot feel they have the power over men to form relationships with them. This is also a misunderstanding of a religious text; at the front of the novel there is an extract from the Old Testament about Rachel who could not bear children but got her maid to bear them for her; and when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children behold my maid Bilhah go in unto her, and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her Gileadian society has reverted to fundamentalism to ensure the success of the society; symbolic of Atwoods fear of the rise of conservative ideology; as this idea in the novel shows a regression of womens values and place into society, something that historically, religion and conservative ideology has encouraged. Also notable is the epilogue; detailing that the novel was in fact recordings Offred made which are now being analysed for historical purposes in a lecture by Professor Pieixoto; critic Jamie Dopp recalled that the professor made many sexist remarks about Offred in the text, something Dopp noted that [it] is remarkable not that the professor says these things but that they are accompanied by laughter and applause not even the female academics speak up to counter Pieixotos tasteless comments Further supporting the idea of the novel conveying Atwoods fear of conservative ideology that values regarding women should be regressed and taken back to traditional ones.
Chaos is a big theme within both novels, but it is more obvious is 1984. There is a potential revolution from the Proles, the majority in Airstrip One. The Party control such a small amount of people, ignoring the Proles; showing that although they have absolute power, the very thing that could easily and instantly throw off The Party, is considered not even a threat. As Winston said They needed only to rise up and shake themselves like a horse shaking off flies.; this is a reference to Orwells previous controversial novel; Animal Farm. Chaos could also be just around the corner, should the Brotherhood exist. During the novel you never find out whether it does exist ; as OBrien says to Winston in room 101 that he will probably never know. Should the Brotherhood exist, there could be a possible war between them and The Party, as we never find out how many people are in the Brotherhood No single member ever meets more than three or four contacts at a time, so they can never betray more than a handful of people. The idea that revolution and chaos are just around the corner, is symbolic of Orwells fear of totalitarianism as the novel shows that totalitarian governments are so powerful and controlling, revolution is only an idea and not a reality, the control governments had was too great to challenge. Contrastingly The Handmaids Tale contains lots of personal chaos in the form of desperation to escape such a regimented society, as Offred is tormented by her past before the Gileadian society began; remembering how the society started to come to power. It is clear in the novel that there is already devastation from war, possibly nuclear war; as people have become infertile as a result, explaining the reason for the handmaids; this chaos- personal and environmental- is conveying Atwood and her generations growing fear of environmental devastation from nuclear war.
Control of thought and liberty is an equally occurring theme within both books. 1984 has the reductionist language Newspeak; aiming to eliminate all unnecessary language and replacing it with the very bare minimum needed; for example very good becomes plusgood. Reducing language as Newspeak aspires to do, will curb any individual thoughts or opinions because without the necessary words to express them, people will not express their opinions and so curbing the threat to The Party from thought crime. Sexuality is yet another aspect that is controlled, and as explained before, it reduces any individuality and so maintaining Party loyalty. These controlled aspects clearly state the fears of Orwell generation; totalitarianism and mass censorship of media and language. In The Handmaids Tale women are unable to read, write and even speak at times; although many of the handmaids find ways of concealing their crimes, for example the written message hidden inside Offreds wardrobe. The repression of women in general is a form of controlling thought and liberty because the women have no control over their own life. Women have no possessions, and essentially are not in control of their own body as they have set routines to get pregnant; for example there are monthly doctor visits. This in itself communicates Atwoods growing fears of religious fundamentalism Gileadan religion has limited the lives of the women; this type of fundamentalism can be seen in countries such as Dubai, or Afghanistan, where women are the possessions of men, are limited to the things they can do such as what they wear, and where they go. Control of Language is a massive aspect that is the fundamental goal of The Party in 1984. Similarly The Handmaids Tale language is restricted because women are unable to read, write and even speak, connoting Atwoods fears of religious fundamentalism whereby governments have total control over almost every aspect of life.
Another Dystopian ingredient is the Rigid structure of society. 1984 society has a simple and clear structure; 3 levels of hierarchy, Proles, Outer Party, Inner Party. This could be a reference to the societal classification system, something that was a big part of Orwells society at the time of writing 1984 . The society of Airstrip One could be a metaphorical Marxist society; The inner party are the ruling class, even though Winston and the outer party members are supposed to be the ruling class too. The classification system in 1984, is a direct link to Orwells fears of totalitarianism; as during the war, communist regimes set class systems and in Orwells novel Animal Farm, this was criticised in the form of the pigs slogan all animals are equal but some are more equal than others. In Contrast; The Handmaids Tale has a structurally rigid society yet a very complex one; men are able to move in the hierarchy as Gilead is patriarchal and thus limiting the mobility of women, and so proving the goal of Gilead (to give women one purpose and one purpose only). connoting Atwoods fear of nuclear war effects as nuclear war in the novel has effected fertility, forcing society to turn to such extremes as fundamentalism. It also conveys her fears of conservative ideology this structure, oppresses women and regresses society back to traditional norms.
In conclusion, dystopian ingredients have been used effectively and diversely in each novel, using juxtaposition and oxymorons as well as metaphors within these ingredients; conveying equally the fears of past generations, and of our modern day society; fundamentalism, totalitarianism and warfare. Both authors reference their novel to recent events of their time, making each novel influential and controversial; 1984 was written just after WW2 had finished, and so Orwell could be shown to be influencing peoples opinions on certain communist regimes and political parties at the time; as well as this, The Handmaids Tale was written after Atwood had visited Afghanistan and she, herself commented that it influenced her writing the novel as her time in the country showed the great lengths at which women were controlledand oppressed, conveying controversy over the religions which employ these beliefs. One thing remains clear; both novels forewarn of possible problems in society that could eventually result in our very own dystopian reality.
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