I've read a few books or book series that involve a dystopian society. It occurred to me one day that of these books, I've pretty much been dissatisfied with every one. Sure, sometimes they can be really interesting, but at the end of the story, I'm not happy.
After thinking about this awhile, I finally came to the reasons why dystopian fiction stories so often fail to impress me. This blog post will be describing a few well-known stories, so beware of spoilers ahead.
'1984' by George Orwell
Let's get the worst one out of the way first. I had to read this during my senior year of high school for government class, and I hated it. Then it turned out I was the only kid in that class who actually read it, because they 'just couldn't get into it'. Hey, I didn't find it interesting, either, but at least I did the assignment!
Anyway, not the point. Orwell miserable society is controlled by 'Big Brother', and it basically sucks the life out of people and crushes their free will. Cameras are everywhere, and if you show the slightest sign of disagreeing or rebelling with society's super-strict rules, you'll be taken into custody. It's incredibly oppressive, and the government seems all-powerful and virtually impossible for its people to overthrow.
The writing style didn't grab me, and I didn't care much for the romance in it. In a way, it seemed more of a let's-rebel-against-the-government-together sort of relationship, or based on passion and lust, than genuine love. But maybe that's just me.
The writing style didn't grab me, and I didn't care much for the romance in it. In a way, it seemed more of a let's-rebel-against-the-government-together sort of relationship, or based on passion and lust, than genuine love. But maybe that's just me.
Then we have the dreaded ending. One of the worse endings for a dystopian novel, the government turns out to have been setting a trap for them, and arrests them. They're each tortured, using what they most hate and fear, until they're basically broken. Then you reach the last part of the story, where they're both pretty much brainwashed, slaves to the rules of the oppressive society.
Now, Orwell was trying to make a point with this novel and its ending (or as Mom put it, "It doesn't end!"), but it's a fairly depressing way to finish a story. There's not even a glimmer of hope. In fiction, you generally expect things to turn out at the end. The way things ended, it seems like the only hope is for Christ to return and Armageddon to take place.
'The Hunger Games' trilogy by Suzanne Collins
A recent YA series, this one was popular during my teen years. It features good plot and character development. The protagonist, Katniss, is a strong, brave person that readers can like and root for.
In this society, there are twelve Districts which are basically the lower-class, providing things like food, coal, lumber, electronics, and other things for the nation. The Capitol is where the upper class reside, and they live rather luxuriously. After a rebellion long ago, the government created the Hunger Games to intimidate the Districts and remind them of the government's power and authority over them. In the annual Hunger Games, tributes between twelve and eighteen years old are taken from each District and forced to kill each other in an arena until only one remains. Worse, the event is broadcast on TV, like some sort of exciting show.
The contrast between the Districts and Capitol are startling. While most of the Districts are impoverished and quality of life is poor, the Capitol is a place of overwhelming wealth. The people there lead lives of extravagance and waste. They often dye their skin and hair, have a lot of tattoos, or have cosmetic surgery. Their society places value in things like fashion and entertainment, and even the most blatant forms of overindulgence are acceptable, such as the emetic beverage used so they can overeat again and again (actually based on the myth of Roman vomitoriums).
Throughout the series, Katniss is fighting against the government. Eventually, it's overthrown, and perhaps things might improve. But, (sigh) it felt like it really didn't. It seemed like the last bit of the story was rushed, and things went horribly wrong. Like the bombing, which took so many innocent lives, including poor Prim.
Then in the epilogue, not much gets explained. What happened to the characters? How well did the new government really work out? Will things get better, or might it end up being a new kind of misery and corruption? Some of the scenes after the government is overthrown give the impression that things could get out of hand with the new people in power. And even when explaining her life now, it doesn't really tell you much of what's happened in the past twenty or so years. Besides that, the Katniss in the epilogue seemed subdued, more gloomy than she had been. With the way things were described, and the mood in which it was conveyed, it didn't feel like a very satisfying ending, or as happy as I hoped for.
'Divergent' trilogy by Veronica Roth
A recent YA series, this one was popular during my teen years. It features good plot and character development. The protagonist, Katniss, is a strong, brave person that readers can like and root for.
In this society, there are twelve Districts which are basically the lower-class, providing things like food, coal, lumber, electronics, and other things for the nation. The Capitol is where the upper class reside, and they live rather luxuriously. After a rebellion long ago, the government created the Hunger Games to intimidate the Districts and remind them of the government's power and authority over them. In the annual Hunger Games, tributes between twelve and eighteen years old are taken from each District and forced to kill each other in an arena until only one remains. Worse, the event is broadcast on TV, like some sort of exciting show.
The contrast between the Districts and Capitol are startling. While most of the Districts are impoverished and quality of life is poor, the Capitol is a place of overwhelming wealth. The people there lead lives of extravagance and waste. They often dye their skin and hair, have a lot of tattoos, or have cosmetic surgery. Their society places value in things like fashion and entertainment, and even the most blatant forms of overindulgence are acceptable, such as the emetic beverage used so they can overeat again and again (actually based on the myth of Roman vomitoriums).
Throughout the series, Katniss is fighting against the government. Eventually, it's overthrown, and perhaps things might improve. But, (sigh) it felt like it really didn't. It seemed like the last bit of the story was rushed, and things went horribly wrong. Like the bombing, which took so many innocent lives, including poor Prim.
Then in the epilogue, not much gets explained. What happened to the characters? How well did the new government really work out? Will things get better, or might it end up being a new kind of misery and corruption? Some of the scenes after the government is overthrown give the impression that things could get out of hand with the new people in power. And even when explaining her life now, it doesn't really tell you much of what's happened in the past twenty or so years. Besides that, the Katniss in the epilogue seemed subdued, more gloomy than she had been. With the way things were described, and the mood in which it was conveyed, it didn't feel like a very satisfying ending, or as happy as I hoped for.
'Divergent' trilogy by Veronica Roth
Another recent YA series, and also featuring a strong female protagonist. The society divides its people into factions depending on their personality. Anyone found to be divergent (not fitting neatly into one faction) is likely to be killed.
Later in said series, it's discovered that people were experimenting with genetic modification to improve the personalities of future generations, but when things went wrong, they divided everyone up into factions according to their strongest personality trait. Divergent individuals are those who have 'healed' DNA, but due to fear of those differences, many in that society target the divergent. Sounds just like reality, doesn't it? These people are different from us, and we don't like it, so let's kill 'em off!
Returning to the series before we fall down the dark-spots-in-history hole, let's discuss how well things turn out. So many characters wind up dying, but our heroes are finally winning, and the corrupt system will be overthrown.
Then, towards the end of the story... (grabs tissues) Tris, the main character, the one we've been with since the start of the series... dies. DIES. Literally, the life leaves her body, and the protagonist is dead. While we're still internally screaming and trying to deny the horribleness and the awfulness of it (which will never actually be forgotten), we get to read the heartbreaking chapters of how the love interest, Four, is absolutely crushed and miserable. And by this time, you've used up the entire jumbo box of tissues, as have many other fans, and the Kleenex company is commending Veronica Roth for increasing their sales by 4000%. Why have you done this, evil writer...
Later in said series, it's discovered that people were experimenting with genetic modification to improve the personalities of future generations, but when things went wrong, they divided everyone up into factions according to their strongest personality trait. Divergent individuals are those who have 'healed' DNA, but due to fear of those differences, many in that society target the divergent. Sounds just like reality, doesn't it? These people are different from us, and we don't like it, so let's kill 'em off!
Returning to the series before we fall down the dark-spots-in-history hole, let's discuss how well things turn out. So many characters wind up dying, but our heroes are finally winning, and the corrupt system will be overthrown.
Then, towards the end of the story... (grabs tissues) Tris, the main character, the one we've been with since the start of the series... dies. DIES. Literally, the life leaves her body, and the protagonist is dead. While we're still internally screaming and trying to deny the horribleness and the awfulness of it (which will never actually be forgotten), we get to read the heartbreaking chapters of how the love interest, Four, is absolutely crushed and miserable. And by this time, you've used up the entire jumbo box of tissues, as have many other fans, and the Kleenex company is commending Veronica Roth for increasing their sales by 4000%. Why have you done this, evil writer...
So what is my point with this long description? All these dystopian stories don't have happy endings. '1984' had you go through the story for nothing; no resolution, no solving of problems, only the characters being beaten down by the government like a man swatting a fly. 'The Hunger Games' didn't give a very satisfying ending or explain much, and the protagonist is forever traumatized by her experiences. 'Divergent' has a protagonist die and leaves the other with his heart ripped to pieces.
Please, somebody, break the cycle. I beg you. These dystopian stories may be the end of me. All these terrible events and unhappy endings...
Seriously. After the roller coaster of emotions you go through, after the rainfall of bullets and blood, you just want the story to end with things going well. Instead, nothing is as you expected; in fact, it's often more like "Let's take your hopes and dreams and set them on fire!" Often, this statement is accompanied by insane cackling from the writer as they destroy what you love and stomp on your heart. I imagine not all dystopian fiction is like this, but I've certainly come across a lot of stories that are.
Now, as mentioned before, George Orwell was trying to make a point about the corruption of society and a truly awful government. I understand also that after everything she went through (and it was a lot), Katniss would have some emotional scars. Maybe perfect fairy-tale endings don't always happen, but at the end of your book, you expect things to be resolved, and the sun to finally break through the heavy storm clouds. Instead, you get a bittersweet ending, or in the case of '1984', a drinking-battery-acid ending.
So what are your opinions on dystopian fiction? Do you like how things turn out at the end, or are there some dystopian stories with happier endings that I'm unaware of?
Please, somebody, break the cycle. I beg you. These dystopian stories may be the end of me. All these terrible events and unhappy endings...
Seriously. After the roller coaster of emotions you go through, after the rainfall of bullets and blood, you just want the story to end with things going well. Instead, nothing is as you expected; in fact, it's often more like "Let's take your hopes and dreams and set them on fire!" Often, this statement is accompanied by insane cackling from the writer as they destroy what you love and stomp on your heart. I imagine not all dystopian fiction is like this, but I've certainly come across a lot of stories that are.
Now, as mentioned before, George Orwell was trying to make a point about the corruption of society and a truly awful government. I understand also that after everything she went through (and it was a lot), Katniss would have some emotional scars. Maybe perfect fairy-tale endings don't always happen, but at the end of your book, you expect things to be resolved, and the sun to finally break through the heavy storm clouds. Instead, you get a bittersweet ending, or in the case of '1984', a drinking-battery-acid ending.
So what are your opinions on dystopian fiction? Do you like how things turn out at the end, or are there some dystopian stories with happier endings that I'm unaware of?
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