An Omnipotent Government: Utopia or Dystopia Essay

Utopia an idealized place of perfection or a impractical scheme for a perfect decree (Agnes). However, what if the ideals of utopia result in the take heedds of dystopia? What if a organisation that is able to rule a perfect society, oversteps its bounds and causes wipeout of exemption? In the dystopian novels 1984, A brassy saucy World, and The presenter, the organization activity controls every mentation, every fear, every story, and every emotion. These novels warn of the threat of a government that becomes too involved in its citizens lives. When citizens supply themselves to be lumpish and unin changeed about their government, the ultimate price is license and liberty. These novels show that freedom is much to high a cost momentaneous contentment should neer come at the expense of liberty. Adolf Hitler once said, If you tell a braggy enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it volition be believed (Huxley). Propaganda is a very causalityful tool that foot be used for proficient or evil.In 1984 the Partys slogan, WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH, convinces its citizens that they expect what the government has given them war, slavery, and ignorance (Orwell). They do not want freedom because it is slavery. They atomic number 18 made to believe that peace and serenity come only during war. They argon unin phase angleed about their macrocosm, and this gives them strength. This type of government propaganda controls what citizens think by arrogant what is heard on the radio, the television, the newspaper, and all other forms of media. In A sunny New World, propaganda is not only forced on citizens through media, merely as well as during cat pause. At the time Huxley wrote his novel, a new technique of sleep learning had become popular. The technique hypnopaedia was an interesting concept still genuinely caused negative style. Huxley used this in his novel as a form of government brainwashing. In A bold Ne w World, those in forefinger used sleep learning to instill their beliefs in the citizenry of capital of the United Kingdom (Cl atomic number 18son).This sleep learning is a type of non-rational propaganda. Huxley comp bes the both kinds of propaganda, rational and non-rational. demythologized propaganda appeals to a persons own best interest. Rational propaganda can only be used in a society where stack have reason and morals. They could use the propaganda to rationalize what is in their best interest. tho in a society without reason or morals, what kind of propaganda is utile? Non-rational propaganda appeals not to some(prenominal) persons best interest, but to their emotions. The power to respond to reason and right exist in all of us. On the other hand, unfortunately, does the tendency to respond to unreason and falsehoodparticularly in cases where the falsehood evokes some enjoyable emotion (Huxley 265). Huxley applies Hitlers rule that the behavior of the corporatione s is not determined by knowledge, but by feelings and inborn drives. The propaganda in A Brave New World appeals to passion quite of reason (Clargonson). Punishment is a powerful method of controlling any person.The fear of some social function that causes pain or unhappiness is usually an effective stylus to keep a person from rebelling. In The Giver, the fear of release or finis kept all the citizens from breaking any rules. Even a simple mistake could cost a life. When a pilot in training accidentally flew over the city, the elders comforted the citizens, Needless to say, he will be released (Lowery 21). The citizens in The Giver did not understand that release fee-tailt finis, but they could comprehend that it was not a desirous thing. In Lowerys novel, no one broke rules. When Jonas father looked at the name of a bilk before the naming ceremony, Jonas was shocked. He could not believe his father had down in the mouth a rule. In 1984, many people were hanged for a crime. Thought disgust was punishable by death. The Thought Police could not watch everyones thoughts simultaneously, but if they came across a belief that did not align with the party, death was the result.However public execution is not the only form of death in 1984. Disappearances were a public occurrence throughout the novel. Often those immoral of thought crimes just disappeared. All records of their existence were erased, and the Party attempted to get out all memories of them through double think (Orwell). Huxley takes a whole varied approach in his novel. entertainment is the key to controlling the citizenry in A Brave New World. A review of the book states, Pleasure is the most powerful motivator of man (Clareson). Research has proven that recognise good behavior is more effective than punishing wrong behavior. Where the citizens in 1984 are controlled by fear of punishment, the citizens in A Brave New World are controlled by reinforcing desirous behavior. The main tools used by the government to regulate society are sex and Soma, a do drugs used by all citizens in the novel. The peoples sentiency is sup compressed to the point that the World Controller refers to them as nice keep down animals.They sacrificed their entire future for the pleasure of the moment. If a citizen disagreed with the government in A Brave New World, they would be given soma and through sleep learning be retaught the importance of government and their place in society (Huxley). The government fundamentally brainwashes its citizens to keep them ignorant of anything other than what they need know. familiarity is a valuable thing. If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and will never bethe people cannot be safe without information. Where the press is free, and everyone is able to read all is safe (Huxley). One important component in controlling a large group of people is curb his or her knowledge and resources. In 1984, the government uses a new form of speaking called news speak. Newspeak is a simplified version of the truth. The problem with this is when things are simplified we do not get the full version of the truth instead we get a biased form of it. In 1984, the government controls information allowing only what reflects well on them to be released.Dont you see the whole aim of newspeak is to narrow the range of thought (Orwell). Lowery also shows a limitation of knowledge in her novel. In The Giver, the elders censor their peoples langu date, emotions, and behaviors. scarce the Giver and receiving system are allowed access to books and memories. The citizens in this novel are childlike in their understanding of things (Hanson). They literally have a contain vision and no way to think for themselves, or to make decisions without the Givers help. Taking away knowledge is a powerful thing and dangerous thing. Who controls the yesteryear, controls the future who controls the present controls the past (Orwell 32) . History and memories are substantive to a society. When citizens forget the past it numbs the entire citizenry. In 1984, the government eer changes the past so it portrays them in a better light. The party is at war with Eurasia therefore it always has been at war with Eurasia (Eternal direction).Double think is a form of thinking created by the government in Orwells novel. To double think is to have two unconnected beliefs and believe both of them, while only expressing one. Orwells main credit Winston knows when something is a lie, but has no evidence to controvert it. He says, The pasthad not merely been altered, it had been destroyed (Orwell 33). In The Giver, only the Giver himself and Jonas the Receiver are allowed access to the level of their city. Upon watching the outside world and time Jonas says, Im sorry sir. I dont know what you mean when you say the whole world or generations before him. I thought there was only us. I thought there was only now. in the first place becoming the Receiver, Jonas like all the others in his community only dumb the here and now. To them everything outside of their own city simply was elsewhere (Lowery 56). When Jonas does discover his peoples past, he longs for a different future keen that there was more to life then what was offered by his elders.Emotion is an internal part of a human being. In these dystopian novels, emotion is either used as a tool for the government or completely eliminated from society. In 1984, negative emotions are used to create a common enemy among the people. Every day, all citizens were required to participate in the two minutes hate. During this time, they focused on an enemy of The Party and exhibited very animalistic behavior (Orwell 5). They also trained children from a very young age making Party minions. Winston describes his neighbor Parsons, a man of paralyzing stupidity, a mass of imbecile enthusiasm- one of those completely unquestioning devoted drudges on whomthe c onstancy of The Party depended (Orwell 22). Lowery instead of using emotions, tried to completely suppress them. In The Giver, there is no such thing as color, love, or joy. Jonas world is dependent of content people who ask few questions and see no need for change.Their lives are planned for them spouses are picked out and children are use for. All these monumental decisions are made by the council of elders. Jonas is accustomed to a life of sameness. Upon turning twelve and becoming the Receiver, Jonas lackluster world transforms into a vibrant new place. The memories given to him allow Jonas to experience love and warmth. I like the feeling of lovebut I can see that it was a dangerous way to live (Lowery 126). In The Giver, stirrings are tempered with a subduing drug. This represses any curiosity and imagination the young people have. Adults are also required to take medicine that eliminates their sexual zests (Henson). There is cipher beyond what is required and no desire for something more. In each of these admonitory novels, there are uneducated people who have no desire to become informed. Government has become so controlling that even history has been changed.Propaganda and emotions are only means to advance the government. Liberty is the price give for stability, safety, and community. Their world did not become the desired utopia instead it became a dystopia. Websters dictionary defines dystopia as a place where people lead degrade and often fearful lives (Agnes). Liberty and freedom must be acquire and guarded. Enlightened and empowered citizens must keep them alive. The dystopian life shown in these novels is only a threat if citizens allow their freedoms to be taken away. When citizens allow themselves to be uncaring and uninformed about their government, the ultimate price is freedom and liberty. These novels show that freedom is much to high a cost momentary contentment should never come at the expense of liberty.Works CitedAgnes, Michael, ed. Utopia. Websters New Dictionary and Thesaurus. Cleveland, Ohio Wiley Publishing Inc., 2002. Print. Clareson, Thomas P. The Classic Aldous Huxleys Brave New World. Extrapolation 3.1(Dec. 1961) 34-40. Rpt in Contemporary Literature Critisism. Ed. Carolyn Riley. Vol. 1. Detroit Gale Research, 1973. Literature imagery Center. Web. 23 January 2013. Eternal Vigilance. New Statesman 1996 1 June 2009 41+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. Hanson, Carter F. The Utopian function of memory in Lois Lowrys The Giver. Extrapolation 50.1 (2009) 45+ Literature Resource Center. Web. 23 January 2013. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited. New York Harper Collins Publishers Inc., 2004. Print. Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York dell Laurel Leaf, 2002. Print. Orwell, George. 1984. Austin, TX Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1991. Print.