Dystopia - a World of Nightmares

"You asked me once," said O'Brien, "what was in Room 101. I told you that you know the answer already. Everybody knows. The thing in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world."

Excerpt from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four

The infamous Room 101 in the introduction to this newsletter is the torture chamber attached to the Ministry of Love. In this disturbing, yet classic book an all-seeing, all-knowing and all-powerful state is privy to its citizens’ deepest thoughts and dreams - and nightmares. It’s the Room used by the Thought Police to ensure anyone capable of the mere thought of challenging the government is punished. While some citizens are never seen alive again after visiting Room 101, others do rejoin society as a member of the masses, incapable of independent thought and with love for just one person – the leader. That entity known as Big Brother.

Originally published in 1949, 1984 remains a classic after nearly 60 years. It is still considered a revolutionary book, and much of its terminology has become synonymous with issues of totalitarian society. Dystopia is defined as: “the creation of a nightmare world where utopian ideals have been subverted.” Many books actually combine both types of society, using them as an example of the different choices available to mankind, and the results of the choice made. Aldous Huxley’s A Brave New World and 1984 are perhaps the most famous examples of Dystopian literature.

1984 is the story of Oceania, a state that came into being after the Second World War. The main character, Winston Smith, lives in what was London, and works for The Ministry of Truth, one of four ministries governing Oceania. In an unusual variation on a theme, each ministry is the complete antithesis of its name:

The Ministry of Truth is responsible for Oceania’s news, entertainment and fine arts. It is also tasked with rewriting history to ensure all facts suited the party’s doctrine. So if leader Big Brother made an inaccurate prediction, workers in the ministry would rewrite history to ensure all Big Brother’s predictions were true. This is where the paradox arises; while the ministry was responsible for falsifying history it was actually creating “truth” - Big Brother’s truth.

The Ministry of Plenty controls Oceania’s economy, overseeing access to and rationing food and other supplies. Citizens are continuously advised that the economy is booming, when in actual fact productivity has declined. The workers are all employed, creating useless items for use in the war with no access to means of production, a situation the government applauds. A poor, weak population is much easier to control and manipulate than one that is wealthy and powerful. In contrast to its name, this ministry maintains poverty and ensures all citizens have limited access to finances.

The Ministry of Peace commands Oceania’s military forces, which are constantly defending the country in wars against the states or Eastasia and Eurasia. Strangely this ministry is tasked with not winning the war, but rather with maintaining a state of war. The rational behind this is that if there is a defined enemy then Oceanian know who they are supposed to hate, and the continual propaganda convinces them to direct their anger and rage towards the two “enemy” nations rather than against their own leaders. Continual news reports wax lyrical about how well Oceania defends itself, winning every single battle – but there’s little or no accuracy in the news.

The Ministry of Love is tasked with enforcing loyalty to and love for Big Brother – through whatever means deemed necessary. Use of fear, torture and brainwashing are de rigueur here. There are two subtle contradictions at this ministry. Firstly it is located in a building surrounded by icons of war – armed guards, steel doors, barbed wire entanglements and hidden gun turrets. There are no windows in the building, and inside the lights are never switched off. Secondly, although the ministry inflicts hatred, misery and suffering upon the citizens its name is actually correct, because it is responsible for making people love Big Brother. It’s the most important of the four ministries, because it controls the population’s free will.

Smith is discontented. He lives in a one roomed apartment, eats synthetic meals (black bread) and drinks a liquor called Victory Gin. He begins (at his peril) to keep a journal, where he voices his frustrations and negative thoughts about the government. Brave indeed, considering there are hidden cameras, microphones and informers throughout Oceania. Smith is interested in history, and tries to find out more about the Real Past – the one he’s constantly editing to protect Big Brother. He meets Julia, and they begin a relationship, which sees him beginning to question his government.

Eventually the lovers are apprehended, and taken to the Ministry of Love. After been tortured and undergoing electric shocks Smith is taken to Room 101 for the final step towards ”being cured’ of his hatred for the government. He learns that he is to endure his greatest fear – rats. As cage of hungry rats is lowered over his head Smith, fearing the vermin will eat through his skull, begs the agents: “Do it to Julia.” Smith betrays Julia by giving the agents her name – the name of the only person he loves. At the end of 1984 they bump into one another by chance, and find themselves remembering the feelings they once shared – but not with joy and happiness. Their former relationship and their mutual confessions of betrayal are discussed with distaste and apathy. As they politely take their leave of one another the reader realises the torture and reprogramming was a success. Winston loves Big Brother, the only permissible love in the dystrophic world of Oceania.

For me the horror of this book is the complete control of a world, for the benefit of just one person. The Thought Police are empowered to uncover and punish any individual practising free will, using whatever means are necessary. Imagine trying to live your life under constant surveillance, never know who or what is watching you, recording your activities and innermost dreams and nightmares. Think about that nightmare being turned into a reality… worrying about simply thinking about an article or news story you’ve just read. Imagine a world so controlled that the definition of “truth” becomes twisted to mean “false.” And – worst of all – having your thought processes changed to suit what one person or organisation wants you to think. Brainwashing is a horror I doubt any reader would ever want to experience.

Here are some examples of dystopian fiction:

Ray Bradbury’s “Farenheit 451”
The main character is a fireman, whose job it is to burn books to protect a society where censorship is rife. Most books ate burned and any critical thought is suppressed. A meeting with a young girl leads the fireman to begin questioning his life, and the society for which he works.

Ira Levin’s “This Perfect Day”
In this book society has one single identity. All ethnic groups have been merged into a race called “The Family”, with a choice of four names for each sex. There is just one type of food and one type of drink, and everyone wears the same clothes every single day. A computer controls every person in the world, telling them who to marry, where to live, where to work and when to have children. Injections ensure that nobody ever realises his or her potential, and subverts free will.

Ayn Rand’s “Anthem"
In the world of Anthem our hero Equality 7-2521 has dreams of becoming a Scholar. The Council has other plans for him, and assigns him a job sweeping streets. In Anthem the word “I” has been eliminated from language in a dark age when technological advancement is planned and controlled. He discovers electricity and the light bulb and takes his inventions to the leaders, hoping they will let him study these concepts further. Of course the “Powers That Be” deny him his dream, and he is detained and tortured.

Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale"
There are no surnames in this book, which tells the story of one woman’s life in the Republic of Gilead. Women are completely repressed, with their only service to society being that of reproduction. To this end they are assigned to a male “Commander”. Any woman who rebels is hanged or sent out of Gilead to die from radiation sickness.

** #1176347 Not An Image **

© Copyright 2007 Sarah (UN: zwisis at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Sarah has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.