Utopias and dystopias are supposed to be opposite worlds, but most utopias may actually be a dystopia because of how they are controlled by the government or its leaders. A utopia is a world that the people living in it believe it to be a perfect place. In the article “Dystopias: Definitions and Characteristics,” a utopia is defined as, “A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions”(read-write-think). A dystopia is a world that is controlled by one person or one government to be a specific way and act a specific way. In the article “Dystopias: Definitions and Characteristics,” a dystopia is defined as, “A futuristic, imagined universe in …show more content…
Winston and Julia are the only two citizens of Oceania that realize the world they live in is actually a dystopia. Oceania is actually a dystopia because they are controlled by Big Brother and are under constant surveillance. In the book, it says “The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it; moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard” (Orwell 3). This quote shows that the citizens are under constant surveillance because they are being watched by the telescreens at all times. The telescreens not only watch them, but they can hear what they say. Also, the telescreens watch as the citizens dream to make sure they are not committing thought crime. Winston realizes they live in a dystopia because he writes in his notebook, “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” (Orwell 18). This shows that he thinks this is a dystopia because he knows that Big Brother needs to be defeated. Although Winston realizes this, not many other people do. This is like the Amish because the people that realize will rebel, but most people do not see how it is actually a