The vast systems of control infiltrate all aspects of human life in the young adult novel, from the institutional to the biological, and thus the novel clearly continues an established dystopian tradition of critiquing totalitarianism and emphasizing the importance of individual freedom and privacy. The Giver, (1993) winner of the Newbery Medal of 1994, by Lois Lowry concentrates on situating the tradition and characteristics of dystopian fiction, to showcase that the novel continues an established dystopian tradition. The tradition and features are established through discussions on classic dystopian novels and their characteristics such as totalitarian collectivism, the falsification of history and memory, the persistent threat of punishment or death and the lack of awareness of the oppression, which effectively prohibits people from revolting against or opposing the oppressing authority. The Giver, as most dystopian texts written for young adults, follows the themes and traditions of dystopian literature.
In order to understand young adult dystopian literature is, there is a …show more content…
Both are often subjective, even though they have their own definitions, since what one person considers an ideal might be another person’s nightmare (Booker, Dystopian 3). In fact, many dystopian worlds have derived from utopian ideologies that have gone awry; thus dystopian and utopian visions are not only regarded as each other’s opposites, but are part of the same project (Booker, Dystopian 15). A dystopian world is not merely an opposite to utopia, but a reflection of a distorted utopia, something that has arised from the ideals of one society and created a new frightening place. It can therefore be hard to see the difference between the two, since there can be a thin veil between a dystopian and utopian society, making readers wonder what differentiates a good or bad
In order to understand young adult dystopian literature is, there is a …show more content…
Both are often subjective, even though they have their own definitions, since what one person considers an ideal might be another person’s nightmare (Booker, Dystopian 3). In fact, many dystopian worlds have derived from utopian ideologies that have gone awry; thus dystopian and utopian visions are not only regarded as each other’s opposites, but are part of the same project (Booker, Dystopian 15). A dystopian world is not merely an opposite to utopia, but a reflection of a distorted utopia, something that has arised from the ideals of one society and created a new frightening place. It can therefore be hard to see the difference between the two, since there can be a thin veil between a dystopian and utopian society, making readers wonder what differentiates a good or bad