The "Dystopian Journey"

Boil it Down

Dystopian novels often share a common story; let's call it "The Dystopian Journey."

            Step 1: Introduce Hero

They think everything is perfect, everything works

Step 2: The event.

Something happens that makes them question their beliefs.

Step 3: The Discovery

They discover the truth, either by experience or through study.

            Step 4: The Action

They try to act on this new discovery. Change things, escape, etc.

            Step 5: Counter Action

Usually, the government finds out. seeks to control them. Or just show them the futility of it all.

            Step 6: The Finale

Death, suicide, escape, big reveal. Something happens to the main character to bring an end to the story. No matter what happens, there is hardly ever a great change in the society.

Examples of "The Dystopian Journey"

            1984:

Introduce hero: Meet Winston

The event: Meet Julia

The Discovery: The friend, the book that describes everything.

The Action: They are planning to join the rebellion.

Counter Action: When there is evidence, the thought police bring him in. Take him to the ministry of truth. Torture.

The Finale: 2+2=5. He is made to conform,

            The Host:

Introduce: Melanie Stryder and Wanderer (a body snatcher)

The Event: The memories of Jared and Jamie

The Discovery: The Seeker's anger. That humans aren't all bad.

The Action: Escape, run away to the humans.

Counter Action: The seeker follows her, tries to find her.

The Finale: Joins the humans, becomes one of them.

            Brave New World

Introduce Hero: Bernard, later the Savage

The Event: Bringing the Savage back to civilization

The Discovery: The Savage sees the world for what it is, the immorality, etc.

The Action: going against his captors, disposing of peoples' soma.

Counter Action: Brought to the controller, the monologue. Exiled again.

The Finale: hanging himself.

The Giver, Fahrenheit 451, A Clockwork Orange. The list goes on and on; each one a variation of sorts of the common dystopian story. Some are positive, some deathly negative. Most are trying to teach a point.

Why?

Perhaps this is symbolic. We all go through a journey of discovery in our lives. Kids believe in Santa, we all grow up thinking we can be superheroes or astronauts. But one day, usually pretty cruelly, we learn that life is hard. That dreams are out of reach. That the world is unfair.

Dystopias show us that this is how the world works. That one man, or girl, or alien, can't change the course of history alone. The life or death of one man will not alter super structures of government, free thousands of slaves, and enlighten the minds of millions of sheep. It just doesn't work that way, right?

Well, that's how it seems anyway... on the surface. But, one cannot just take these things at face value. Dystopias are satires. The world, and common thought, would like to think that's how it is. That the common man can't achieve his goals, that life is just too hard to make it. The system is too well oiled for change. But that's the real dystopia; the lie that keeps the indifferent plugging away without asking questions.

Herein lies the satire. 1984 hasn't dawned on us quite yet. With enough work and determination, the wrongs of this world can be changed. The “Dystopian Journey” is there to show how bad it can get, not how bad it is.

Do you know which popular dystopian novel doesn’t follow the Dystopian Journey?

The Hunger Games.

That's what is so interesting about the Hunger Games; it does break the mold. There is no discovery; everyone knows there is a problem. In the end, change is brought about at a great cost. But change is had nonetheless. The world that seems so impossible to overcome is overcame. The government too corrupt to defeat is defeated. Good prevails.

The Hunger Games is different from most other dystopian novels on a basic level, but the lessons it seeks to teach are the same. Perhaps its popularity is due to its positive outlook on life, because it breaks the mold. The men and women of today are not doomed to walk the "dystopian journey" like the Savage, but capable of making the world better a little at a time. Social media brings a different power to the people. The right and ability to speak out together, and make oneself heard. Like Katniss, the modern man can see the problems in the world, and has the means to make that change.

"May the odds be ever in your favor"

-Matt