Dystopian Point Of View

Dystopian Point of View

Concept and Its Influence

Dystopian is not an easy subject to define as many writers would say. Some would say that it could be described as a dark vision of the future. Webster’s Dictionary describes it as “an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives.” Adams (2011) gets deeper into the root of the words and describes it as “dys- and -topia—are from the Ancient Greek for “bad” and “place,” and so we use the term to describe an unfavorable society in which to live.” Gottlieb (2001) describes it as the opposite of utopia. In a reference by Gottlieb (2001), “It was only in 1952 that J.Max Patrick 1 recommended the distinction between the good place as “eutopia” and its opposite, the bad place, as “dystopia.” (p. 4). Having said all of this, dystopian point of view’s influence on western literature is different to that of the central and east. In a review by Danowski (2003) he states:

While Western literature has always described imaginary dystopias in order to warn of the dangers inherent in a non-democratic, totalitarian state, Central and Eastern European authors were able to reflect on a real experience of dystopia, "the worst of all possible worlds.

Women's Literature and Dystopian View

After finding the above information, dystopian view in women’s literature reflects a great deal of meaning. Most stories written by women depicts the experiences lived by characters, ficticious or not, and a lot of it are not good experiences. For instance, the story written by Charlotte Perkins-Gillman “The Yellow Wallpaper” depicts the story of a woman with a medical condition who is secluded in a room decorated by horrendous wallpaper. This wallpaper is a symbol of her illness which is described as a prison in which she is in as a result of her medical condition. This is not a good situation to be in especially if the physician who is treating her is her husband. He forces her to stay in that room day and night without...