The process and modes of control in dystopian literature: an analysis of 1984 and Fahrenheit 451

Abstract

[Abstract]Despite the extensive research on dystopian literature, little is concerned with specific frameworks to identify and classify dystopian novels. Most studies assemble a commentary on the topic rather than a formulation to identify common patterns and trends. This piece of research constructs such a framework while analyzing 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The selection of these particular novels resides in their relevance over time and wide popularity many years after publication. The framework features a process for mass control and a breakdown of two possible modes of control: active and passive. The process of mass control contains four phases: surveillance, both general and targeted, discovery and revelation, rehabilitation, and punishment, both public and private. The analysis of these canonical dystopian works provides a foundation to substantiate the framework with tangible examples. Such research provides a specific framework for literary analysis to explore various modalities of dystopian literature. The implementation of a clear model in literary analysis will facilitate future research on dystopian literature.