In both worlds from the short stories The Concrete Jungle and Down and out in the Magic Kingdom, it feels as though Jules and Bob cannot go anywhere without having their every move being watched. Bob Howard appears to be much more aware of this ordeal in comparison to Jules. Jules and Bob have different perspectives as well as feelings towards the issue. On top of this, several aspects of the respective surveillance differ. The reasons for monitoring are similar but more disparate. Overall, their societies take the notion of surveillance to a frightening extreme. The Concrete Jungle accomplishes this with their gorgon security cameras, whilst Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom does so with their Whuffie social system. Both societies consist …show more content…
It is a means of security taken to extreme measures. Evidently, this society doesn’t place its citizens on a scale of any high importance due to their ease in eradicating anyone who may rebel. This prospect is almost reminiscent of 1984, the dystopian society that continually forced their citizens to comply by brainwashing. As for Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, their method of supervision is different. Although it is never thoroughly discussed or mentioned, it is known that their Whuffie system tracks everything they do. However, it is unknown to the reader just how exactly this is done. The Bitchun Society focuses on how well-liked a person is or simply their overall popularity with others, a completely reputation-based system. It gives each individual a score and judgment is passed from person to person based on this score. “Us oldsters who predate Whuffie know that it’s important; but to the kids, it’s the world. Someone without any is automatically suspect” (Doctorow 8.) The younger generation is less understanding toward someone with low or zero Whuffie,