Manipulation In Dystopian Literature

In dystopian literature, it is critical that we understand that the manipulation of thought as a technique for control. This is in evidence in the texts Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, The Circle, by Dave Eggers, Equilibrium directed by Kurt Wimmer and 1984 by George Orwell. These texts epitomise the manipulation language and informed historical events, enabled by the colossal advancement of technology. These points revolve around the ideas of ingrained conditioning, which fuels conformity and consumerism.

The manipulation of language can determine how people perceive the world. Language is a form of communication associated with knowledge and original thought, which develops our understanding of the world. It enables us to think on at

History is the basis of our knowledge, a separate timeline from which we learn and model the modern world on. In typical dystopian history is edited or completely forgotten as a technique of control. By limiting history there is general ignorance, which creates a population of people who do have any other ideas apart from the extant society. Therefore, are but puppets to those in power. So how to such a society progress? In 1984 the Party has a slogan: “He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.” The slogan is saying that history is written by the victors. Essentially, we are taught by the powers of the present how to view the past, and our views of the past affect how we endeavor to construct the future. The leaders of the time controlled all messages of the past to influence the people to construct the future of their desire. History in Brave New World is distilled to be the bare essentials, omitting major historical events and information which are considered dangerous to the people. Henry Ford statement that “history is bunk” is referenced, which justifies the profound state of ignorance in the World State society. Also, the World Controller recognises that the literature of old typically spoke of problems and tragedies. Problems of which the people of the “World State” are not aware of, since knowledge and happiness are incompatible. They are denied it because it could cause them to think outside what they are permitted. In Equilibrium, anyone who has art, or any relics of the past are mercilessly killed by the Clerics from the Tetragrammaton government department. Items and information of history are considered to be a breach to the existential emotion ban. They are condition to think of the emotion of the past to have cause World War III. The Circle is unique in that it does not have a manipulation of history, but rather