ipl-logo

The Perfect Blueprint For A Dystopian Society

2752 Words12 Pages

Nimdula Perera
Mr. Capotosto
ENG4U1.70
March 27th, 2023
Why “The Perfect Match” is The Perfect Blueprint for Dystopian Literature
Dystopian literature has been one of the most popular genres of literature ever conceived. It displays a morally corrupt and distraught world in the future, controlled by some kind of force, as the hero of the story must realize the errors within the society and overcome them. This fascinating type of literature has gone through many incarnations through centuries, but still displaying the same fundamental characteristics that define this great genre. These same characteristics can be seen in the infamous short story, “The Perfect Match”, by Ken Liu. In “The Perfect Match”, Ken Liu demonstrates how types of control …show more content…

The dystopian hero archetype is another important factor for a dystopian literature, and Ken Liu communicates this perfectly, as Sai follows the classic dystopian hero arc of supporting, then rebelling against society. Finally, Ken Liu illustrates society using the key characteristics of a dystopian world, such as propaganda, over surveillance and worshiped figureheads. By doing this, “The Perfect Match” displays the very basis of how to create good dystopian story telling, making it a great blueprint for any dystopian stories/writers to follow.
Control is a main aspect of dystopian literature. Ken Liu understands this, as he displays both technological and corporate control, and how to combine them effectively, showing a great example on how to write a dystopian story. Tilly, a virtual assistant created by Centillion, is the textbook example of technological control, in which any matter of technology, mainly AI, controls and manipulates the people. A prime example of her controlling nature can be seen when Jenny is arguing with Sai about whether Tilly is problematic or not. Jenny tries to warn Sai on how Tilly is using and manipulating him, saying “‘Tilly doesn’t just tell you what …show more content…

They all are important factors on whether the story works as a dystopia. Ken Liu shows how to make sure each element is fulfilled to its fullest potential. “The Perfect Match” displays a model example of a dystopian society, using propaganda, over surveillance and figureheads to create a perfect setting and atmosphere. Ken Liu also writes Sai to fulfill the classic “dystopian hero” archetype, from embracing to rebelling society in a meaningful and impactful way. Finally, Ken Liu uses multiple types of control and combines them, creating a scary and dreadful society. Ken Liu’s “The Perfect Match” should be a blueprint for any dystopian writers to follow. It shows the basics of dystopian writing, while displaying it in an interesting and special way. “The Perfect Match” is a perfect and must read piece of fiction for any future writers who aspire to create any dystopian

Show More
Related

  • Perfection In Wes Moore's A Dystopian Society

    257 Words  | 2 Pages

    Wes Moore’s A Utopian society is a world that is considered perfect. Unfortunately , a society that is seeking perfection usually becomes a dystopian society . A dystopian society that is dehumanizing and as unpleasing a possible. Harrison Bergeron ‘ s world and N. korea both shared these traits.

    Read More

  • Dystopias: Harrison Bergeron And Anthem

    323 Words  | 2 Pages

    Harrison Bergeron and Anthem are good examples of a dystopia because they show how communism has a positive and negative affect. Harrison Bergeron is based upon a teenager that is killed because he had different beliefs on society. He got put away because he was smarter, prettier, and more intelligent than others. In that society they would

    Read More

  • Elements Of Satire In Harrison Bergeron

    860 Words  | 4 Pages

    The perfect world, everyone will say we need world peace, and end hunger, but sometimes we just have to look at the world we are living in. Realize that we have a roof over our heads a transportation system to get us where we need to be, and friends and family always there. In the short story Harrison Bergeron satire and dystopian literature elements are used to create a tale of society creating an illusion of perfection, when limiting the gifted and ruining the human brain to be less than it can be. In the story Harrison Bergeron Kurt Vonnegut creates the ideal dystopian society making everyone equal.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between A Sound Of Thunder And Harrison Bergeron

    1145 Words  | 5 Pages

    Through Ray Bradbury’s “A Sound of Thunder” and Kurt Vonnegut Jr’s “Harrison Bergeron”, give us two different stories about societies in a dystopian future and the consequences of what the future may or not await us. Dystopian literature has long been a popular genre that imagines dark and oppressive futures where societal norms and values are twisted, and the human condition is questioned. Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" and Kurt Vonnegut Jr's "Harrison Bergeron" are two short stories that go into dystopian visions of the future. While both stories share common themes, they also have different perspectives on the consequences of technology, the dangers of government control, and the impact on individuals and society. This essay will provide

    Read More

  • Similarities Between 1984 And Harrison Bergeron

    1306 Words  | 6 Pages

    A dystopian literature, whether novel, short story, or film on similar characteristics or themes. A

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Harrison Bergeron And 1984

    902 Words  | 4 Pages

    When a good idea is taken to the extremes, it can have serious consequences. Similarly, a ruling power can drive a society into chaos if its methods are not the best. The novel, “1984” by George Orwell, and the short story “Harrison Bergeron”, written by Kurt Vonnegut, both exhibit a dystopian society where there is no freedom. However, both had different ideas that lead them to this same result. The governments that ran these societies both had good intentions behind their actions, but their means of achieving them came with the cost of individuality and the privacy of the people.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Harrison Bergeron

    500 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Repent Harlequin Said the Tictockman” by Harlan Ellison wrote in 1965 is about a time keeping government trying to achieve complete efficiency. The 1961 science fiction short story “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., is about complete equality, disabling humanity from success. By examining elements of character analysis, tone, plot, setting, and diction, readers can see that these two dystopian stories can be compared and contrasted. “Repent Harlequin…” and “Harrison Bergeron” take place in alternate futures where the government has either taken control of everyone’s schedules or removed things that would make them unequal. Both stories are led by an antagonist and by someone who rebelled against them, but eventually, the rebellion fails and as far as we know the oppression goes on.

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron Essay

    712 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1961, Kurt Vonnegut wrote “Harrison Bergeron” about a highly restricting dystopia. The idea was likely brought on by the worsening Cold War and America’s negative perception of the Soviet Union. In the short story “Harrison Bergeron,” Kurt Vonnegut conveys a satirical opinion on overbearing ideas of equality pushed by the government by depicting the negative effects of a dystopian society that is set in the future, in the United States of America. The story suggests and emphasizes the importance of individuality in humanity even though it is not explicitly stated in the text. This essay begins by dissecting the story’s society and its format, then goes on to explain how the government configuration of the dystopian society leads to the most

    Read More

  • Elements In Fahrenheit 451, Anthem, And The Maze Runner

    1086 Words  | 5 Pages

    Dystopia is a popular genre in which authors write about a fictional society that is perceived to be perfect and ideal by the vast majority of the people in it. Authors must intrigue the reader, and this is difficult because they have to somehow illustrate a future that is vaguely similar to ours. However, it has to be completely fictional, which makes it tough to formulate realistic storylines. Nevertheless, these authors use literary elements to counter these difficulties and produce realistic characters and you can see this when Ray Bradbury, Ayn Rand, and James Dashner use symbolism in their respected novels, Fahrenheit 451, Anthem, and The Maze Runner. This literary technique gives Dystopian Literature the uniqueness and adds the key elements to make the story flow.

    Read More

  • V For Vendetta Totalitarianism Essay

    864 Words  | 4 Pages

    The setting of the movie looks very dystopian like because the streets are dark, gloomy and deserted. There also seems to be a lack of human life on the streets as all the people lock themselves up in their houses. Also through the movie, the government goes through a lot of problems that leads them towards a scandalous state. The scandalous state of the government tells us that the government is about to come to end and be defeated by the one who claims himself to be the hero known as V. The qualities of totalitarianism depicted in the movie are secret police, fear, violence, lack of trust, dictatorship and propaganda. Secret police is shown to us in movie when Evey leaves her apartment after curfew.

    Read More

  • How Does Harrison Bergeron Conflicted With Society

    544 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Utopian novels, portraying imagined, idealized societies began with more, and out of them grew dystopian novels in which, typically, societies more corrupt, diabolical, and inhummane”(Obler 124). An instance of dystopian fiction would be in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut in which the society only values equality across the board. In this society, two individuals, Harrison Bergeron–a 14-year-old who rebels against the government, and George Bergeron–the father of Harrison are conflicted with society. Harrison Bergeron conveys the conflict between the values/ideals of society and the realities of Harrison Bergeron and George Bergeron by emphasizing Harrison’s strength and rebelliousness and George’s intelligence and the fact that he

    Read More

  • Similarities Between 1984 And Harrison Bergeron

    1034 Words  | 5 Pages

    Imagine in a world of “perfection”, very structural, everything stuck in the right, and perfected place, destined to the certainty of life, to be ruled by somewhat a dictator, yet as lost as the average man of the world, welcome to dystopia. Totalitarianism, a type of government with maximum power, a system found in George Orwell's book 1984, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s short story, “Harrison Bergeron” establish a more complex way in persuading their people in undergoing a sort of “trance” within a dystopian society, a place made “equal”. How? Dystopian societies use the entire rhetorical triangle to maintain control of all people. Demonstrated in 1984 with O’Brien’s intelligence (Logos), character, (Ethos “friendship”) and outcomes (Pathos “threats”)

    Read More

  • Examples Of A Dystopian Society In Harrison Bergeron

    871 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 2081, imagine a perfect dystopian society, where everyone was equal, individuality would no longer exist, and one’s humane characteristics would be controlled by handicaps that monitored one’s every visions, thoughts, and motions. Life would be perfect, right? If this theory were true, individuality would be hindered and the fear of change would up rise, causing a struggle of growth among society. In the short story, the setting displays a dystopian society that emphasizes the need for equality. Harrison Bergeron, a martyr, tries to provoke individuality in a conformed society by breaking free of his chains but is killed in the act.

    Read More

  • Ursula Le Guin's 'Those Who Walk Away From Omelas'

    998 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lauren DeStefano said, “ 'dystopian, ' by definition, promises a darker story” (DeStefano). One may find this to be particularly true in Ursula Le Guin’s “Those Who Walk Away From Omelas” when he is able to look past the happiness displayed proudly on the surface. Le Guin’s “Those Who Walk Away From Omelas” employs dystopian elements because the story, like other dystopian works, warns about societies with trapped citizens, living in a supposedly perfect city, who fail to question the structure of their society.

    Read More

  • 1984 Victory Gin Analysis

    973 Words  | 4 Pages

    The development of the characters shows the need of a totalitarian government

    Read More

More about The Perfect Blueprint For A Dystopian Society

Open Document