Gavin House

2/24/14

2nd Period

Science Fiction
Science Fiction authors tend to use extraordinary characters to create a contrast in thought. For instance, in Brave New World, all citizens are the same, with the main characters being the only exceptions. Huxley creates a setting in which individualism is long forgotten, only to make his characters deep and different. This is apparent in A Clockwork Orange, a novel by Anthony Burgess, and later in Stanley Kubricks movie production of the same title. The story follows a young criminal who abhors the normal life and seeks joy from being an outcast and causing chaos. He eventually becomes a citizen of every day life, finding that normal isnt so different than the life he lived before. But here, again, our character is extraordinary when compared to his surroundings, making him seem important and deep. Science Fiction also tends to have a central authority that uses propaganda to enforce its demands. Huxley uses the character Hemholtz as an example of this. Hemholtz is one of the lead authors at a propaganda station. This same thing is also used in George Orwells 1984, a novel in which thinking against the government is illegal. The main character works for the Ministry of Truth, a group of people who alter historical facts to match the motives of the government. This technique is used to give further evidence to why the world is in the state it is in, making it more plausible and believable. Propaganda also allows the author to convey ideas, often through showing what they do not want to happen, the authors ideas mostly conflict with that of the narrative. A large, powerful, central government is sometimes present in Sci-Fi novels. This is present in Brave New World through the world government which controls all aspects of life and reproduction. This is also present in The Hunger Games, represented by the capital. The capital

Gavin House

2/24/14

2nd Period

is oppressive, but not in the same way that the government of Brave New World is. Brave New World at least gives its citizens a sense of happiness, leading most of them to believe that what they do and have been conditioned to enjoy is what they enjoy. However, in The Hunger Games, the thirteen districts do not enjoy the life which they live. They realize that their government is keeping them from doing what they want. This fact creates two very different narratives. One creates a story of inner strife, a conflict of ideals. The other narrative creates a very blatant revolution story, often causing a large outbreak of conflict and violence.