In dystopian novels, the setting is crucial for their appeal. The settings are usually dark and foreboding. They might have strict social hierarchies, like in 'The Hunger Games' with the Capitol and the districts. This kind of setting sets up the conflict. The characters have to fight against the unjust system that the setting represents. It also gives a sense of mystery. We want to know more about how the world got to be that way, and as we read, we are constantly uncovering the secrets of the dystopian setting, which keeps us hooked.
A world where the sun has become so intense that people are forced to live underground all the time. The surface is a scorched, uninhabitable wasteland. Only the very rich can afford the technology to somewhat regulate the temperature above ground for short periods.
In the setting of a dystopian novel, a common feature is the distortion of values. For instance, in some novels, beauty and strength are the only things that matter, and those who don't possess them are treated as outcasts. There is also often a sense of isolation among the characters. The world is designed in such a way that individuals feel alone and powerless against the overarching system that controls everything.
A dystopian setting usually has a repressive government, a damaged environment, and a society where people have limited freedoms and face various hardships.
The characters lack real emotions at first. The dystopian setting has engineered out strong feelings. But as Jonas gets memories, he starts to feel real joy, pain, and love, which makes him different from others in the community. This shows how the setting has stunted their emotional growth until something changes it.
In 'Clockwork Orange', the lack of positive social institutions is a mark of dystopia. There are no real places of safety or support for the ordinary people. The police seem ineffective against the rampant crime, and there are no real community structures to uphold values or protect the weak. This creates a world where the vulnerable are at the mercy of the powerful and the immoral.
The setting often has a gloomy and desolate look. Dark, polluted cities with crumbling infrastructure make readers feel uneasy. For example, in some dystopian stories, the streets are filled with trash and the buildings are in ruins.
The dystopian setting likely creates many obstacles for the love story. It might mean that the characters have to hide their relationship due to strict social rules or lack of privacy.
Most of the novels in the 'lists of dystopian novels' show a breakdown of society as we know it. There are often extreme inequalities, as seen in 'Snowpiercer' with its rigid class system on the train. Dystopian novels also tend to explore themes of lost freedom. In 'Fahrenheit 451', the freedom to read and think independently is taken away. Additionally, they may depict a world where technology is misused, such as in 'A Clockwork Orange' where it's used to control and modify behavior.
In dystopian fiction, the setting is often a world that has deteriorated. It could be a post - apocalyptic city like in 'Mad Max' or a society under strict control as in 'Brave New World'. In science fiction, the setting can be much more diverse. It can be a far - flung galaxy in 'Star Wars' or a high - tech utopia. Dystopian settings are more about decay and oppression, while science fiction settings cover a whole range of possibilities from utopian to alien landscapes.