The distinctiveness and irony of utopia is related to the imaginary places having no geographical location on any map. However many literary writers have given a utopian vision in their works to make their works more interesting and eye catching to the readers. This literary imagination gives and understanding where utopia might be. Where the dictionary meaning of utopia is “Imaginary place or state of in things which every thing seems to be perfect” according to the encyclopedia Britannica, “an ideal commonwealth whose inhabitants exist under seemingly perfect conditions” – these “perfect” conditions comprise of financial, political, humanitarian and ethical aspects.
Therefore, the utopian vision offers an idealistic world to the depressive reality against the bleak picture for an ideal life in an ideal society, which is impossible.
While on the other hand, dystopian gives a pessimistic
and gloomy vision about the world. Like utopian
writers try to reform mind and give an imaginative
view for the future, dystopian writers are also
reformers that are anxious and certainly pessimistic
about the future. The dystopian writers therefore,
present and imaginary world where alarming situations
are presented for getting no solutions for the
future. Therefore, dystopian means “
a work of fiction describing an imaginary place
where life is extremely bad because of deprivation
or oppression or terror”
Jonathan Swift and Mary Shelley both have done a great work on the themes of utopia and dystopia in their works, “Gulliver travels” and “Frankenstein” but the question that comes to our mind is that, what might be more interesting as reading text: utopia or dystopia? So lets try to evaluate this important point by a comparative analysis of both the works of these writers.
While reading both the novels, a difference in the themes is noticed as both had worked on different stories with different styles. In the work of Swift, we find utopia presented under the allegorical satire on the political situation of that time, on mankind and his institutions, values and beliefs. It was basically against the tyranny, hypocrisy, self-importance and the ridiculous nature of men.
On the other hand, in the work of Shelley, we find dystopian fiction as a dominant vision. While utopian expressions are quite obvious in his work at the same time a large part of his story revolves around utopian vision, like romanticism is not added as a literary term but blossomed with music and art. Romanticism is shown as a highly emotional feeling with strong imagination on an individual where nature is respected as a supernatural.
Having a comparative analysis of both the novels,
swift has apart from the political situation and
experiences he gained, a large part of his work
focuses on the role of women in the society. Women
were treated with great indecency and were depicted
as abnormal character that is different from the
social fabric. He showed women engaged into unwanted
and unfertile activities and are always a source
of making trouble in the society rather then contributing
to some positive and constructive work. For instance,
“women were presented with vulnerable
minds giving naïve notions in the mathematical
society of Lilliputian.”
On the other hand Shelley has given an opposite
vision. He actually examines the political images
of monstrosity generated by the French Revolution.
These are given as the dystopian vision following
a science fiction approach and changing from utopian
to dystopian impressions.
In his story he created a superhuman by scientific method, starting with a utopian approach and ending at dystopia. This superhuman is extremely intelligent and possess amazing power for hearing, sight and locomotion. But the utopian theme suddenly changes here to dystopia when the spark of life converts that imaginative and creative superhuman into a revolting and disgusting being which made people to escape away from it. So here the change of utopia towards dystopia while crossing the limits of science had created interest among the readers about the dystopian vision rather then utopian.
The whole idea of penetrating into the secret of life and creating a perfect creature to the monster look that made the people getting away from this creature is basically a beautiful blend of the two themes of utopia and dystopia. This horrifying, ugliness and unnaturalness of his creation developed the feeling of animosity and motivated this creature to revolt against all the people loved by the scientist and killed all those people closed to the scientist. So when themonster yearns for love and acceptance but he horrifies the people, and until his own friend encounters Frankenstein, he does not get satisfy. But as soon Frankenstein is dead, the monster disappears in dark
Well it might be said that dystopia are more interesting as text then utopia as there are many elements that make it interesting for the writer as well as catch the eyes of the readers. Utopia seems to be an old fashioned concept but dystopia has much more fascinating to the readers as well as the writers has much more to prove as about their intellectual skills. Nonetheless dystopia gives a closer look to reality, as it is always a satire to the depressive events or political realities going on at that time and place about which the story indirectly tells.
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