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Characteristics of a Dystopian Society

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To begin with, there was a good deal of propaganda spread throughout the community in both novels. “They've spent so much money trying to convince people they can monitor all the TVs and computers, you know they couldn't have afforded to actually do it” (Haddix 68). This quote from Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, suited this characteristic the most. People wouldn't risk themselves to do anything which might cause them trouble. The Government had spread news all over the community that every computer and television was monitored. They knew, with the news around, people would always be wary. But Jane, the daughter of a prominent governor said that it was just a lie. They couldn't actually afford to pay for it to happen. In The Giver, there are also quotes which exhibit how the figurehead use propaganda to control people's action. “He killed it! My father killed it! Jonas said to himself, stunned at what he was realising” (Lowry 150). People in this community were given false information about what release meant. They all thought it was a good thing when really, it meant being killed. Propaganda is used in dystopian societies very commonly. The quotes exhibited how the Government used propaganda to control the actions of the whole community. Given misleading information also relates to the fact of how the outer world was being banished and driven away. When what is given to them is limited, people know nothing about the outside world. Consequently, they wouldn't refuse or create any conflict amongst the society when they are given misleading information, they are controlled and paranoid. So, these quotes are associated with the use of misleading information in the two dystopian societies.

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