What is it about the British that makes them so fond of dystopian fiction, e.g. 1984 and Children of Men?

Question

It seems like a lot of dystopian fiction is set in future England, such as 1984, Brave New World, V for Vendetta, and the new movie Children of Men. After leaving the movie I wondered if there was something in the British character that made them predisposed to writing dystopian fiction.

Answer 1

Well, in the cases of 'Brave New World' and '1984', I believe the authors' respective backgrounds would play a part in the setting of their novels and on the nature of their work.

However, setting wise, one could say that at the time of writing for both novels- 1930's to 1950's- Britain was still essentially seen as the centre of Western civilization and thus it seems logical to me to set a story about the extreme progression of civilization; an 'uber civilization' if you will, in the spiritual home of Western culture.

Another thought on the matter could be that socialist Orwell felt that Britain could be the only place for the socialism of his '1984' world to thrive in. I remember reading that Orwell was an opponent of imperialism and had seen first hand the supression of Spanish anarcho-syndicalists by Communists, and it is possible that part of his conception of '1984' was some sort of timely hybrid of Nazi- and Stalinesque socialism and oppression transplanted into England as if it and the democratic Allies had lost the second World War, leaving the Communists and Nazis to move in and take over.

But then, my English cousin once told me that England makes you gloomy and melancholy (melancholia is known as the 'English disease') because the public transport doesn't ever run on time, the food is awful and the rain is disheartening.

Of course, that's just his personal beliefs, but then he is an Englishman.

Answer 2

Although I agree that WWII certainly had an influence, the history English dystopia goes back farther than that to, among others, The Time Machine, as pointed out by so many. I wonder if perhaps the British people's gradual struggle to limit the monarchy and bring power to the people left an imprint that made them wonder about the effects of a government where power was again concentrated?

Answer 3

I think it started to kick off with Huxley and Orwell, and their experiences and what they saw the future could hold. Add that to having experienced extensive bombings during WWII and the fear of Hitler taking over England, and the long-standing monarchy.

The history of England is also another likely source of inspiration for a dystopian soceity.

Anyway you want to look at it, the world is headed for 1984 or Brave New World, if not both.

Answer 4

Psycho Skinny makes a good point about the war--and the newer authors like Alan Moore are simply carrying on the tradition. (Moore's Watchmen is an excellent dystopian work set in America--very interesting read, and knowing that it wasn't written by an American adds that dimension of an outsider seeing more than someone on the inside can...)

Answer 5

It goes back farther than that with HG Wells "The Time Machine" and you cannot forget "A Clockwork Orange", plus the movie "The Shape of Things to Come"

perhaps it is the dour personality of the British man.

Answer 6

Perhaps it is because the British have a reputation for being intellectuals (well, more than North Americans, at any rate). Fascinating question, though.

Answer 7

I suppose it's possible, but Margaret Atwood (The Handmaiden's Tale) and William Gibson (Neuromancer) are Canadian who have written of dystopias. And most horror literature today comes from the U.S. What does that show?

Answer 8

The same thing that sent a lot of them to America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India etc - they couldn't stand the place!

Answer 9

Don't forget Time Machine By HG Welles, same deal here.

Answer 10

Have you seen what the weather is like in England?
Dour, grey, overcast skies, with little or no summer to look forward to.
What do you expect from a writer?