Dystopian novels are well known for opening readers' eyes. Especially since many dystopian novels are chilling because they have many parallels with modern societies. Family ties are considered the most important relationships in modern society. In both Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Orwell's 1984 the destruction of basic human values is shown. One of the main values that are erased in both novels is the function of family units. The idea that the family prevails over all other issues is an ideal believed to be very common in many modern and past societies. However, in Atwood and Orwell's depiction of dystopian societies, the family structure is greatly deformed. In these societies, families have very little family structure and are created solely for the purpose of increasing population and further control. There is little to no sincerity within the families in these two novels. These are sacrifices made for the common good. Children of the new generations are brainwashed from the very beginning, so they are not at all inclined to rebel against the government, just because they know no other life. They are more likely to report their parents to the police and would be rewarded for such behavior. Memories are a major dividing factor between parents of the past and children of the present. In Atwood's novel, Offred clearly remembers what life was like. She was kidnapped as an adult, unlike Winston, who was indoctrinated when he was still a boy. Family life is distorted in both novels in ways such as the difference between generations, the purpose of reproduction, and the warped reverse structure. There is a visible difference between each generation as each novel progresses... halfway through the paper. .....in both novels. It is reduced to something purely for the greater good than personal comfort. In both societies emotions are strongly controlled by their metaphysical leaders. Families are the nucleus of most societies today. As both books show, when societies begin to suffer the destruction of their family ties, they begin to further isolate themselves from each other. Families become purely mechanical in both societies, existing only to help the regiment become stronger and more durable. Memories are erased and new generations are counted compared to past ones because they do not know a better life. Power in this society is achieved by annihilating everything that constitutes man. Meaning, memories, families, and emotions are all severely limited in their world. So, if family ties are destroyed, the structure of society is greatly hindered.
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