Consider Why Visions of the Future are Common in Literature. Make Specific Reference to

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Consider Why Visions of the Future are Common in Literature. Make Specific Reference to “The Chrysalids” and at Least One Other Text.

In this essay I will try to explain why visions of the future are so common in literature. To do this I will make reference to “The Chrysalids” by John Wyndham, “Brother In the Land” by Robert Swindell, “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien and also a television series called “Futurama”, created by Matt Groening. This essay consists of three main parts: an introduction, an explanation on why visions of the future are abundant and a conclusion. There are various reasons why visions of the future are commonly found in literature and other media, I will emphasize in what I believe are the four most important.

People are often dogmatic when it comes to their way of living or their beliefs and will not accept any form of criticism whatsoever. Not only will people not accept opinions on a particular matter, but it is also a risky and not socially accepted thing to do. For this reason writers cannot just write criticism and publish it. To avoid any type of conflict writers often base their novels or stories in a futuristic point of view to criticize actual society yet doing so indirectly. We can see this in “The Chrysalids” as the author criticizes two aspects of mankind: discrimination and our fear towards change and evolution. Discrimination is seen all throughout the novel as the norms take action against all deviations, human or inanimate, as small as they could be. “‘If anyone were to find out, they’d – they’d be terribly unkind to her…’ ‘because she has six toes?’” (Page 13). Although the novel criticizes discrimination, it also criticizes fear of evolution at the end of it. This is seen when the woman from Sealand describes David’s society: “the essential quality of life is living; the essential quality of living is change; change is evolution: and we are part of it… but the pattern scarcely varies wherever… an older species is trying to preserve itself” (Page 196).

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Not only does “The Chrysalids” criticize society, so does other novels, supporting my point on criticism throughout novels, even other media. “Brother in the Land” and “Z for Zachariah” both criticize people’s urge and necessity for control, as we can see in “Brother in the Land” through the actions taken by the commissioner to ensure his own personal well being and in “Z for Zachariah” through the actions of Mr. Loomis, as he wants to achieve total control of everything. We can also see criticism in short stories and television. “Examination Day” by Henry Slesar also criticizes humanity’s fear ...

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