Parable of the Sower vs. BNW and 1984

 One big difference between the worlds of Parable of the Sower and the other two books we read this semester is the time period they were supposed to take place in. Parable of the Sower is a much more modern setting than the other two that were supposed to take place in 1984 and sometime probably around the late 1900s (from what we can assume about Brave New World). Since the book was written more recently, the plot, characters, and setting feel much more real than in Brave New World or 1984, where we can justify not getting too attached to the characters or upset by the world because it is “only a dystopia” and not a real possibility for the future. I think this realistic feel of Parable of the Sower is part of what makes it so intriguing  and upsetting, at least for me. Reading it has made me more conscious about the things I do every day that contribute to making the dystopian world a reality, as well as helping me appreciate the world we currently live in, despite its faults. I think because 1984 and Brave New World were so far from reality, they achieved the “goal” of dystopias, to scare readers into making sure the dystopia never happens, but not to the same extent that Parable of the Sower does.  


Comments

  1. L. MoffittMay 20, 2021 at 9:40 AM

    Agreed -- this book definitely felt the most "grounded" compared to the others, which is interesting. (The oldest book, BNW, was the least grounded.) Maybe as the genre of dystopian literature has developed, it has changed into being less speculative, to an extent.

    Great job with these blog posts -- lots of intriguing ideas!

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