Torch Magazine • Fall 2017 The Freedom to Choose: Young Adult Dystopian Fiction By Marjorie Warmkessel

In the publishing world, “young contemporary social issues. It was not adult” refers to people between the ages until the late 1990s that young adult of 12 and 18, in other words adolescents fiction was aggressively marketed as or teenagers. “Dystopian,” according to such. In this period, young adult books the Oxford English Dictionary, is an became best sellers and big Hollywood adjective meaning “of or pertaining to movies. Among the best-known young a dystopia,” which is “an imaginary adult titles of this period are the Harry place or condition in which everything Potter books, the Twilight saga, and The is as bad as possible.” The etymology of Hunger Games. the word is the Greek prefix “dys,” meaning “bad” or “abnormal,” and the My title, “The Freedom to Choose,” is Marjorie Warmkessel Greek word “topos,” meaning “place.” a fragment of a sentence from Lois “Dystopia” is closely related to the Lowry’s The Giver, published in 1993 From 1978-2013 Marjorie Warmkessel was a librarian at Millersville University word “utopia” (literally “not a place,” and considered one of the first young (PA), serving in many different positions the Greek prefix “ou” meaning “not”), adult dystopian novels. In 2014, twenty there both in and outside the library. which since the time of Sir Thomas years after the book’s publication, The She has a B.A. in Classics from Goucher More’s 1516 work of that name has Giver was made into a movie starring College, an M.S. in Library Science from meant “a place where everything is Jeff Bridges in the title role and Meryl the University of North Carolina at Chapel perfect.” “Fiction,” of course, refers to Streep as the head of the Council of Hill, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative works of literature (primarily novels or Elders. Even if you never read the book Literature from Rutgers University. short stories) that describe imaginary or saw the film, you may remember the Since her retirement she has taken the events and people. So, putting the TV ads from 2014 that featured Ms. opportunity to travel. She enjoys reading definitions together, “young adult Streep saying the complete line: (especially fiction) and movies and is a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox. dystopian fiction” denotes novels that “When we give people the freedom to have been primarily written for and choose, they choose wrong.” And this She has been a member of the Lancaster (PA) Torch Club since 2013 and marketed to people between the ages of is one of the common themes of is currently the club president. 12 and 18 and that describe really bad dystopian fiction: a totalitarian Her paper was first presented to the places or conditions. government controls the lives of its Lancaster club on March 4, 2016. citizens. Individuals in these fictional We haven’t had the category of societies are not free to choose. “young adult fiction” or even “young adults” forever. The idea of young The protagonist of The Giver is adults or teenagers as a distinct social 12-year-old Jonas, a young adult who demographic goes back only to about lives with his parents and younger the 1940s, and the first wave of books sister in a small community where written specifically for young adults, everything is regulated, everyone has such as The Outsiders and Are You exactly what they need, and surveillance There God, It’s Me Margaret, appeared is the norm. There is no poverty, no in the 1960s and 1970s.1 Among the crime, no disease, no war. “Sameness” key features of these books are main is valued; individuality and diversity characters who are themselves young are seen as threats. Residents have no adults and descriptions of situations communal memory, no sense of that are similar to those confronted by history beyond their own lifespan. A real life young adults, including coping major ritual in Jonas’s society is the with coming of age and dealing with Ceremony of Twelve, the time when all

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12-year olds are given their training these intentions are misguided. bread and brings to mind the phrase assignments for jobs they will hold for Sameness, control of emotions, strict “panem et circenses,” “bread and the rest of their lives. Jonas’ mother rules, and surveillance are all intended circuses” or “bread and games,” used by works at the Department of Justice, to protect citizens from each other and the Roman satirist Juvenal in his responsible for enforcing the from themselves. What results, however, criticism of the superficiality of community’s many rules; his father is a is a culture that does not tolerate imperial Roman culture, when bread Nurturer of Newchildren. diversity, lacks creativity, is satisfied and games were offered as diversions to with the status quo, and accepts murder distract people from more serious Jonas’ assignment comes as a as something that sustains the greater social concerns and responsibilities. complete surprise, not only to him but good. In such a culture, citizens do not also to most members of the even recognize that they have no Traveling to the games with Katniss community: he is assigned to be the freedom to choose. is Peeta, District 12’s male tribute. Once Receiver of Memory, a highly respected they arrive, Katniss and Peeta become job but one that is seldom assigned, no * * * keenly aware of the conspicuous more than once every generation or In other dystopian worlds, citizens consumption of residents of the two. In this society, one person holds all are well aware that they are not free. Capitol. Here people have so much communal memories. With memories They exist under totalitarian regimes food they throw it away; they are come emotions, which are highly run by ruthless dictators whose sole obsessed with their physical appearance discouraged and even chemically objectives are to stay in power. This and preoccupied with all things trivial controlled. Jonas begins to train with kind of dystopia is the world of The and superficial. The citizens of the the previous Receiver of Memory, an Hunger Games. First published in 2008, Capitol would fit right in on Real old man he calls the Giver. He feels The Hunger Games is the first book of Housewives of Beverly Hills and offer a pleasure and pain for the first time. He Suzanne Collins’ bestselling trilogy, all harsh contrast to residents of the also becomes aware of the flaws in this three books of which became remote districts, who are literally supposedly perfect society. He has blockbuster Hollywood movies. At the starving. grown up knowing that the elderly are beginning of the novel, 16-year old eventually “released,” but through his Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12, The well-orchestrated pageantry of training with the Giver, he realizes that the poorest district in the country of the pre-game ceremonies, featuring “released” means euthanized. He also Panem. As a means of keeping the individual interviews with each becomes aware that rule violators are populace under control, the govern- competitor, is televised live across killed. When his father brings home a ment carefully restricts its citizens’ Panem and required watching for troublesome newborn who does not access to food, requiring each district to everyone. The stability of the conform to behavioral expectations, send food and other natural resources government depends, in fact, upon its Jonas realizes that if the baby does not to the Capitol. Another way the skillful manipulation of communi- eventually behave, he too will be government controls its citizens is by cation and public relations tools. Up to “released.” With the Giver’s help, Jonas holding the annual Hunger Games, this point, no one has been successful takes the baby and escapes the confines gladiator-style televised spectacles in destabilizing the government. It is of the only community he has ever where twenty-four competitors, a boy our heroine Katniss who finds the known. and a girl from each district, literally chink in the president’s armor, fight to the death, using their wits and reluctantly becoming a symbol of Often in dystopian fiction, the physical prowess to be the last one left growing unrest across the country. circumstances that led to the creation alive—a barbaric practice made all the Challenging the very rules of the of the sociopolitical structure are more appalling because the participants, Hunger Games, Katniss refuses to kill gradually revealed to the reader. Usually called Tributes, are people between the Peeta when the two of them are the last it is something catastrophic, motivating ages of 12 and 18. Katniss becomes the tributes alive. Much to the chagrin of those who survive the disaster to female Tribute from District 12. the government, they emerge as rebuild society while trying not to co-victors, the first time that had ever repeat what they interpret as the References to tributes, gladiators and happened. mistakes of the past. While Lowry does other aspects of Roman history are not not reveal what happened to cause the accidental. The president is Coriolanus In Catching Fire, the second book of creation of the world she describes, it is Snow, the host of the televised games is the trilogy, President Snow challenges clear that those in power are motivated Caesar Flickerman, and the head game- Katniss directly by changing the rules by good intentions even if the reader, maker is Seneca Crane. Even the name for the Hunger Games so that only past and eventually Jonas, recognize that of the country, Panem, is Latin for victors can compete. Katniss and Peeta 23 Torch Magazine • Fall 2017 once again represent District 12 and own. The ruling Council is made up of to infiltrate and destroy Abnegation so once again they both survive as 50 people, all members of the that Erudite can control the ruling rebellions erupt across Panem. By the Abnegation faction since they are Council. Tris and some of her Dauntless end of the third book, Mockingjay, thought to be incorruptible. Members cohorts are central to discovering and Katniss has succeeded in spearheading of Amity value peace and harmony, are thwarting the plot, but not before many the overthrow of the repressive willing to help others, and are able to of their friends and family members government along with facilitating the let go of past hurts. Members of Candor are killed in fighting and acts of demise of President Snow and other value honesty, perceiving charm and terrorism. Ultimately, through the corrupt political leaders. She returns to politeness as tools of deception. third book of the trilogy, it is revealed District 12, marries Peeta, and lives Members of Dauntless are brave and that the society of Divergent was happily ever after. guard the fence around Chicago. established as a result of genetic Members of Erudite value knowledge, engineering experiments gone horribly A surprisingly domestic, fairy-tale- viewing ignorance as the primary wrong. Many years before, in an like ending, given the plot’s concerns threat to society. Membership in a attempt to eradicate social prob- with state power and liberty, but faction is determined by giving all lems thought to be caused by “bad remember that the target audience for 16-year olds an aptitude test. Regardless genes,” government scientists modified these books is adolescents, people who, of the test results, individuals can people’s genetic profiles. Those with because of hormonal changes, are choose any of the factions. modified or damaged genes rose up particularly interested in romantic against the government; in the ensuing relationships. Their authors are usually uprisings half the population was willing to cater to this kind of demand; killed. In response, the government Katniss actually has more than one love Older readers may once again turned to genetic interest throughout the series. Older find it tempting engineering to create people with pure readers may find it tempting to envision genetic profiles. These people became the intelligent, resourceful, independent to envision the known as “divergents.” Katniss playing a pivotal role in the intelligent, resourceful, establishment of a new government. This plot point represents another Why would she not want to provide independent Katniss common theme in dystopian young visible leadership in creating a free and adult fiction: that previous generations, open society where resources are playing a pivotal role often with the support of the shared equitably and no one goes in the establishment government, have really made a mess hungry? However, for the late of things, either intentionally or Millennials who read The Hunger of a new government. unintentionally, and often through the Games as young adults when it was first misuse of technology. Subsequent published and for those who are now generations, in trying to fix the young adults (for whom we do not yet The heroine of Divergent is 16-year problems, have succeeded only in have an agreed upon name), the idea of old Tris Prior, a young adult who is making matters worse. As the plots of Katniss as a government leader is born into an Abnegation family. Her these novels unfold, it is clear that the seen as unimportant, perhaps even aptitude test is inconclusive as three future of civilization and maybe even undesirable. After all, throughout her possible factions are suggested to her: the future of the human race lie in the life, she has not been able to trust Abnegation, Dauntless, and Erudite. hands of the young adult heroines and government leaders or, for that matter, That she has an aptitude for more than heroes of our stories, along with their most adults. Maybe she’s done enough one faction, by definition a “divergent,” peers and a small handful of trusted and deserves a quiet life of anonymity. is unusual and is considered a threat to older people. society since “divergents” are capable of * * * independent thought. At the Choosing This theme provides a clue as to why The Divergent trilogy by Veronica ceremony, she chooses Dauntless, dystopian fiction is so popular with Roth, published between 2011 and something almost unheard of for young adults—and that is the question 2013 and set in post-apocalyptic someone born and raised in to which we now turn. Chicago, describes a society divided Abnegation. into five factions: Abnegation, Amity, * * * Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. As the story unfolds, it becomes Dystopian fiction may appeal to Members of Abnegation are selfless, apparent that the leaders of Erudite are young adults because they can identify valuing the needs of others above their planning to use members of Dauntless with the protagonists, who are

24 Torch Magazine • Fall 2017 themselves young adults. While the So why are we seeing such a profusion fictional characters may seem to live in of young adult dystopian novels now? Note a universe totally different from our One reason is the current political 1 Some novels published before the naming of the “young adult fiction” category, like Lord of the reality, on many levels they are coping climate. Earlier dystopian novels Flies or A Separate Peace, have since been so with the same issues as real teenagers. reflected Cold War sensibilities. More categorized. More than one scholar has suggested recent dystopian novels reflect a post- that teenagers can easily relate to a 9/11 culture. Keep in mind that dystopian world because they see their although today’s young adults are too own world as a dystopia. High school young to have any personal memories students enjoy very little autonomy or of September 11 (even if they were independence; parents, teachers, and alive in 2001, which many of them Works Cited and Consulted other adults are always telling them were not), they are well aware of the Ames, Melissa. “Engaging ‘Apolitical’ what to do and what not to do; and events and attitudes precipitated by Adolescents: Analyzing the Popularity and Educational Potential of Dystopian Literature they must navigate through countless 9/11. Post-9/11.” The High School Journal 97.1 rules and regulations, many of which (Fall 2013), 3-20. seem petty and arbitrary. All the while, As mentioned earlier, a name for the Brugar, Kristy A. “Empowering Students through adults are assuring them that this is for generation that comes after the History: The Giver as a Metaphor and their own good. Millennials has not been agreed to yet. Preparation for Studying History in the The generation after the Baby Boomers Secondary Classroom.” The History Teacher 46.1 (2012), 85-94. When they are expected to make is Generation X. After Gen X come the decisions about their future, they see Millennials or Generation Y. So, Hanson, Carter F. “The Utopian Function of Memory in Lois Lowry’s The Giver.” every decision as potentially life logically, the next group would be Extrapolation 50.1 (2009), 45-60. changing and fear that the wrong Generation Z, but who would want Hertz, Noreena. “Generation K: Who are They, decision could prove catastrophic. As to be a member of Generation Z, and What Do We Know about Them?” New with the Ceremony of Twelve in The presumably the last generation? Even York Times, April 21, 2015. Giver, the reaping ceremony in The in dystopian novels there’s almost Hubler, Angela. “Lois Lowry’s and Suzanne Hunger Games, and the choosing always a glimmer of hope for a brighter Collins’ Dystopian Fiction: Utopia and Anti- ceremony in Divergent, adolescents on future. Utopia.” Against the Current, July/August their way from childhood to adulthood 2014, 23-27. are expected to take an array of high- British economist Noreena Hertz has Lucey, Thomas A. et al. “Dimensions of Citizenship through the Lens of The Hunger stakes tests, to make some important coined the term Generation K for those Games: Fiction and the Visual and decisions (often for the first time in born between 1995 and 2002. She has Performing Arts as Springboards for their lives), and to take responsibility begun doing research on this group, Citizenship Education.” The Social Studies for the consequences of those decisions. specifically young women. In 2015 she 104 (2013), 190-199. published the results of a survey of Parks, Lori L. and Jennifer P. Yamashiro. Adolescence is a time when most more than a thousand British and “Consumed: Food in The Hunger Games.” European Journal of American Culture 34.2 people first begin to grapple with American girls who were between the (2015), 137-150. abstract concepts and try to think ages of 13 and 20. She found that their Penny, Laurie. “No Wonder Teens Love Stories about the complex moral issues playing formative years had been influenced by about Dystopian Futures—They Feel like out in the world around them. three major factors: technology (espe- They’re Heading for One.” New Statesman, Dystopian literature often shares these cially social networking technology to March 28-April 3, 2014, 19. themes. Additionally, young adult connect with others), the major global Reeve, Philip. “The Worst is Yet to Come.” readers observe that the characters of economic upheaval of 2008, and very School Library Journal, August 2011, 35-36. these novels start out as ordinary real geo-political dangers. Among Scholes, Justin and Jon Ostenson. teenagers but, through circumstances other things, she found that only four “Understanding the Appeal of Dystopian beyond their control, are challenged to percent of her respondents trust big Young Adult Fiction.” The ALAN Review 40.2 do difficult and frightening things in corporations (as opposed to 60% of (Winter 2013) 11-20. order to protect those they love, or to adults) and only 10% trust the govern- Sturgis, Amy H. “Not Your Parents’ Dystopias.” fight injustice, or to save themselves. In ment (as opposed to 20% of Reason 46.5 (October 2014), 46-51. most cases they succeed, but their Millennials). And where does the term successes always come at a price. The Generation K come from? Professor Hunger Games and Divergent trilogies Hertz named them K for Katniss are very violent. People get killed. Good Everdeen, heroine of The Hunger The publication of this article is funded by people get killed, not just the bad guys. Games. The Torch Foundation

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