Authoritarianism

The novel’s story and setting are heavily based on dystopian and authoritarian dynamics. The narrative uses these elements to critique the deeply negative effects of totalitarian government. It becomes evident that the authoritarian government in the story is similar to real-world totalitarian regimes, in that its primary goal is not to serve the people, but only to increase its own power by any means necessary. Thus, this dystopian government relies on comically extreme measures to limit individual freedoms and quash dissent. A primary stricture on which the government relies is the general ban on questions. This stricture is so stringent and ingrained into the society that it is “impolite to ask your neighbor the time of day” (9). The implied motivation behind the question ban is to prevent people from questioning government actions/authority, and thus the narrative asserts the basic necessity of inquiry and cortical...