A dystopia can be defined as a real or imagined society characterized by oppressive conditions, injustice, and an unrestrained patriarchy which leaves its citizens/members to face restrictions on their own freedom and well-being.
A dystopia is the inversion of a utopia, which Merriam-Webster defines as, “a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions.” This means that a dystopia would be a place of imperfection in the laws, government, and social conditions. An imperfect place contains societal decay and dehumanizing actions that create a living hell. The conditions are usually determined by an authoritarian figure who tries to suppress autonomy and individuality in order to manipulate its citizens.The authoritarian figure uses fear and harm to promote widespread suffering. The citizens usually face strict controls over most aspects of their lives.
In dystopian novels, most of the fabricated societies experience an oppressive regime with unchecked power. Many dystopian societies contain prevalent propaganda, a degradation in the environment, and a restriction on independence. These characteristics as used to manipulate the people into believing that the new created society is better/ perfect, when it is actually corrupt. In the novels, after facing injustice the people tend to rebel in order to stand against inequality, pain, and suffering . A novel that demonstrates this is the Hunger Games series.
The Hunger Games series is an dystopian society created by Suzanne Collins. The story discusses the annual Hunger Games of the society Panem. The annual game is a televised event where 2 tributes , one boy and one girl, are picked from each of the 12 districts of Panem to compete to the death in an arena until one survivor remains. Katniss Everdeen, the story’s protagonist, volunteers as a tribute in order to protect her younger sister. Katniss deals with surviving the annual deadly game, while challenging the control of the Capitol which acts as the oppressive regime in the story.