preview

The Silenced: A Dystopian Literary Analysis

Better Essays

The Silenced, written by James Devita, is a young adult fiction novel that explores the life of a young Marena. Marena is the daughter of a passionate, revolutionary mother and a submissive father. The novel tells of Marena in an oppressive, dystopian society ruled by the Zero Tolerance Party. As defined in Gregoy Claeys’ article titled “News from Somewhere: Enhanced Sociability and the Composite Definition of Utopia and Dystopia”, a dystopia “is simply synonymous with ‘repressive society’s” (162). While dystopian literature is typically repressive there are also many other qualities that classifies a work as dystopian literature. Some of the qualities that make dystopian literature include: Fear of punishment is widely disseminated in order …show more content…

Like with the commemorator, there are constant reminds that the ZTP is in control, and that every citizens owes complete allegiance. It is even so that the classes in this society must being with the State Anthem, followed by a prayer to keep the “glorious” state intact, and ending with a prayer to keep the leaders of the protectorate and other faithful public servants safe. The entire morning ritual gives praise to the state and the ZTP in an effort to remind everyone who is in charge. As previously mentioned, the ZTP has a book of propaganda that is taught through the school called the commemorator. The commemorator is full of propaganda statements, which requires the entire class to join in. One reader reads, “WE believe that the right to say and think anything one wants, regardless of the harmful effects on a community, is an abomination, and therefore a threat to the safety that we ourselves presently enjoy” and the class repeats, “This we believe” (Devita, 13). In another instance one reader reads, “We commemorate and honor the lives lost in the great millennium war and pray for the safety of those who continue to battle against unbeliever within our midst. We humbly give thanks to the moral courage of the Zero Tolerance Party for saving us in our time of need” and the class repeats, “For this we are grateful for” (Devita, 13). This fundamental concept …show more content…

The protagonists make a point to break as many rules as they can without causing too much trouble for themselves or their families. Marena repeatedly breaks rules by either not reciting the daily rituals of the class, or not volunteering to read the commemorator. She also steals paper from her art class to write her ideas and memories on, even though writing materials are not allowed for personal possession. However, Marena and Dex take it a step farther by sneaking outside of the wire of the community for a bit of privacy. Not only are they sneaking out, but they also have an unauthorized relationship. In their base, Marena also maintains a compilation of letters written from her mother that details the rebellion that her mother partook in. The protagonist are adamant about not embracing the ideas that the ZTP encourages. This is evident when Marena writes, “The ZTs keep taking things away, and the more they take, the more they hope we’ll forget, so that one day there won’t be any remembering. There will only be what they tell us. But we have to remember. And keep remembering. No matter what they do to us” ( Devita, 33). The Protagonist believe in ridding their society this oppression so much that they abandon hope for the current resistance groups that exist and create their own. With the motto “the White Rose will not be silenced” the protagonists’ resistance group the White Rose set out to

Get Access