Utopia/Dystopia Paper
Essay Prompt
Utopian societies develop when rulers attempt to create a more perfect society. But perfection is unachievable
because its definition is determined by the biased perceptions of each individual within the society. Although
the people in charge can influence citizens through propaganda and fear, they are rarely able to completely
destroy the human spirit. This leads individuals who once believed they were living in a utopia to realize that
they are actually living in a dystopia.
For this essay, you will have to conduct research in order to define the differences between utopias and
dystopias and explore how utopias inevitably devolve into dystopias. You will support the definition with
examples from 1984, explaining not only how the society defines itself as a utopia but also why you believe
it is a dystopia. Additionally, you will be comparing/contrasting the society within 1984 to a nonfiction society.
General Guidelines
Your essay should include the following sections:
-An intro paragraph
- Minimum of three (3) body paragraphs:
 Minimum of one body paragraph should incorporating non-fiction articles and examples from 1984
and/or your SSR book that define and describe utopias and dystopias.
 Minimum of one body paragraph should examine a specific utopia from history or current events
and how they perceive themselves to be a utopia. Compare/contrast this society with 1984 and/or
your SSR book.
 Minimum of one body paragraph should describe the society, using specific examples (quotes),
stating how the society is actually a dystopia. Again, you will compare/contrast this society to 1984
and/or your SSR book.
 A conclusion
- You will also need to use no fewer than four (4) outside sources to help you define utopia/dystopia and
support your claims about the devolution of utopias into dystopias.
Formatting
Your essay should be a MINIMUM of 2 (two full) pages in length.
Use a 11pt professional font (Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri,etc)
Include a MLA header (LEFT-JUSTIFIED and DOUBLE-SPACED) on the first page using the following format
Seamus Finnigan
Lamplugh
English III
April 2015
 Your name
 teacher name(s)
Course name
 Due date
Include a RIGHT-JUSTIFIED header with your LAST NAME and PAGE NUMBER. This should begin on the
FIRST PAGE of your essay.
Include an original title centered, just below the header.
Utopia/Dystopia Paper
In the past, students have found success comparing 1984 to the following utopian societies. This list is not comprehensive,
and the societies are simply suggestions. Feel free to suggest a new society.
Ephrata Cloister
Anarchist Society
The Zoar Society
Scientologists
The Religious Movement/Jesus
People
Home Colony
The Amana Colonies
Brotherhood of the New Life
The Rajneeshpuram
Oneida Community
The Camphill Movement
The Unification Church
The Mormon Religion
Jonestown/Peoples Temple
Heaven’s Gate (Hale-Bopp)
New Harmony
Twin Oaks Community
Drop City, Colorado
Llano del Rio Cooperative Colony, CA
The Farm, Tennessee
Branch Davidians
Non-fiction Utopian Society:
Please provide the in-text citation for your sources. Remember, this what goes in parentheses after you use quoted
material or paraphrases in your writing:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Utopia/Dystopia Paper
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Introduction:
a. Contextualize your topic; describe and identify examples of utopias and dystopias in literature,
movies, and/or real-life.
b. Explain/hypothesize why the dystopian genre has gained momentum in the modern era.
c. Write your thesis: state your argument here – what are some of the common traits or major
differences you can identify between fictional dystopias and a real-life utopia/dystopia?
Body paragraph 1:
a. Topic sentence
b. Define utopia. Explain how utopias often devolved into dystopias.
c. Define dystopia. Support your definition with examples from your independent reading book
and/or 1984.
d. Transition
Body paragraph 2:
a. Topic sentence
b. Explain how the ruling power of your real-life utopia/dystopia has convinced its members that
their society is a utopia.
c. Use examples from your independent reading book and/or 1984 to support.
d. Transition
Body paragraph 3:
a. Topic sentence
b. Explain how the society is actually a dystopia. Use the outsider’s perspective (us).
c. Use examples from your independent reading book and/or 1984 to support.
i. This is where you will refer to your dystopian protagonist.
d. Transition
Conclusion
a. Give proper closure to your topic.
b. Explain why and how utopias cannot sustain their vision and they ultimately turn into dystopias.
Utopia/Dystopia Paper
Finding Utopia (student sample)
Utopian societies have been both written and produced since the beginning of time. Utopias are defined
as “a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions” (Merriam-Webster). The
pursuit of the perfect society is shown in George Orwell’s 1984, but also made known in real attempts at perfection
like spiritualist Thomas Lake Harris’ Brotherhood of the New Life. Mutually, each effort resolved to show that
that perfection is a myth and a utopia’s are unachievable. Both 1984 and The Brotherhood of the New Life are
proven to be dystopias in the end. A dystopia is “an imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is
extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror” (The Free Dictionary). Utopias are proven to be
unattainable; truthfully, any so called utopia is a dystopia.
It is very easy to see how a utopia can easily transform into a dystopia. 1984 is an example of a society
that was supposedly ideal. However, it was really a nightmare for the main character, Winston. He sees his world,
Oceania, as the corrupt and cruel place it unfeignedly is. The inner party of Oceania tries to control every aspect
of its country’s life. Winston writes in his diary “Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death”
(Orwell 27). Winston has come to the realization that he has been brainwashed since birth that the Party is all he
has, and that simple things like freedom of thought have been stricken from him. He now realizes his foolishness
and recognizes Oceania as a dystopia. Leaders of societies try to control all those inferior. Brotherhood of the
New Life was categorized as a utopia. “This community was known as ‘The Use.’ All its members denied Self
completely and surrendered themselves to the Divine Use or purpose” (Dictionary of American Biography). They
were unable to notice they were in a society that was not by any means perfect. They believed in civic duty and
their respective religion so they were naïve to the fact that the way they were living was not ideal. Utopian
societies dissolve into dystopias, but leaders of these places try to enlighten their followers to believe that it is an
ideal society.
The Brotherhood of the New Life, as lead by Thomas Lake Harris, is one that falsely defines itself as a
utopian society. Harris led his society with spiritualistic ideas. One source writes “The style of Spiritualism
Utopia/Dystopia Paper
espoused by Harris was subject to much interpretation” (Religious Leaders of America). Holding the power to
control people’s beliefs and lives are the first sign of a dystopia. Harris’ idea of the Brotherhood of the New Life
was doomed from the beginning. The entire society was acting as they should in order to live as directed. They
worked hard to sustain themselves. They were told that divine breathing or breathing deeply in a meditative state
would bring them in close proximity to god. His teachings preached celibacy which created barriers between his
people. Nonetheless, the Christian belief of the members reinforced their tainted vision on the rigid life they lived
(Sreenivasan). In 1984, George Orwell writes, “WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNOGANCE IS
STRENGTH” (Orwell 17). This doublespeak is an example of how the society sees itself. Their naiveté of the
terrible world they live in shows that they have a strong belief that they are a perfect society. In reality, they show
all the signs of a dystopian society. The society as a whole may try to live as purely as possible, but the leader,
inevitably, is the sole member who strives for a utopia.
To Thomas Lake Harris, the Brotherhood of the New Life was a utopia; however, the majority of people
would say that it was the exact opposite. Leaders of communities in utopian settings attempt to create an
environment that they see fit to be a perfect world. It is impossible for everyone to have the same idea of their
perfect world leaving the leader to abhorred and immoral rules that suit his wants. Harris was a big offender of
rules to suit his wants and desires. One article mentions “that the members of the community were Harris’ slaves”
(Sreenivasan). Harris was successful in brainwashing his community through religious teachings. He was exposed
by Alzire Chevaillier who illustrates to the public that Harris was not a pure spiritualist like he was perceived to
be (Sreenivasan). Events like this one are common throughout utopian societies and literature. Utopias are proven
to be dystopias through real or fictional characters that believe in a better place. Once this person exemplifies the
ugly truth to outsiders, it is completely obvious to those that a misidentified glorified society is actually as the
feces swathed scheme it really is.
A utopian society is unachievable. They are wane off into dystopias every time. Attempts like The
Brotherhood of the New Life have proven to perceive the desire for a perfect life, but have failed. The leaders of
Utopia/Dystopia Paper
societies live to reach their ideal existence, yet in all cases, are derailed by human emotion and the want for a
better life. An improved understanding of utopias demonstrates more over that they are impossible to achieve.
Works Cited
Merriam-Webster. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013.
Orwell, George. 1984. Ed. Erich Fromm. New York: Harcourt, 1949.
Sreenivasan, Jyotsna. “Brotherhood of the New Life.” Utopias in American History. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO,
2008. ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. Web. 13 Feb 2013.
The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.
“Thomas Lake Harris.” Dictionary of American Biography. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1936. Gale Biography In
Context. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
“Thomas Lake Harris.” Religious Leaders of America. Gale, 1999. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.