Love in Dystopia

By Raphaelle

A few of my thoughts on these themes;

I agree on all 3 points Michelle made about the similarities in the Dystopian books we've been reading. I keep wondering to myself, why the author(s) choose these particular things to change. Is it because the removal of art would make a drastic change to a society? Is it because the division and segregation within a society is a major cause to downfall (look at race segregation in the 20th Century)?  In this way, is the author sharing with us their views on what's wrong with society, shown in an extreme fictional example?

Other similarities I find between The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Matched are;

i - eh, cant think of any right now....

If I had to create my own 'dystopia', what would be the major things I would change? Freedom of will? Freedom of speech? ......Freedom? I could be confusing Dystopia with the opposite of Utopia...

Matched sounds like a pretty good place to live, really. Equality... Minimal Criminal Activity... No diseases...  You know your place and purpose and there are people who peacefully keep it this way. Day to day lives run pretty smoothly. Sounds peaceful, doesn't it?

Except, there are cracks here and there in the pavement.  Her dad keeps a secret from her mom - so she questions and wonders if they really are in love. If you're really in love, would you keep a secret from your partner? Even if you thought it might hurt your partner, or tarnish their view on you? Could you be faulted for that?

I knew I was in love, in real love, when after all the chaos of life during the day, when I put my head on the pillow at night, all I wanted was to be near Colin. The nights when I slept near Colin, I finally felt safe, finally felt  the same comfort you do when you know everything is right in it's place. Our wedding song really sums out how I knew I was in real true love, and I'd do anything for it (Chantal Kreviazuk - Feels like Home). My experiences and my choices helped shape who I was, and how I became the person I am today. Along the way, my expectations and desires changed. If you asked me when I was 14 years old what I thought love was, and compared to when I was 17, and then compared to now - they'd all be different answers. If you asked me who my perfect man would be at 14 (Kevin from the Backstreet Boys) and compared it to 17 (all men are evil everywhere and none can be trusted) to now (My husband)  you would get all different answers.  I think a big part of what real love is has to make sense for you, and how you aspire to live your life.

I have to say, I really like how this book makes me stop and reflect. I don't know if it's because of the stage of life I'm in right now - where I can relate to her losing her grandfather and some of her words on how she's keeping her grandfather alive in her (when she chooses hiking, when she runs up the hill, when she allows herself to wonder, when she challenges herself on destroying things). It could also be that this book isn't as action packed as either Divergent or the Hunger Game Series. Since the society has a much slower pace, and she has her routine all set out for her, she has lots of time to think, and wonder. And it gives me pause to as well.