Harbinger of Doom: Dystopian Literature and Humanity's Current Crisis

This thesis begins by discussing the origins, historical trajectory, and significant features of Dystopian Literature. Subsequently, it engages with the American culture's current infatuation with young adult dystopian literature and argues that the millennial generation, specifically, are the intended audience for these purported works of fiction which reflect millennials' growing awareness of the crises that exist on a societal and global level and their desire to rectify them. This work includes factual data that parallels the fictional allegories of novels such as, 1984 by George Orwell, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, among several others. Lastly, through a critical lens this thesis will analyze the genre of dystopian speculative fiction and argue that there is a razor thin line between these so-called fictional dystopian landscapes and the alarmingly real issues of our distressed planet and disintegrating society.