utopian literature

The three-cushion shot and obscure clarity could be seen as extensions of the “show, don’t tell” advice often given to fiction writers. Their use can add texture to a piece of writing, allowing the reader to fill in the blanks from his own experience.

Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” utilized religious symbolism to emphasize the work’s humanistic message. However, in spite of the parallels, “Anthem” is not a religious story, but a glorification of man’s humanistic potential.

While on the surface Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” paints the picture of a time and place not far from our own where the utopic ideals of one group of people appear to be a dystopic hell for another, beneath these circumstances it is, among other things, a story about freedom and choice; the freedom to make your own choices, and the freedom from making your own choices.