A description and analysis of the dystopian vision of Philip K. Dick, with reference to selected texts

Abstract

This dissertation considers Philip K. Dick’s dystopian vision by discussing the dystopian elements that are present in three of his novels – Martian Time-Slip, The Penultimate Truth, and A Scanner Darkly. Dick is universally regarded as a science fiction writer, with critics giving little or no attention to the realist themes, which include dystopian elements, in his work. Through close readings of three novels, this study identifies and analyses Dick’s use of the elements typical of dystopian novels: defamiliarization, oppression, and dehumanization. Dick’s historical context – predominantly the social, political, and economic issues prevalent in 1960s California – is examined, to show his critique of contemporary society through the use of dystopian elements. A comparison is made between Dick’s work and the classical dystopian novels We by Yevgeni Zamyatin, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. This comparison clearly shows that Dick’s novels may be considered more realist than science fictional, in that they use the elements typical of classical dystopian writing. In fact, Dick goes further than Zamyatin, Orwell, and Huxley because he presents an imminent dismal future, one that is dominated by capitalism. Rather than trying to overthrow this system or seeking escape, which he implies are impossible, Dick suggests that it is better to resist the oppressive and dehumanizing effects of capitalism by attempting to somehow preserve one’s humanity and liberty.