Defying the state? How is the concept of the individual against the state explored in the two novels 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' - George Orwell, and 'The Handmaid's Tale' - Margaret Atwood

Orwell's '1984' and Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale' are both novels that can easily be seen to be set in dystopian societies, Oceania and Gilead, in which the individuals are suppressed and relationships are carefully kept under control. The similarities between the two novels are visibly apparent and will be discussed. It could be said that the writers have created dystopian societies to protest against political movements in their own society or own world. They …

…Offred's case as successfully. However, in 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' Big Brother does finally manage to change Winston's line of thinking yet only with extreme amounts of reverse psychology and physical punishment. "The long-hoped-for bullet was entering his brain. He stared up at the enormous face...Two gin-scented tears trickled down the side of his nose. But it was alright, everything was alright, the struggle was finished. He had won victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."