Abstract:
This study explores the dystopian visions in George Orwell's 1984 and Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Devil on the Cross, focusing on the various dystopic control strategies such as language manipulation, historical revisionism, institutional dominance, propaganda, censorship, and psychological manipulation. It became clear that some of the implications of these strategies on the populace, include loss of individuality, emotional and psychological imprisonment, economic exploitation, and acts of resistance. Through this analysis, it became apparent that the pervasive and insidious nature of totalitarian regimes is not only hugely dehumanizing; it is also degrading, showing no respect to human beings who are under total control by repressive regimes. Ultimately, it reveals the resilience and inherent desire for freedom among oppressed individuals. The study discovers that Orwell’s focus on a totalitarian surveillance state and Ngugi’s critique of post-colonial corruption reveal that dystopian literature can effectively address and critique diverse socio-political issues, underscoring its versatility as a genre for social commentary.
Keywords: Dystopia, Orwell, Ngugi, Control, Masses
DOI: 10.36349/sokotojh.2025.v13i01.002
