Prophet Song

Dystopian literature is a subgenre of fiction that explores societies characterized by oppressive and often dehumanizing conditions. Dystopian societies often reflect futuristic or alternative versions of contemporary societal conditions. The goals of dystopian literature are to criticize the abuse of power, the overpowering of society over the individual, and the fragile notion of individual freedom.

Dystopian fiction is a popular subgenre of literary fiction with enduring appeal because it evokes the fears that naturally come with being individuals within a society. The conflict between society and the individual is timeless. Stories as far back as the Bible depict visions of dystopia: The Garden of Eden is a utopia, and Earth after the Fall is a type of dystopia. Dystopian fiction as it is contemporarily understood was popularized by George Orwell’s 1949 novel 1984, a title that depicts a future in which the “thought police” can read people’s minds and target individuals who even think critically toward the government. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, published in 1985, depicts a dystopia in which a patriarchal society enslaves women and forces them to bear children. In each of these novels, the government falls under the control of authoritarians who exert control over their populations and restrict individual freedoms.

A similar type of authoritarian or fascist regime is depicted in Prophet Song. Lynch refers to “the regime” or “the state” to depict a new government that holds total, abusive control over its citizens and strips the novel’s characters of their individualism and autonomy. Citizens are not allowed to express opinions that criticize the regime. Larry is arrested and disappears because his union advocates for teacher autonomy against the government. Mark is summoned to mandatory military duty so that he can’t pursue his own dreams of becoming a doctor. Eilish is fired from her job as a scientist for being perceived as anti-regime. Curfews and “zones” are enforced to keep people afraid of free mobility. The dystopian society of Prophet Song is built upon fear developed by a lack of autonomy.

Another important element of dystopian literature is the narrative arc of resistance and rebellion. In Prophet Song, the rebel army is the organization that officially fights against the regime. However, as mostly untrained and unorganized “soldiers” who lack direction, the rebel army reflects its own complicated form of dystopian society. The true rebel is the average person, like protagonist Eilish Stack, who fights for her dignity, safety, and future by protecting and caring for her family; Eilish carries on with her domestic responsibilities, however banal, providing her children with a source of optimism and normalcy. Eilish’s resilience and her resistance to the traumas of the regime are the most significant sources of rebellion in Prophet Song.