DragonOfTheAerie
Vala
Hi, this is a problem i have been struggling with for months, and i was hoping you guys could help me out a little.
So basically, this: My story takes place in kind of a dystopian/evil totalitarian government that exacts absolute control over its citizens. I've spent lots of time designing and planning this dystopian society and how it works. A large part of the characters' journeys at the beginning is seeing through the lies the government has fed them and escaping its control. However...
...I think my oppressive, all-powerful government is a little TOO oppressive and all-powerful.
First, i'm having problems thinking of goals and motivations for my characters at the very beginning, since the society pretty much lays out peoples' lives for them and there aren't any choices. Also, conforming to the society is by far the most comfortable choice. I want my characters to be proactive, but right now my evil government has them so brainwashed that they seem happy being oppressed and freedomless. Writing is tough when all your characters want to do is sit around and live their normal lives.
In my earlier drafts, my main character was rebellious (for no good reason) and naturally got herself into conflict with the society, because she was just uncontrollable. Now, I can't really have that. If she behaved the way she did in my earlier drafts she would be dragged off and brainwashed or killed. A source of conflict for the beginning would be conflict with the society itself, but you can't really do much against the society. They'll crush you. Also, there's no reason to, since rebelling won't get you anywhere but dead. The evil government is simply too powerful.
A short outline of the government's omnipotence: Surveillance everywhere. By that i mean spies in among the people. People are encouraged to spy on each other. Also, people have basically no privacy. Those who work for the government are constantly tracking your movements, searching your home and belongings. Also, systematic brainwashing from birth. Kids go to schools where they are fed lies throughout childhood and adolescence, and then when they become adults they work for the government. People are taught to basically worship the government. Serving it is their highest cause. Also, no one can read or write, and conversation on certain subjects is banned, so ideas can't spread.
This is causing me lots of problems with the plot. First, I have to get my characters to actually want to do something other than be brainwashed sheep. Then, once the "rebellion" is started, the characters have to have someplace to meet and discuss plans and do stuff the government wouldn't want them to do without surveillance. Also, i'm having the hardest time explaining why the characters have certain skills they need for the story, like the ability to read and write or the ability to use weapons.
In summary, i think i overdid it. Is a government THIS all-powerful even usable in a story? Can my characters find a way (not to mention a will) to work against the government, or should i poke some holes? Any ideas as to which holes I should poke?
Any and all advice is appreciated.
So basically, this: My story takes place in kind of a dystopian/evil totalitarian government that exacts absolute control over its citizens. I've spent lots of time designing and planning this dystopian society and how it works. A large part of the characters' journeys at the beginning is seeing through the lies the government has fed them and escaping its control. However...
...I think my oppressive, all-powerful government is a little TOO oppressive and all-powerful.
First, i'm having problems thinking of goals and motivations for my characters at the very beginning, since the society pretty much lays out peoples' lives for them and there aren't any choices. Also, conforming to the society is by far the most comfortable choice. I want my characters to be proactive, but right now my evil government has them so brainwashed that they seem happy being oppressed and freedomless. Writing is tough when all your characters want to do is sit around and live their normal lives.
In my earlier drafts, my main character was rebellious (for no good reason) and naturally got herself into conflict with the society, because she was just uncontrollable. Now, I can't really have that. If she behaved the way she did in my earlier drafts she would be dragged off and brainwashed or killed. A source of conflict for the beginning would be conflict with the society itself, but you can't really do much against the society. They'll crush you. Also, there's no reason to, since rebelling won't get you anywhere but dead. The evil government is simply too powerful.
A short outline of the government's omnipotence: Surveillance everywhere. By that i mean spies in among the people. People are encouraged to spy on each other. Also, people have basically no privacy. Those who work for the government are constantly tracking your movements, searching your home and belongings. Also, systematic brainwashing from birth. Kids go to schools where they are fed lies throughout childhood and adolescence, and then when they become adults they work for the government. People are taught to basically worship the government. Serving it is their highest cause. Also, no one can read or write, and conversation on certain subjects is banned, so ideas can't spread.
This is causing me lots of problems with the plot. First, I have to get my characters to actually want to do something other than be brainwashed sheep. Then, once the "rebellion" is started, the characters have to have someplace to meet and discuss plans and do stuff the government wouldn't want them to do without surveillance. Also, i'm having the hardest time explaining why the characters have certain skills they need for the story, like the ability to read and write or the ability to use weapons.
In summary, i think i overdid it. Is a government THIS all-powerful even usable in a story? Can my characters find a way (not to mention a will) to work against the government, or should i poke some holes? Any ideas as to which holes I should poke?
Any and all advice is appreciated.