James Clavell's "The Children's Story"

Blog Post #2: Explain how The Children’s Story is an example of a dystopia.  Outline your interpretation of James Clavell’s message

When we read the first couple pages of Clavell's book we can see a dystopian society forming, in which a new, younger teacher is replacing the older one, who is sent to the Principal's office. As the new teacher introduces herself to the class we see that she is trying to gain control over the children's minds by challenging their beliefs and implanting new ones onto them. The teacher first asks the children what the 'Pledge of Alliance' really means, but they can't answer and just say that they are taught to just say it, without understanding the meaning. The new teacher then proceeds to explain the children that the pledge is a way of expressing their loyalty to the flag, a symbol of their country.

The teacher then continues by suggesting the children, including the rebel one (Johnny), to wear the new school's uniform, saying "...you'll all be the same." Johnny refuses to ever wear the uniform, to which the teacher responds passively, almost convincing Johnny that it's okay not to wear the uniform if he doesn't want to. Then the class starts to pray to God for candy, lead by the teacher, who suggests that they call God, 'Our Leader' instead (pretty suspicious). While the children are praying with their eyes closed the teacher puts candy on their desks, but Johnny sees her do this and blows the teacher's cover. The teacher responds to this by accepting that she put the candy and then makes Johnny the class monitor. Johnny is then happy and starts liking his new teacher.

The main idea of the book is that the new teacher is erasing the children's old preconceptions, implanting new ones and sort of 'buying out' those who resist, like Johnny. This clearly resembles the dystopian societies of other books, for example '1984's. *SPOILER ALERT* At the end of 1984 Winston is apprehended and tortured, eliminating his rebel thoughts and replacing them with positive ones towards the Party, here in Clavell's book the new teacher is giving Johnny, the rebel kid, different rewards in order for him to like her and accept her ideas.

Clavell's book critiques a society in which kids are 'brainwashed' to do things without knowing the meaning of them (the Pledge of Alliance for example), which prepares them to later accept the government's decisions obediently.