Monday 4 July 2011

Top Ten Tuesday - Rebels in Literature

TTT is a book meme over at The Broke and the Bookish. This weeks list is of characters or authors who have stood up for what they believe in no matter what.

I was originally going to do a post featuring authors or books that have been banned. However, going through lists of these I have read surprisingly few. So instead I have decided to go to one of my favourite types of book which are filled with rebels. In any dystopian book there is usually one character who rebels against the regime and so this post is for them.

1. Offred - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. She remembers a time when she was free and had her own family. She rebels against the regime in order to get information about her daughter and to be allowed to read. Despite knowing what could happen to her if she is discovered. This book was listed as being banned because of some of its sexual content.

2. Winston Smith - 1984 by George Orwell. Winston is responsible for Big Brother's propaganda and yet he rebels against it. Another banned book. It was banned in Russia as Stalin believed that it was a book about his regime.

3. Bernard - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Bernard always new he was different from the other Alpha's and so became vocal about the things he spotted in this so called perfect society. I believe that this book was banned for promoting promiscuity (it doesn't promote it but that was the belief when it was banned).

4 I330 - We by Yevgeny Zamyatin. She is a member of a rebellious movement who want to up-rise against the one state. She revels in the old ways.

5. Guy Montag - Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradburry. Guy is a fireman who is responsible for burning books. Eventually he becomes uncomfortable with this and even reads a book himself.

6. David - The Chrysalids by John Wyndham. David is a telepath who lives in a society where anyone deemed abnormal are destroyed. He has to hide who he is but also try to discover more about himself and others like him. This is one of my favourite Wyndham novels.

7. Seph and Callum - Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. Seph and Callum have been friends from a young age and fall in love. The problem is she is black and the daughter of a renound politician. He is white and therefore a member of the serving class. I loved this series.

8. Eddie Russett - Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. Society has taught Eddie that he should live according to his perception of colour. He falls in love with a grey though and decides to fight against his society.

9.Tally - Uglies Scott Westerfeld. Tally has always wanted to be pretty. It never occurred to her to become anything else. However, when she is faced with a choice of betraying her new friends or getting her dreams she goes with her friends and breaks away from her society.

10. Evey Hammond - V for Vendetta by Alan Moore. Evey is rescued by V and through him she learns that her world is far from perfect. Instead of accepting that she learns that it's better to fight against it.

10 comments:

  1. I thought about Offred and Winston Smith, but when I went to write my list they'd slipped my mind completely. Poor Winston!

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  2. I think that's why I love dystopian books so much...there are always great characters who stand up against so much. I have yet to read The Handmaid's Tale and I was just discussing with someone whether it could be considered a cult classic. I need to read more of these books:)

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  3. ARGH, I'm seriously so upset that I forgot Offred- probably my favourite rebel!! Seph and Callum are also awesome, I love your list!

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  4. I thought the Ugly series was just alright but Tally is a great choice. Have you read Divergent? That's another good one :)

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  5. Some great choices. A few I've read but only vaguely remember, like BRAVE NEW WORLD. A book I've been meaning to re-read for ages. Also Winston Smith from 1984 - great choice.

    Eddie Russett. How could I have forgotten him? This was one of my favorite books from last year!

    The John Wyndham story is one I will definitely be looking for.

    Very interesting list.

    Karen: Thanks very much for dropping by my blog and following. :)

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  6. You have so many books on your list that I want to read! Noughts and Crosses, Shades of Grey, V for Vendetta... Great list!

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  7. The dystopian genre has never been one of my favorites, but I like the idea of Shades of Grey. I'd read anything by Jasper Fforde. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  8. book-rain, I think it probably could be classed as a modern/cult classic. Vintage already do and publish it amongst their classic range. As do Everyman books who publish it amongst their hardback classic range.

    Mimi, I loved Uglies but it really doesn't compare with the other books I listed. I was running out of dystopain books that I read (and liked, have read a number of YA dystopian that I didn't like). I have come across Divergent on these lists but that was the first I have heard of it. I don't keep up with YA much these days.

    Yvette, I love John Wyndham and highly recommend that one. Also The Midwitch Cuckoos if you get a chance. It's more on the sci fi/horror side but fantastic.

    Couchpotatocritic, I can understand why people might not be a fan of dystopian. It can be a little depressing. I love it though. Shades of Grey is amazing but it's nothing like his other books.

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  9. I love Tally, but that whole series just made me sad towards the end. So much gets in her way, ruins her life, even when its not her fault. I love his books but those definitely ended up being a bit of a downer in the later books.

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  10. I've only read the first one but it did seem that things were going to go wrong for her.

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