The Circle: A Dystopian Warning
Dave Eggers' novel "The Circle" presents a compelling critique of a society dominated by technology and surveillance. The essay argues that the system described in the book is undeniably dystopian, not a utopian fantasy, and draws alarming parallels to our current reality.
Highlight: The Circle thematises the topic of a possible future reality of a totalitarian country under complete and constant surveillance.
The author points out the pervasiveness of smartphones and cell phones in our society, with 83.96% of the world's population owning a smartphone and 91.69% owning a cell phone. This ubiquity makes it nearly impossible to completely disconnect from the digital grid once you've been part of it.
Example: Essential activities like applying for jobs or schools often require email addresses or phone numbers, making it difficult to opt out of the digital ecosystem.
The essay explores how social pressure, particularly among younger generations, can force individuals to participate in digital trends and social media platforms. This pressure creates a situation where escaping technological progress becomes increasingly challenging.
Quote: "Children feel pressured into playing a certain game, downloading a certain app or creating an account for a certain social media page, just because their friends do it and it seems like the only topic of conversation."
The author then delves into the core concepts of The Circle, describing a company that gradually gains total knowledge about everything and everyone. The novel's dystopian vision is encapsulated in one of the company's mottos: "Secrets are lies."
Vocabulary: Totalitarian - relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.
The essay highlights how The Circle portrays the erosion of privacy, with the company expanding its influence from its employees to every citizen and even politicians. This expansion leads to a filterless society where the line between public and private becomes increasingly blurred.
Quote: "Under the guise of having every voice heard, you create mob rule, a filterless society where secrets are lies."
