A Heterogeneous Existence In A Homogeneous Society: A Study Of The Anti-Heroes In Nineteen Eighty-four And A Clockwork Orange

Hero worship is deeply rooted in the tradition of Western literature, but with the time develops, especially in Modernist and Post-modernist era, the traditional image of heroes have been subverted and rewritten. In particular, in the settings of dystopian fictions as highly developed society of "homogeneity" with extremely advanced science and technology, the presence of the protagonist is always "heterogeneous" as a harsh note in the harmonious chorus, as we can see in renowned dystopian works Nineteen Eighty-Four and A Clockwork Orange with a nightmarish world. Without heroic qualities as "courage, physical prowess, and fortitude", among others, their alien ideas and rebellious behavior make them more anti-heroes, and could not be tolerated and accepted by the society. But on the other hand, their inherent heterogeneity also refuses to be assimilated by the homogeneous society, which leads to their final doom of being excreted by the homogeneous system.The thesis will make a detailed interpretation of Nineteen Eighty-Four and A Clockwork Orange with the emphasis on the analysis of the heterogeneity in the anti-heroic characters in both works, by employing the French writer, George Bataille's theoretical statement on "heterogeneity". Although apparently, they bear nothing in common, whether in their personalities, experience or rebellions, both heroes eventually meet with the same destiny - being excreted out, as the homogeneous society can not absorb the heterogeneous existence.