A Dystopian Reading Of Player Piano

As a significant figure of American literature in the latter half of the20th century, Kurt Vonnegut has authored many influential works that has consistently arrested the attention of critics who attempt to explore the fictional world he creates. His debut novel, Player Piano, however, does not receive due attention as its edge of critique lies buried under the label of science fiction. However, with an in-depth analysis, one could figure out that despite its status as a popular genre, it is a serious novel cautioning people for a reexamination of the world and civilization at large.Drawing from the insights of contemporary literary theories, the present thesis seeks to explore the formal and thematic concerns of Player Piano by situating it under the generic context of dystopian fictions. After a brief introduction to the origin and evolution of dystopian literature, it focuses on the examination of the dystopian themes within Player Piano from the aspects of technological dystopia, social crisis and the decline of civilization. And the dystopian technique is finally addressed to further explore Player Piano’s dystopia in nature. After a careful reading of Player Piano from the dystopian perspective, this thesis argues that Vonnegut’s text, read along the tradition of dystopian literature, invites us to figure out his critique of the corruption of politics, the indiscriminate advancement of science and technology, and the decline of society, and ultimately, to rethink the world we live at present and to avoid a dystopian future.