THE SYNTHESIS OF UTOPIAN, DYSTOPIAN AND ROBINSONADE GENRES IN BRITISH LITERATURE

Abstract

Robinsonade, as a literary genre traces its origin, with the publication of Daniel Defoe's novel "Robinson Crusoe" (1719).

The main idea of this genre focuses on the  individuals' survival, their adaptation to the environment and the formation of the new world."

Utopia depicts an ideal, perfect society, where harmony and stability come first. whereas dystopia focuses on the destructive consequences of scientific and technological progress. Additionally, it centers on the depiction of the future world.

The article aims to analyse the developmental stages of the Robinsonade genre, based on the perspectives of various authors. For instance, William Golding’s novel ,,Lord of the Flies" represents  a dystopian interpretation of  Robinsonade, as the author portrays the violent behaviour of a society, that exists beyond civilization and established norms.

 Aldous Huxley’s novel describes a dystopian vision of the future, where freedom and individuality are restricted by the state.

The topics discussed in the article are important because each genre has undergone some changes over the centuries. For example, the classic Robinsonade emphasized the necessity of a harmonious connection with nature and regarded civilization as the only path to survival. In contrast, modern dystopias portray nature as a threatening environment, while civilization, technological and scientific progress are seen as the main sources of social degradation.

Thus, by comparing the genres of utopia, dystopia and Robinsonade, we can draw the following conclusion: The variability of time has shaped the evolution of literature genres and society. Initially marooned humans attempted to coexist harmoniously with nature. Subsequently, they chose to repudiate all established norms and exploited their authority. Ultimately they constructed an entirely new civilization, predicated on technology and detached from the nature.

Key words: Utopia; Dystopia; Robinsonade; Future World; Island; Society.