Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
10th INTERNATIONAL KTUDELL CONFERENCE, Trabzon, Türkiye, 29 - 30 Mayıs 2025, ss.321-327, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
Abstract
This study analyzes the dystopian novel called The Bone Clocks (2014) written by David Mitchell, and it is set in England. Mitchell, in addition to winning the World Fantasy Award and the John Llewellyn Rhys, Geoffrey Faber Memorial, and South Bank Show literature prizes, was additionally twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize. The novel examines how state policies systematically oppress individuals and promote control mechanisms and monitoring, leading to ecological destruction and dehumanization. The selected novel consists of six sections, each illustrating a unique moment in the life of Holly Sykes, a 15-year-old girl who chooses to leave her home in 1984 after her mother discovers her relationship with a 25-yearold man, ultimately culminating in her maturation into a distinguished memoirist in the final chapter which is set in 2043. The opening and concluding parts are narrated by Holly, and the other parts are related with individuals who engage with her at various intervals. As the narrative shifts from past to future, Mitchell critiques by creating a dystopian world that embodies a global warming catastrophe and alterations in human behavior indicative of anthropocentrism. Dystopia can be described as a made-up universe, typically set in the future, characterized by harsh authoritarian regimes or societal deterioration; hence, the novel illustrates a future where personal liberties are forfeited since the government employs technology and language as instruments of manipulation, thus this study examines the ramifications of a dystopian society, reflecting the climate change, degradation of personal privacy, and governmental authority in the chosen novel. Keywords: The Bone Clocks, David Mitchell, Dystopia, Surveillance, Climate Change