DISCRIMINATING UTOPIAN FROM DYSTOPIAN LITERATURE - WHY IS WALDEN 2 CONSIDERED A DYSTOPIA

Skinner thought of Walden Two as a utopia, but many literary critics c onsider it a dystopia. The present paper examines works by several aut hors of utopian literature in an effort to determine what elements lea d critics to classify works as ''dystopian.'' Common elements seem to include (a) suspicion of scientific social planning, (b) the unhappine ss of the characters portrayed, (c) suspicion of sources of control of behavior outside the individual, (d) violation of a presumed inherent need to struggle, and (e) suspicion of behavioral methods of governan ce. The elements Walden Two shares with other utopias and dystopias ar e examined, and the conclusion is offered that Walden Two could not be considered a dystopia for any of the traditional reasons. Instead, th e negative view of Walden Two seems to be an outgrowth of literary dev ices and general negative reactions to behavioral determinism.