David Mitchell’ın Kemik Saatler’inde Distopik Dünya Kurgusu: Gözetim, İnsandışılaşma ve Ekolojik Çöküş

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