مشخصات پژوهش

Abstract This study explores the ethical dimensions of dystopian literature through an analysis of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. It employs Emmanuel Levinas’s ethical philosophy, particularly the concepts of "the Other" and ethical responsibility, to present a novel perspective on these landmark works of the dystopian genre. This research examines how each novel critiques societal attitudes toward marginalized individuals and their ethical treatment—or lack thereof—within dystopian worlds. By spanning three consecutive centuries, these narratives uniquely address the ethical issues of their respective eras while illustrating the evolution of ethical concerns over time. Despite the rich potential of dystopian fiction to address moral dilemmas, previous scholarship has largely overlooked its ethical implications, particularly from the perspective of Levinasian philosophy. This study fills that gap, demonstrating how Levinas’s ideas enrich the understanding of dehumanization, marginalization, and ethical accountability within these texts. Furthermore, it highlights how these novels engage readers in rethinking their ethical responsibilities toward “the Other,” offering insights into contemporary issues related to technological progress and social ethics. By integrating Levinas’s ethics into the analysis of these dystopian works, this research contributes to the fields of literary studies, ethics, and the dystopian genre.