All That Happens Must Be Known

       I believe that this is a dystopian novel because of one of the main motto of the Circle: “All That Happens Must Be Known”. Throughout the novel, the circle develops more and more inventions that revolve around this concept. We see TruYou users around the world succumb to bright, shiny, new technology and unintentionally give up their privacy. The Circle broadens their concept of “All That Happens Must Be Known” by inventing objects such as SeeChange cameras, small cameras that can be installed everywhere that capture footage which can be viewed by anyone. However, without the context in which this technology is presented in being painted with charisma and glamour, one may start to realize what a violation of privacy it is. SeeChange cameras could lead to people behind watched for inappropriate purposes without even realizing it.

       The people that may be most impacted by the Circle’s overseeing nature are the circle are the employees themselves. Mae finds herself constantly encompassed by multiple screens containing ratings, messages, articles, and invites to numerous circle events. This may already seem overwhelming, but even more overwhelming than this is the need to reply to as many messages and attend as many events related to the Circle as possible. When Mae tried to leave the Circle during weekends and missed out on many socials, she was confronted by her boss, Dan, who told her that she must be more involved within the Circle.

       Not only does the Circle always watch their employees, but they also take control of their personal lives. Near the end of the novel, Mae aids the Circle by coming up with a concept they name Demoxie (Democracy with your own Moxie). The Circle starts with a simple concept, but the potential of this Demoxie being used for elections to eradicate the need of a government or congress is a frightening picture of the Circle taking over the entire American republic. All of these aspects scream one main dystopian concept: Totalitarianism. The Circle aims to be the people’s government and leader by monopolizing each facet of a citizen’s life one-by-one, like a large creature in the ocean eating every fish that it lays its eyes upon. The Circle will not be satisfied until they own every company, control every person, and know everything.