The Circle - a novel by Dave Eggers. Literature & Language Essay

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“The Circle” by Dave Eggers
Panopticism was a term that was introduced by Michael Foucault’s. This is a term that is used to indicate internal surveillance. When it comes to panopticism the watcher stops to the external to be watched. In the essay "Effects of Human Behavior" Foucault uses the term Panopticon as a representation for the modern disciplinary society in punishment and discipline. According to Foucault, discipline is something that has substituted the pre-modern society of leaders. Therefore panopticon should not be interpreted as a building but as an instrument of power and an object of political technology. The best example is illustrated in the novel "The Circle" by Dave Eggers. The novel is based on how society has been made better through separation and observation. The essay analyzes panopticism in the novel "The Circle" by Dave Eggers.
In the novel "The Circle", everything takes place in the future where technologies and innovations are developing. The Circlers are also developing new products and technologies that are very important to the world. The Lollipop cameras are used as watchtowers. Although everyone is being watched and monitored at the organization, their behaviors are better. Therefore this shows how society can be improved because of the paranoia that someone is watching you any moment.
Physical and digital panopticism is illustrated in the novel "The Circle" by Dave Eggers. The headquarters of the Circle is composed of offices everywhere above (Eggers 3). There are four floors and each wall is made of glass. When Mae enters the office for the first time, she stares at the "immaculate glossy floor" and sees the reflection of her face. She looks worried. No matter which direction Mae takes, she is faced with glasses. This allows her to see everything while she is being seen as well. Even the cafeteria is built with glasses. At first sight, Mae could think that there were more than a hundred people who were eating in mid-air. Those in the Circle are not protected by their transparency but they are enclosed in a prison that allows other people to watch you. In the novel, it is stated that "Mae was hypnotized by it…” This shows that Panopticism affected the behavior of Mae. After she realized she was being watched, her moods changed immediately. This ideology makes her feel horrified. As her popularity continues to grow in the Circle. Mae realizes the need to return to her old job in customer service. Eggers asserts that surveillance makes humans look like robots and not normal beings.
“The Circle” is a novel that enhances voyeuristic mentality. As noted by Atwood, “to see without being seen is not important.” Biblically,...