Little Brother

In Little Brother, Marcus is released from the Treasure Island political prison to find that many basic rights have been suspended by the DHS. The right to free speech, as defined in the first amendment of the Bill of Rights, is imperative to a democracy, as it creates a means to rein in abuses of power in the highest levels of government. While free speech is often connected with the press, an individual’s right is protected as well and provides the basis for most dissent against the government. When Marcus realizes that he is no longer allowed to discuss the Bill of Rights openly, it is clear that the DHS has created a police state where free speech is no longer in play.

Throughout Little Brother, Doctorow examines the limitations of free speech and the ensuing excesses of the DHS when free speech is suppressed. Marcus relies on Xnet to broadcast his message and stratagems against the DHS, but he can only do so under a cloak of anonymity. When one’s right to dissent must be anonymous to be heard, it is no longer free speech. Because Marcus cannot describe his firsthand experience on Treasure Island without alerting the DHS of M1k3y’s identity, his resistance lacks credibility.