The novels, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and 1984 by George Orwell, each setup societies in which the government has almost complete control of the people. One of the most effective ways of gaining the loyalty of a society is to gain the loyalty of the youth. In Brave New World, the government does this by raising the children itself. Children are produced by the government and spend their young lives learning by hypnopædia, or sleep-teaching. On the other hand, in 1984, children are still raised by their parents, but they are taught by the government to distrust them. Overall, in both novels the children are cultivated by the government to be their ideal citizens, but while Brave New World does this by making sure that they have a direct and single line to the child’s mind, in 1984 they instead influence the children that loyalty to the government is the best possible choice rather than thinking for themselves, and in the end, it is shown that both of these processes are effective.
First, Huxley’s Brave New World does an exceptional job of showing what a society is like when its citizens do not think for themselves. In their society, children are not “born”, but instead they are fertilized in test tubes and the government decides what level of intelligence they will have; from Epsilons who can only understand basic commands to Alphas who are taught in a separate school from other children and are able to learn and specialize in different subjects. Although, all
WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. Can a world ever be like the scenario that occurs in the the story 1984? Everywhere you go, the government or party in other words are always watching you. They watch you in your house through your telescreen which you could never turn off and they hear you through the bushes. If you do any illegal actions the police might capture you and send you to the Ministry of Love where you would be torchered and beaten up. Actions that includes free thoughts, love, and even expressing who you are could bring in punishments. Writing a diary or opposing the government are also prohibited. In fact, thinking rebellious thoughts is the worst crime one would want to do. As in every modern book, there are plethora of themes in the book, 1984. One of the most powerful themes in this book is it is very difficult to control someone when they are glued to a thought.
Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orewell’s 1984 were both composed surrounding times of war in the twentieth century. The authors were alarmed by what they saw in society and began to write novels depicting the severe outcomes and possiblities of civilizaton if it continued down its path. Although the two books are very different, they both address many of the same issues and principles.
The premature mass education of children exposes them to a predetermined ideology and imprisons them to the immoral laws of society. Huxley illustrates this by describing the Brave New World’s process of hypnopaedia, a sleep-invoked teaching method. While this meets the Central Intelligence Agency’s criteria of brainwashing, “mass education,” it goes beyond the bare minimal definition (United States 3). Hypnopaedia takes advantage of the naïve and influenceable mind of young children. By teaching children phrases such as, “I’m really awfully glad I’m a Beta” and “Gammas are stupid,” World Controllers are establishing what they consider the correct social hierarchy (Huxley 27). This restricts the individual citizen’s ability to establish their own beliefs and feelings toward other people. When combined with
1984 and Brave New World, written by George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, respectively, are both books that reflect the authors vision of how society would end up at the course it was going at the time of the writing of the book. Both books were written more than fifty years ago, but far enough apart that society was going in a totally different direction at the time. There are many ways to compare these two books and point out the similarities. On certain, deep levels they are very much the same, while at first glance, on the surface, they are very different. One point that in some parts is the same and some very different, is the governments in each of these books method’s of control.
Different societies have risen and fallen in the continual search for the “perfect” society. The definition of this utopia is in constant flux due to changing times and cultural values. Many works of literature have been written describing a utopian society and the steps needed to achieve it. However, there are those with a more cynical or more realistic view of society that comment on current and future trends. These individuals look at the problems in society and show how to solve them with the use of control and power. Such a society is considered undesirable and has become known as dystopian society.
Different societies have risen and fallen in the continual search for the “perfect” society. The definition of this utopia is in constant flux due to changing times and cultural values. Many works of literature have been written describing a utopian society and the steps needed to achieve it. However, there are those with a more cynical or more realistic view of society that comment on current and future trends. These individuals look at the problems in society and show how to solve them with the use of control and power. Such a society is considered undesirable and has become known as dystopian society.
There is a high probability that most people have heard of the saying, “Big Brother is watching you.” The saying comes from George Orwell’s book, 1984. A story which depicts a nightmarish view of society. Big Brother plays a key role throughout the novel for his surveillance state. Surveillance functions consistently in the dystopia, affecting the way individuals view themselves by their present day technology.
“We can't be confined to one way of thinking, and that terrifies our leaders. It means we can't be controlled. And it means that no matter what they do, we will always cause trouble for them.” (Roth, 2012) Victoria Roth describes the way people act in a society, individuals are different from one another, and therefore have different beliefs, ideas, and thoughts. When a ruler comes into power, he wants to make the whole community think as he does, but the real problem comes when he abuses of his power to take control. In this way totalitarian governments and rulers have arose, and have intended to influence in the society to achieve their goals. A totalitarian leader controls
Two classic novels, 1984 written by George Orwell and Brave New World penned by Aldous Huxley both possess similar topics and themes. In both novels societies are striving for a utopia, or a perfect society. These novels also take place in societies with versions of totalitarian governments, which is a government that rules by coercion. Not only are the topics similar, but in both novels a rebellious character is the protagonist; Winston Smith from 1984 and John the Savage in Brave New World. Another parallel in the books are the tactics that the government uses to instill fear and power over the citizens. A common theme expressed in Orwell’s novel 1984 and Huxley’s novel Brave New World is that government uses
As I read Brave New World and 1984, I noticed how some of Aldous Huxley and
Among other things, British author and philosopher Aldous Huxley introduced the world to the unsettling power of early learning and development through his novel Brave New World. Rather than learn from the wisdom of a mother, children are fed state messages through subconscious sleep-learning, enabling mass control. Aside from Huxley’s dark depictions, Brave New World reveals how susceptible to manipulation the developing human mind is. Superimpose these effects onto the real world. How nations and their educators raise the next year’s children, greatly influence, or more effectively, wholly define Generation Z. Signed by 71 countries, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights lists the right to
The strongest people are poor, starving, and treated like animals. In 1948, author George Orwell wrote the dystopian novel 1984. In 1984, Orwell created a world without freedom of speech, motion, and thought to portray an idea of our world with totalitarian power. In the book, it follows a member of the Outer Party named Winston, and his fight to keep his freedom of thought through love, rebellion, and secrecy. Throughout the book, it portrays three important themes, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. The statement, “Ignorance is Strength” is a deep meaning throughout George Orwell’s 1984 due to the jocundity of the Proles, the rigid rules and expectations of both the Inner and Outer party, and Big Brother’s strive
The perfect world has never existed nor will it ever. Someone persons view on something great could be another worst nightmare. In some cases people mistake utopias for dystopias. A utopia is an ideal place of state or living (“Utopia”). A dystopia is a society of characterized by human misery, a squalor, oppression, disease, or overcrowding (“Dystopia”). In George Orwell’s book 1984 the society is depicted as a utopia when in reality it’s not the perfect place, it’s written to represent a dystopia. It takes place in 1984 in a dystopian America where it’s actually called “Ocieana”. The book tries to make itself seem like a perfect society, using propaganda, and presented government. They would look like the perfect society to some people
In light of current events, society is more concerned than ever about just how much power the government has over people. Individuals are concerned that those in charge might implement policies that could deteriorate certain groups’ quality of living. To some, this may be foolish, but as is shown in some novels, this could happen, and when it does, it is hard to combat. In both George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World authors depict societies under strict government control. These instances display to readers the issues that arise when governments lead through excessive limitation and by demanding conformity.
A Brave New World is a story about Bernard Marx, who rejects his society because he