The Masses And The Dystopian Novel ' Elysium ' Essay

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 main similarity between the dystopian novel Brave New World and the short story “Harrison Bergeron”, is the type of government present. Both are attempting to control the individual lives of its people in order to maintain their “ideal” society. In Brave New World, the government uses constant feelings of pleasure in order to keep its people happy in their designated roles. In contrast, in “Harrison Bergeron” the government uses a series of handicaps to create complete and total equality in its citizens. Both are horrible.

Both the film Gattaca (directed by Andrew Niccole) and the novel Brave New World (written by Aldous Huxley) are of the dystopian genre and explore the notions of mass control and freedom; or lack of freedom. Both societies are controlled by a totalitarian dictatorship that push their suppressive ideologies- genoism in Gattaca, and the complete eradication of viviparous births and the implementation of a caste system in Brave New World. Characters in both dystopian worlds challenge the rules and expectations of their societies. In Brave New World, Bernard Marx and John Savage rebel against the World State, albeit to different extents. In Gattaca, Vincent Freeman and Jerome ‘Eugene’ Morrow oppose their society ruled by genoism.

In Brave New World Aldous Huxley, creates a dystopian society which is scientifically advance in order to make life orderly, easy, and free of trouble. This society is controlled by a World State who is not question. In this world life is manufactured and everyone is created with a purpose, never having the choice of free will. Huxley use of irony and tone bewilders readers by creating a world with puritanical social norms, which lacks love, privacy and were a false sense of happiness is instituted, making life meaningless and controlled.

The quote “The object of power is power” is heavily supported by George Orwell’s 1949 novel ‘1984’ and Fritz Lang’s 1927 film ‘Metropolis’ through their intertextual connections and shared perspectives. Both texts were composed around the context of pre and post World War 2 which is clearly evident through their settings, characterisation, themes and ideas. Through Orwell’s and Fritz’s use of dystopic societies, empowerment of women and detrimental dictatorship rule it is blatant that George Orwell’s quote “The object of power is power” is quite strongly supported by the intertextual connections and shared perspectives of Orwell’s ‘1984’ and Lang’s ‘Metropolis’.

Both works emphasize genetic discrimination as a major part of their society. Brave New World uses technology to create a utopian society free from non-conformity. Furthermore, it places individuals into separate levels of social class based on the perceived needs of the World State. These different classes provide a specific purpose. The protagonist, John, lives in the Savage Reservation outside of the World State. The Reservation is a dystopia, as it has a degenerated environment and individuals with no self-control. John is relegated to the bottom of the social class due to his genetic identity and living style. “‘If one’s different, one’s bound to be lonely’” (Huxley 145). Like John, Vincent in Gattaca also receives prejudice from the utopian society for his genetic composition. He is considered “invalid” due to his heart condition. Like Brave New World, Gattaca is a utopian environment created by technological advancements to limit possible error.

A similarity that these three dystopias have in common is the time setting. All of these stories are set to be in a futuristic time, or at least a time that was the future from them. For instance, Orwell 's book 1984 was written in 1948 as it stated on crisesmagazine.com “George Orwell Wrote 1984 in 1948”, but since it wasn’t 1984, or anywhere near, so at the time it was considered the future. In Vonnegut’s short story “Harrison Bergeron” the author clearly gives evidence that they are ahead of time when he writes “The year was 2081 and everybody was finally equal" (Vonnegut 1). the story is set to be 66 years ahead of the current year. In Niccol’s dystopian movie In time, the exact year is not clearly stated, but in the plot summary written by Claudio Carvalho they mention that it was set to be in futuristic times as it says “In a

The first theme being compared between Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World is a major theme. The theme is “be yourself.” This is shown in part two of Fahrenheit 451 when Montag realizes he does not want to burn books anymore. Instead, he chooses to collect them and read them to others. The people he reads the books to become afraid of him and think he is crazy, but Montag does not care. In Brave New World, the people in their world are taught to do everything the same. A character in this book whose name is John, tries to revolt against the government by not taking his pill rations, which makes him act the same as everyone else. The government restricts the act of not taking the pills. After seeing his mother die from overdosing on the drugs provided by the government, John feels compelled to rebel and get as many people to join him as he can. This is found in chapters seventeen and eighteen. The theme in both books is similar because both characters rebel against what the rest of society is told to do, but it eventually gets them in trouble because of it.

The stone hollow echoed with dozens of small breaths and the clunky shuffling of chairs and tables. The lighting pulsated, from glowing orbs, the color of mandarins, positioned near walls throughout the room. Every child in the room was quiet in fear of disobeying and in pure content that today was another school day. Eilig sat in the back left of the room, at an ancient wooden desk with years worth of scratches and pen marks. Everyone else’s desks were identical: a scribbled-out heart an inch away from the corner, a deep, inch long scratch on the side. The silence was contagious until a woman entered the room, with hare-like features she clutched a clipboard, needle-like claws holding the soft wood in place.

Brave New World, acknowledges government control which results in the failure of a society. It is a world created where everything is under control, being observed, and synthetic. The society was manufactured in a test tube therefore, it was factory made. The people were born and developed in the test tubes, so their human nature became adapted so an individual cannot identify or approach it. Every little detail of a person's life is prearranged. These people's lives revolve around their community, their existence, and security; never their individual happiness. They are basically living for their society as a whole. This society was designed to be successful but it failed to give people their individuality. The individuals sacrificed

Dystopian society is a way that this author shows what the future will be like when one person takes charge of a small large group. The elements of dystopian society in Divergent by Veronica Roth are limitations, corporate control, and the factions. The limitations presented in this story include the walls in which the city of Chicago is surrounded by; no one is allowed outside the fence. Another limitation is the factions, which are groups that you are put into based on your personality. You are given a test and one chance to choose a new faction that best fits your wants and needs and if you fail to choose or succeed in a faction, you become factionless. Factionless means that you don’t belong anywhere are are viewed publicly as a disgrace. The last element addressed in this story is corporate control.

In the novels Brave New World and Animal Farm, the common aspect is the idea of a totalitarian dystopian society. While Animal Farm started out as an attempt to achieve a perfect utopia, and then drifted into a totalitarian dystopia, Brave New World pretends to be a utopia, while hiding the fact that it is actually a totalitarian dystopia the whole time. There is a fine line between a utopia and a totalitarian dystopia.

The books 1984  by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley are both connected in the way society controls people. Both these books illustrate control over their citizens through government intervention. People are constantly being watched either by telescreens or neighbors in 1984 while there is no privacy in Brave New World at all. In 1984, children are in a league of youth spies and send people to jail because they look suspicious. Brave New World’s children are created to be controlled for the sake of society. Sex is bad in 1984  because it promotes the idea of pleasure or selfish needs while Brave New World embraces sex to promote happiness. 1984  and Brave New World both control the people of society through privacy, sex, and children.

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

In many cases when you read a novel you may find comparisons between the "fictional" society and your realistic one. The author may consciously or unconsciously create similarities between these two worlds. The novelist can foresee the future and write according to this vision. In Brave New World, Adlous Huxley envisions the future of our society and the dangerous direction it is headed in.