Compare Brave New World And 1984

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Comparing and Contrasting main elements in Brave New World and 1984 “Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear of punishment” -Mahatma Gandhi. In this quote Gandhi is discussing different elements of how power is maintained in a society. The novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley displays a futuristic society controlled through pleasure, while 1984 by George Orwell displays the other side of the spectrum where power is strictly enforced by fear. Brave New World and 1984 are two very influential dystopian novels that have similar ideas and have earned their place as classics in the world
He who controls the present controls the past” (George Orwell 35). This quote resonated strongly with me and is a disturbing thought. It is discussing how everything we know about the past can be shaped and altered by todays authority. In 1984, Winston Smith works in the Ministry of truth where he rewrites articles and papers to fit the events of the time. The inner party consistently changing the past and creating false stories as a form of propaganda. With no access to the past, the people have no way of contesting the government in their hypocritical statements and would be to scared to do so even if they could. The alteration of the past is also present in Brave New World as their society does not ever discuss or care for the past. All literature or information about the past are not allowed and are strictly prohibited by the government. This causes the people to take everything the government says as truth and not even think of questioning
1984 is full of interesting ideas displayed throughout an amazing story, so I believe it will always have its well deserved place in literature. Brave New World may lack as interesting of a story as 1984, but I think the ideas of Brave New World are more thought provoking and provide a more relevant insight into modern society. I feel we should spend more time preventing ourselves from becoming Huxley’s nightmares instead of fearing the less likely oppressive government Orwell warned us

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