Technology in a Totalitarian Society. In Brave New World written by Aldous Huxley and 1984 written by George Orwell the dystopian societies depend on technology to create a totalitarian society. Brave New World is a sequel to 1984, because Brave New World is an established dystopian society which uses technology in a much more pleasureable way, whereas in 1984 the technology is used in a much more aggressive manner. The technology used in both novels aids both governments in creating a totalitarian society, technology helps the government take control over all citizens, influence all of the peoples actions, and determine the people’s emotions. In 1984 technology inflicts fear and pain, whereas Brave New World promotes happiness and pleasure. …show more content…
Consumerism is a major theme in Brave New World, people are conditioned at an early age through technology to believe “the more stitches, the less riches.” (Huxley 121) The World State survives on people consuming and buying new things. There is no use for old things, “”particularly when they’re beautiful. Beauty’s attractive, and we don’t want people to be attracted by old things. We want them to like the new ones.”” (Huxley 219) If people were to hold on to all of their old belongings, there would be no reason to buy anything new, so for this reason people are conditioned to buy new. George Woodcock notices that “The daily lives of the conditioned inhabitants of the brave new world are passed in a carefully regulated pattern of production and consumption.” The propaganda allows the government to influence the people to consume more products, a major reason why consumption is so important is because this acts as another distraction of the …show more content…
Brave New World seems to be more advance in its practices, because it manages to keep the people in a happy brainwashed state rather than a fearful state as seen in 1984. Most of the technology seen in 1984 was through the telescreens which allowed for Big Brother to be all knowing as well as influencing all actions of the people. Brave New World has a greater emergence of technology due to the advancements in science, this allows the World State to be in control of the people before birth. The government in Brave New World conditions people to do the actions which the World State demands. Although Brave New World and 1984 show great similarity, they differ in their fear vs. pleasure practices, as well as Brave New Worlds advancement in technology compared to 1984.
Works Cited
Fitzpatrick, Kathleen. "An overview of 1984." Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 2016. Literature Resource Center. Web. 23 May 2016.
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper & Bros., 1946. Print.
Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Martin Secker & Warburg, 1949. Print.
"Orwell 's Revenge: The 1984 Palimpsest." Publishers Weekly 10 Oct. 1994: 55.
Brave New World is an unsettling, loveless and even sinister place. This is because Huxley endows his "ideal" society with features calculated to alienate his audience. Typically, reading Brave New World elicits the very same disturbing feelings in the reader which the society it depicts has notionally vanquished - not a sense of joyful anticipation. Huxley's novel presents a startling view of the future which on the surface appears almost comical. His intent, however, is not humor. Huxley's message is dark and depressing. His idea that in centuries to come, a one-world government will rise to power, stripping people's freedom, is not a new idea. What makes Huxley's interpretation different is the fact that his fictional society not only lives in a totalitarian government, but takes an embracive approach like mindless robots. For example, Soma, not nuclear bombs, is the weapon of choice for the World Controllers in Brave New World. The world leaders have realized that fear and intimidation have only limited power; these tactics simply build up resentment in the minds of the oppressed. Subconscious persuasion and mind-altering drugs, on the other hand, appear to have no side effects.
Two of the most iconic dystopian novels are 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. These novels expanded the genre significantly and while having different details about Dystopian life, share remarkable similarities. Throughout the novels, similar themes such as media control and war demonstrate that both authors share common ideas about what would be important in Dystopian life. On the other hand, the way in which the authors approach each issue highlights a difference in both time period and values.
There are lots of ways to compare 1984 by George Orwell to Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. They both have to do with very futuristic ideas. I noticed that they both had basically the same character structure. In 1984, there is the leading lady Julia, and in Brave New World, there is Lenina Crowne.
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The last difference is that of the government. In Brave New World, there were no political parties and no divisional boundaries. The story portrayed a society with a large group of intelligent leaders that controlled the society.
Although many similarities exist between Aldous Huxley's A Brave New World and George Orwell's 1984, they are more dissimilar than alike. A Brave New World is a novel about the struggle of Bernard Marx, who rejects the tenants of his society when he discovers that he is not truly happy. 1984 is the story of Winston who finds forbidden love within the hypocrisy of his society. In both cases, the main character is in quiet rebellion against his government which is eventually found to be in vain.
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Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, portrays a future society where people are no longer individuals but are controlled by the World State. The World State dominates the people by creating citizens that are content with who they are. Brave New World describes how the science of biology and psychology are manipulated so that the government can develop technologies to change the way humans think and act. The World State designs humans from conception to this society. Once the humans are within the society, the state ensures all people remain happy.
Works Cited Orwell, George. 1984 a novel. New York, N.Y: Published by Signet Classic. Print. Runyan, William McKinley.