Essay, Research Paper
A Brave New World is a story about Bernard Marx, who rejects his society because he
finds that he is not satisfied with living a controlled life. 1984 is a story about Winston who
finds forbidden love within the restrictions of his society. These books are both in the same
genre, so they can be easily compared and contrasted. The main similarities in the two pieces
are the topics of the novels, the endings of the books, the nature of the characters, the way
history is handled, and the role of science. There are many important differences between the
two novels. They are the way the societies perceive sex, the way the books are written, the role
of hypocrisy in the societies, the role of drugs in the societies, the way that the people are
controlled, the leaders in the two novels, and the message the author is portraying in each novel.
Although similarities do occur between A Brave New World and 1984, considering the fact that
they do deal with similar topics, there are definitely more differences than similarities.
First of all, the similarities of the two books are necessary to know before getting into the
complexity of the differences. The topic is the first, and most obvious similarity. The two
novels are both in the same genre of futuristic fiction. The endings of the books are similar
because they both end on a negative note. Bernard is sent to work in Iceland (which was
negative in his opinion) and Winston is taken to room 101, subjected to psychological treatment,
and then killed. The nature of the characters in each book are very similar. Winston and
Bernard are both rebels in an established system. The Savage and Helmhoz in Brave New World
are also similar to Winson because they are outcasts as well. In both books, history is changed to
fit the future, in order for the controller to maintain order. The controller must not only have
control over the present and the future, but the past as well. The role of science in both books is
extensive and complicated. In 1984, they have telescreens which are never turned off and in
Brave New World the people watch movies using the ?feelies?, which adds senses to a movie.
Next, there are numerous differences between the two novels. Firstly, sex is perceived
differently in both societies. In Brave New World, sex is used as a form of recreation and it is
accepted. The drug soma is used to prevent any great emotions and people are encouraged to be
promiscuous. However, in 1984, sex is considered to be disgusting and the party tried to kill any
desire or attraction from one person to another. There were organizations such as the Junior
Anti-Sex League which advocated complete celibacy for both sexes. Secondly, the way the
books are written are different. 1984 was written in first-person and was mostly narrated by the
main character?s internal dialogue, while Brave New World was written in third-person. This
illustrated different character views than 1984. The role of hypocrisy is different in the societies
because Brave New World brings it to a different extent. This is because the Ford in Brave New
World has a child himself, and the people in that society are conditioned to actually consider the
word parents as a curse word. In 1984 the hypocrisy is not brought to as great of a level as that.
Thirdly, the role of drugs is a great difference. Soma, the drug used in Brave New World, is
basically used to control everyone. Although the people do not know that they are even being
controlled. In 1984, drugs are used, but not to as big of an extent. What controls the people in
1984 is that they are not aware of the negative aspects of their situation and they are basically
scared to think negatively of their situation. This ties right into the next comparison, which is
how the people are controlled. Besides the drugs, in 1984 the people are constantly being
watched while in Brave New World the people are conditioned at a very young age. Next, the
leaders in the two novels differ. Big Brother is definitely more imposing than the Ford. Winston
fears Big brother while the citizens in Brave New World are always drugged so they don?t feel
fear of any kind. Lastly, the messages each author is trying to portray is different. Aldous
Huxley is expressing a fear that people will create a perfect world by getting rid of everything
that makes life worthwhile. Orwell wrote 1984 as a warning against the results of having a
totalitarian state and he is expressing more secret police paranoia.
In conclusion, these two books are similar and different in many ways. The differences
stand out more than the similarities do. However, these books do have one common similarity.
They both ask whether societies with stability, pacification, and uniformity are worth creating
and they prove by the endings they have proven that it is not worth creating. These books both
prove that in order for life to be worthwhile there needs to be challenges, problems, and pain.