Brave New World and 1984 poll ?

Question

Both of these are scary books, in the sense of what happens when the government controls your life. So, with how the world is going, which world do you see more likely happening?

Brave New World

or

1984.

Which society would most likely exist?

Answer 1

Brave New World. A place ruled by both totalitarianism and apathy. Sounds likely enough to me....

Answer 2

we are already living in brave new world to a great extent

1) one out of 3 adults is supposed to have a mental disorder that needs drugs for. uhappy? take some "soma". it's here.

2) class structure where schooling determines social position. yale and harvard students have no limits -- they never get an F -- they always get extentions on their late homework. the lower classes get punnished and have little help from teachers. in brave new world, education was started at birth with brain-washing, but that's a minor detail. the substance is almost here.

3) throw things away. buy new things. never use old things or repair things. question for you: when was the last time you saw someone put a *patch* on a ripped sweater or something and wear it to school? never. throw it away, buy a new one. that's what you do these days, just like brave new world.

4) promiscuity. in brave new world, sticking with the same person for too long was seen as perverted. today it is not -- but having "hook-ups" is normal too.

but 1984 was really a communist book, i heard someone who lived through Stalin in USSR say it wasn't even an exageration! but except for North Korea, it doesnt' exist anymore. even china is moving to be more capitalist and open. while china and russia can return to 1984-style government, it won't happen everywhere. that era is over.

Answer 3

Ultimately, at least as mapped out in those novels, I do not believe either end result is all that likely to occur--at least as society is portrayed therein.  However, if we are attempting to figure out which idea is more likely I have to believe it is Brave New World.  Science and Technology advances far more rapidly than humanity (both biologically and intellectually).  Therefore I imagine a science-based control far more probable than a raw mind control system.

Answer 4

These are two of my favorite books! I love dystopian novels. They really open your eyes to the world around you.

Anyway, I think the society envisioned in 1984 is far more realistic than the one in Brave New World. However, I primarily base that on the fact that Brave New World presents itself as a society that is futuristic not only in perception of the characters, but also in development.

This counters 1984 as the physical world has not really evolved, yet the conformist mindset of the greater population continually embraces what they are given.

If you like these books you should also read:

A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Answer 5

1984... As incredible as brave new world was, I think the aspect of a government seeing everything like in 1984 is alot more likely than the raising of a perfect society with drugs and such like in Brave New World...

Answer 6

Hm, this is definitely the most interesting question I've read all day.

Well,  Brave New World is probably one of my favorite books ever, but Huxley creates a utopia. The society is much too perfect. As human beings we could not maintain that sort existence. However, the sexual aspects of his books and how the children were "produced" could definitely be compared to nowadays. People are having s*x early, people are using drugs to become pregnant, test tube babies, etc. It's definitely a possibility.

Orwell's world seems much more likely with the ban on individuality and how Winston defies it, etc. That seems like more of a human trait; defying the government to search for yourself.

Also "big brother is watching you" definitely reminds me of North Korea and the USSR  :\

Answer 7

i am taking ap english next year and my summer assignment was to read either brave new world or 1984

weird coincidence right!!!!

yet i havent started so i can't really give you an advice